Midnight Rider

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of Hannah’s journey from being an orphaned servant to becoming a revolutionary spy? How does Hannah’s coming-of-age story compare to other Revolutionary War narratives?

2. How effective is Harlow’s depiction of the pre-revolutionary period? What aspects of the text did you find to be the most vivid, and why?

3. The novel spans nearly a year leading up to the Revolutionary War, ending just after the Battle of Bunker Hill. Is the pacing of the novel believable, or is Hannah’s transformation too rapid?

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

1. Hannah must choose whether to honor her gratitude to the Gages or her commitment to the Patriot cause. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your personal loyalties conflicted with your principles? How did you solve this issue?

2. What moments in your life have shaped your political consciousness or social awareness? How does Hannah’s awakening to injustice connect with your own experiences of recognizing unfairness in systems that you once accepted?

3. Hannah uses her talent for mimicry and her disguise as “Hans” to access forbidden spaces. When have you adapted your behavior to access opportunities that would otherwise be impossible?

4. Catherine serves as a maternal figure and a moral guide for Hannah. Who in your life has played a similar role?

5. Hannah’s willingness to confess her status as the Midnight Rider to save Will demonstrates considerable courage. When did you choose to take responsibility for something in order to protect someone else? What motivated your decision?

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

1. Despite the Patriots’ resistance activities, many colonists in the novel maintain complex relationships with British authorities. How does this nuanced portrayal of revolutionary politics compare to other portrayals of resistance movements?

2. Hannah’s indenture contract legally binds her to seven years of service. Are there any contemporary practices that hold similarly restrictive dynamics?

3. How do the divided loyalties depicted in the novel resonate with political divisions that you observe in modern society?

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

1. How does Promise represent Hannah’s connection to her family heritage, and how does his journey from illness to recovery parallel her own transformation?

2. Hannah’s talent for mimicry evolves from entertainment to an espionage tool. How does this ability reflect larger themes about identity, social performance, and the strategic use of assumed personas?

3. How does Harlow convey the idea that revolutionary circumstances force people to navigate multiple identities?

4. Harlow structures the novel to build toward Hannah’s public confession. How does this climactic scene meld the various threads of Hannah’s personal growth and political awakening?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you are designing a museum exhibit about daily life in revolutionary Boston. Which settings or objects from Hannah’s story would you feature, and why?

2. If you could insert yourself as a character into the Province House household, what role would you choose, and how would you use your position to either support or hinder the various characters’ goals?

3. Picture yourself creating an alternative ending in which Paul Revere isn’t captured at Castle William. How might the story’s resolution change if the famous silversmith had been available to warn Salem himself?

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