Every Heart A Doorway

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novella is populated by characters with distinct personalities and views on life. Which character did you connect with most, and why? Do you share any similar experiences or traits?

2. Most of the students miss their portal worlds terribly. Have you ever felt homesick? How did you cope, and were you able to find a new source of belonging?

3. One of the novel’s major themes is The Tension Between Familial Expectations and Individual Needs. Has there ever been a time when your needs seemed incompatible with familial or societal expectations? How did you resolve the situation?

4. Sumi and Lundy see hope as something hurtful, while Eleanor sees hope as essential to her students’ survival. Do you view hope as dangerous, helpful, or both? Consider sharing a personal anecdote to illustrate your perspective.

5. The loyalty between Nancy and her friends helps them protect one another and solve the mystery. Within your own life, who’s one of your steadfast friends, and how have you helped one another?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Every Heart a Doorway draws upon children’s portal fantasies and makes specific references to the literary worlds of Wonderland, Oz, and Narnia. Why do these stories have such an enduring place in the human imagination? How does McGuire’s novel build upon this foundation, and what new and original things does she do with this familiar narrative?

2. How does the novella confront anti-transgender discrimination? Why is Kade’s story relevant in today’s society, and what lessons does it offer?

3. Lundy explains that there are more girls than boys at Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children because it’s easier for girls to disappear. What is McGuire saying about the ways society seeks to silence girls and women? Why must many of the students look outside of their biological families to find belonging?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does McGuire use the lens of fantasy to examine the tension between familial expectations and individual needs? How does this theme impact Nancy’s character arc and the novel’s overall meaning?

2. Citing specific evidence from the story, how do Jack and Jill develop the theme of The Dangers of Hope and Loyalty? How does this theme contribute to their status as foil characters?

3. How does Nancy’s suitcase evolve from a representation of familial expectations to an opportunity for Nancy to fulfill her individual needs as the story progresses? How does this motif bring the novella full circle?

4. How does the symbol of pomegranates impact the novella’s structure, Nancy’s characterization, and her relationships with the other characters?