Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Think about your initial reaction to the book’s blend of fantasy, historical events, and a modern classroom setting. What worked well for you in this mix, and were there any aspects that you found less effective or difficult to engage with?

2. How effective did you find the use of a talking, time-traveling as a way of teaching history? Does it remind you of other educational fiction series you might have encountered, such as the Magic Tree House books, and how does this book’s execution succeed or fall short in comparison?

3. What was the most memorable scene or historical detail for you? Why do you think it stayed with you after finishing the book?

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

1. Tommy White changes from being uninterested in history to becoming much more engaged with it over the course of the novel. Have you ever had a teacher or an experience that completely changed your perspective on a subject you previously disliked?

2. The Pilgrims make difficult decisions, including leaving family behind, because of their beliefs. Think about a time you had to make a difficult choice for something you strongly believed in. How does their experience resonate with your own understanding of commitment?

3. In group settings, do you tend to be more of a quiet observer like Freedom at the beginning, or do you participate more openly like Tommy? How does the story portray these different approaches to learning and participation?

4. Liberty the horse argues that freedom includes being able to make your own choices. When have you felt a tension between your own personal freedom and the expectations of others, even when they were well-intentioned?

5. Rush Revere’s teaching method emphasizes learning through firsthand experience. If you had the chance to travel back in time with Liberty, which historical event would you choose to witness, and what would you hope to learn from being there?

6. Freedom recognizes the emotional impact of the Pilgrims’ sacrifices, particularly the difficult choices families have to make. What role does empathy play in understanding history, and how did her perspective add to your experience of the story?

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

1. What are your thoughts on the concept of “American Exceptionalism” as the book presents it? How does this idea align with or differ from other narratives about American history you may have learned?

2. How does the book use the Pilgrims’ decision to move away from the “common store” system toward family farming plots to make a larger point about work, property, and economic systems? In what ways do you see this historical example used in modern political debates?

3. The novel presents itself as correcting common misunderstandings about the Pilgrims and telling the “real story” of early American history. Why do you think historical events are sometimes interpreted differently? Where do you see similar disagreements about historical narratives playing out today, whether in schools, media, or family conversations?

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

1. What role does Liberty the horse play beyond being a time machine? How do his personality and the significance of his name contribute to the book’s ideas about freedom and American history?

2. In what ways does having Rush Revere as both the narrator and a fictional history teacher who shares his creator’s name and perspective shape the storytelling? How did this connection affect your trust in the narrative and its interpretation of history?

3. How does the narrative structure, which shifts between the past and the modern classroom, serve the book’s educational goals? What is the effect of having the historical adventures framed by a teacher’s lesson?

4. William Bradford is portrayed as a central Pilgrim leader whose decisions are guided by faith and practical judgment. How do his actions, including helping to establish the Mayflower Compact and leading the Plymouth Colony, embody the values the book celebrates?

5. What is the significance of the Mayflower Compact in the story? How is this document presented as an important step toward self-governance and the value of independent thought?

6. This book is the first in a series, concluding with a promise of more adventures. How does it compare to the first book in another series you’ve read, such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? Does the ending feel like a satisfying conclusion on its own?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Picture yourself as a student in Rush Revere’s class, getting the chance to interview a historical figure. If you could ask William Bradford one question about his experience, what would it be and why?

2. If you were hired to design a new cover for this book, what images, symbols, or scenes would you choose to represent its story? What message would you want the cover to send to a potential reader?