Hollow Bones

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The central premise of the novel rests on Eloise’s reappearance 25 years after being declared a victim of 9/11. How did this setup affect your reading experience? Did you find it a compelling and believable way to explore the story’s core themes?

2. Were you familiar with Jesse from Picoult’s earlier novel My Sister’s Keeper? If so, how did his presence here, with his established backstory of family trauma, enrich his role as Molly’s supportive husband?

3. What part of the story had the strongest emotional impact on you, and why?

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

1. Molly’s entire identity is built on the story of her mother’s heroic death, and its reversal forces her to question everything she thought she knew about herself. Think about a time when a new piece of information changed your understanding of your own family or personal history. How did you navigate that shift?

2. Throughout the book, characters like Eloise, Molly, and Jesse rewrite their identities to survive. Have you ever rewritten your story about yourself, perhaps by taking on a new hobby, career, or outlook on life?

3. Jesse’s support helps Molly navigate serious challenges. In your own life, who is someone who helps you during difficult times?

4. Forgiveness is central to the novel’s resolution. In your own life, do you find it easy or difficult to forgive others? Consider sharing an example.

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

1. How does the novel use Eloise’s experience with postpartum psychosis in 2001 to comment on the evolution of our understanding and treatment of mental illness, particularly for new mothers? Where do you think we’ve made progress, and where do challenges remain?

2. The September 11 attacks are a defining historical event that serves as the catalyst for the entire plot. In what ways does the book explore the tension between public tragedy and private grief, and how does it illustrate the long-lasting ripple effects of that day on individual lives?

3. Once Georgia’s identity is revealed, she becomes the subject of a media firestorm, with the public quick to label her a fraud. What does this part of the story suggest about our culture’s tendency to create heroes and villains out of complex human stories?

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

1. What is the thematic significance of mosaics as Eloise’s chosen art form? Additionally, how does the process of creating a unified image from broken pieces inform her characterization?

2. The concept of “hollow bones” suggests that fragility is what makes flight, or survival, possible. Besides Eloise, which other character do you think best embodies this idea, and how does their vulnerability ultimately become a source of strength?

3. Picoult structures the novel by alternating between Eloise’s past and the family’s present-day crisis. How did this nonlinear timeline shape your sympathies and understanding of the characters, particularly Evie and Adam?

4. How does the novel challenge traditional ideas of the “good” mother? Have you encountered other stories, in books or film, that delve into the more difficult or morally ambiguous aspects of motherhood?

5. Jesse’s professional expertise is in detecting lies, which makes him uniquely suited to uncovering the truth of the family’s past. How does the novel use his character to contrast the nature of professional truth seeking with the complicated, emotional truths found within a family?

6. Citing specific evidence from the text, trace how the red ribbon’s meaning evolves over the course of the story.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Molly ultimately uses her platform to become an advocate for mental-health awareness. If you were designing the 60 Minutes segment she appears in, which moments from her mother’s story would you choose to highlight to create the most impactful and compassionate message for the public?

2. The Epilogue offers a hopeful glimpse into the family’s future four years later. Imagine it’s the day when Molly’s second daughter, Eloise, is born. What short, heartfelt message do you think Georgia would write in a card for her new granddaughter?