Ophie's Ghosts

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss your overall impressions of the conclusion of Ophie’s Ghosts. Who might be the “good Samaritan” who anonymously gives Ophie and her mother enough money to buy a house? What might have motivated them to give this gift?

2. Compare and contrast Ophie’s Ghosts with Justina Ireland’s other novels. What parallels do you notice between this title and others, such as Tales From Cabin 23 or Dread Nation?

3. How does Ophie’s Ghosts compare to other middle grade historical novels? Discuss the similarities between Ireland’s novel and novels like Sharon M. Draper’s Stella by Starlight or Paula Fox’s The Slave Dancer.

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

1. Have you ever had a similar ghost sighting or encounter? How did your response compare to Ophie’s?

2. Compare and contrast Ophie’s relationship with Mama to your own maternal or parental relationship. Which aspects of Ophie’s complex regard for her mother resonated most with your own experience, and why?

3. Ophie uses her detective work as a coping mechanism throughout her time at Daffodil Manor. Have you ever found yourself relying on your instincts or special talents to survive hardship? How did your experience compare to Ophie’s?

4. Ophie lives at her aunt Rose’s house before moving to Daffodil Manor. Which aspects of her experience with her extended family are most similar to your own experiences of extended family?

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

1. The novel is set during the Jim Crow era. How might Ophie’s story differ if the novel were set in a more recent point in history?

2. How does the Pittsburgh setting reflect Ophie’s overarching struggle for autonomy and healing? What abstract ideas does the city represent and offer? Does the place inhibit or enable Ophie and her mother? Be sure to cite examples from the text to support your answer.

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

1. The novel is written from the third-person point of view. How would the novel change if it were written from Ophie’s or Clara’s first-person point of view?

2. Explore the narrative role of Ophie’s father. How does his memory affect Ophie’s character development, and how does he (metaphorically, not literally) “haunt” the narrative?

3. Compare and contrast Ophie’s life in Georgia with her life in Pennsylvania. What emotional effects does the move have on her and her family?

4. Identify three symbols not listed in the guide and discuss their meaning. For example, what do the Pennsy, True Romances, or Clara’s comb represent?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Many of Ophie’s ghosts can’t move on because they are attached to a living person. If you were a ghost, who would you haunt, and why? Consider why Ophie’s ghosts haunt who they do and what the effect is.

2. Create a playlist that captures the mood of Ophie’s Ghosts. As you curate the playlist, consider how different micro and macro settings impact the narrative atmosphere. Share your playlists and discuss your reasoning for including each song.