Swift River

In Chapter 15, Aunt Clara recounts her relationship with Jacques as though it were a fairy tale. What is the significance of this genre choice? How does it support the work’s overall meaning?

Chapter 24 contains no date in its title, breaking the established pattern. Moreover, the chapter is addressed to Ma. What is the significance of this shift?

In the Author’s Note, Chambers writes, “The ugly history of sundown towns, and the many years of denial and obfuscation that can allow a community like Diamond’s to exist, are firmly rooted in the real world” (290). Conduct research on sundown towns and discuss how Chambers translates this history to a fictional setting. Is her representation accurate?

Pop’s disappearance profoundly affects Diamond’s experience in an otherwise all-white town. How does his disappearance parallel The Leaving, and what is the significance of that parallel?

Diamond contends with everything from microaggressions to overt racist remarks and actions. What effect does this constant exposure to racism have on her, and how does this contribute to the novel’s depiction of intergenerational trauma?

Diamond’s body plays a significant role in her feeling of being an outsider in Swift River. How does her size affect her, and what does this form of ostracism add to her story?

Pop gives Diamond a $100 bill he says is from the tooth fairy. What does this bill represent, and why does Diamond choose to let go of the bill on the Ferris wheel?

How does the secret of Lena’s orientation develop the broader theme of family secrets? What is the significance of Lena’s decision to reveal this secret to Diamond?