Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is built on two parallel timelines set centuries apart. How did this dual narrative structure affect your reading experience? Did you find yourself more drawn to Alouette’s story in the 17th century or to Kristof and Sasha’s in the 1940s, and what made that storyline resonate with you?

2. Skylark’s depiction of occupied Paris offers a unique ground-level view of the Resistance. How did you feel it compared to other well-known novels about World War II, such as Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See (2014)? Did it present a perspective on the war or the French Resistance that felt new or particularly striking to you?

3. What scene or image from the novel has stayed with you the most since you finished reading? What characterized this scene and what made it so powerful for you?

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

1. Sasha uses her “memory palace” and Ovid’s Metamorphoses as an inner sanctuary to endure trauma. Have you ever turned to stories, art, or a specific creative project to help navigate a difficult or uncertain time in your life? What about that process felt protective or strengthening?

2. Kristof’s character moves from being a detached observer to an active participant who risks everything for others. Think of a time when you felt compelled into active engagement on an issue you cared about. What did you learn and how did this change your sense of self and place?

3. Paula McLain’s has stated that her experience in the foster care system has informed her treatment of the “found family,” also explored in her memoir, Like Family (2003). What does family mean to you and in what ways is this a dynamic concept in your life? 

4. Étienne’s achievements in literacy are key to the novel’s exploration of self-determination. When has learning a new skill opened up opportunities for you or given you an increased sense of agency?

5. Alouette’s ambition to create her own dyes is met with suspicion and punishment because it challenges the era’s expectations for women. Think about a time you went against convention or the expectations of others. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn from the experience?

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

1. The novel portrays how the Nazi regime used a series of escalating laws and bureaucratic orders to strip Jewish citizens of their rights. In what ways can we see similar patterns of administrative or legal language used to normalize discrimination in societies today?

2. The novel explores how individuals navigate gender-based roles and expectations. What parallels can you see with today’s debates around how gender intersects with self-determination?  

3. McLain uses the 2019 fire in Notre-Dame Cathedral to frame the historical narratives of the novel. In what ways does this device emphasize the fire and subsequent restoration as a pivotal event for Parisian culture and identity?

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

1. How does Skylark present the relationship between oral and textual knowledge? How does this support the novel’s main themes?

2. Analyze the novel’s antagonist characters. Does the novel argue that people can be irremediably evil or not? Support you opinion with examples.

3. Research the image of the skylark in Western literature and art. How does McLain draw on these established meanings to ground and inform the skylark symbol in the novel.

4. Do you think the novel presents power and power structures as inherently corrupt? Argue why or why not, drawing on evidence for your answer.

5. The story concludes with an Epilogue set in 1857. Why do you think the author chose to end the novel this way? What does it add and how does it change your perspective on the preceding content?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re designing a new cover for Skylark. What would you choose to feature, and how would your design convey the novel’s content?

2. Plan or write a short story that continues the journey of one of the characters. How will you preserve their characterization and language in Skylark? In what ways will the character develop further?

3. Alouette’s legacy is preserved through a secret passed down and eventually hidden in a stained-glass window. Design a small object or image to encapsulate a meaningful family or community story that has been passed through generations to you.