Five Little Indians

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

1. Kenny’s pattern of fleeing whenever he feels overwhelmed reflects a common response to difficult situations. Have you observed similar coping mechanisms in yourself or others?

2. What strategies similar to Lucy’s counting and cleaning rituals have you developed to create a sense of control during stressful times?

3. In what ways have cultural traditions provided comfort during challenging periods in your life, like Clara’s healing through traditional practices?

4. What does the concept of “home” mean to you after seeing how the characters struggle with displacement?

5. Mariah tells Clara that she is her family now and that where they are is “yours forever.” Have you experienced relationships that provided this kind of belonging when traditional family connections were absent?

6. Which character’s healing journey resonated most with your own experiences of overcoming challenges?

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

1. What did you learn from this novel about the history and impact of the residential school system?

2. The novel portrays the American Indian Movement as a source of inspiration for Clara. What does this portrayal suggest about the relationship between individual healing and collective activism?

3. How might novels like Five Little Indians contribute to truth and reconciliation efforts regarding the residential school system?

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

1. How did the novel’s Prologue affect how you interpreted the rest of the novel?

2. What might Good’s different narrative approaches reveal about each character’s relationship to their trauma?

3. How does the author use Episodes of Rage as a recurring motif to illustrate the psychological effects of institutional abuse?

4. How does Good contrast natural environments with the institutional setting of the Mission school?

5. In what ways does following the characters over three decades enhance the novel’s exploration of trauma and healing?

6. The structure of Five Little Indians bears some similarities to Louise Erdrich’s The Round House in how it explores the long-term impacts of trauma on Indigenous communities. What narrative techniques do both authors use to convey the complexity of their characters’ experiences?