The Exiles

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, gender discrimination, and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The Exiles tracks the interconnected journeys of three women—Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna. Whose story affected you most deeply, and what aspects of her character or circumstances made her narrative particularly compelling?

2. Christina Baker Kline explores themes of displacement and resilience in both The Exiles and Orphan Train. How did her portrayal of transported convicts and displaced Aboriginal people in The Exiles compare to her examination of orphaned children sent west in Orphan Train?

3. The novel concludes with Ruby confronting Cecil in London, refusing the ruby ring that led to her mother’s downfall. What statement does this resolution make about inheritance, redemption, and the cycle of injustice? Did you find it satisfying?

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

1. Evangeline treasures Cecil’s handkerchief as a connection to her past life and lost hopes. What objects in your life hold emotional significance beyond their material value?

2. Throughout the novel, characters consider the idea that people who impact our lives become part of who we are—like rings in a tree or shells on a necklace. Who would you identify as the significant “rings” in your own life story?

3. Hazel chooses to care for Ruby despite facing institutional barriers and having no biological connection to her. Have you witnessed or experienced relationships that demonstrate how family bonds can transcend blood ties?

4. Mathinna struggles with her identity as she’s forced to navigate between Aboriginal culture and British expectations. Have you ever felt caught between conflicting cultural identities or value systems? How did you resolve or manage this tension?

5. The women in The Exiles repeatedly face situations where they must choose between compliance and resistance. When have you confronted an unjust system or authority? What influenced your decision to resist or accommodate?

6. Both Evangeline and Mathinna experience profound losses of identity—Evangeline through her criminal status and Mathinna through cultural erasure. Have you ever experienced a significant shift in how you viewed yourself or how others perceived you? What helped you maintain or reclaim your sense of self?

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

1. The Franklins’ treatment of Mathinna reveals the British attitude toward Aboriginal peoples during colonization. How does this portrayal compare to other historical accounts of colonization you’ve encountered? What patterns emerge across different colonial contexts?

2. The novel depicts how women and Aboriginal people were systematically controlled through legal structures, social hierarchies, and cultural erasure. In what ways do you see echoes of these historical methods of control in contemporary society?

3. Ruby’s return to London highlights how geography influenced opportunity and social mobility in the Victorian era. How do geographical differences continue to shape access to education, healthcare, and social advancement today?

4.  How does Kline’s portrayal of men—from Cecil Whitstone to Dr. Dunne to Buck—contribute to her exploration of power dynamics in Victorian society? What commentary does this spectrum of male characters provide on masculinity during this period?

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

1. The Exiles alternates between the perspectives of three women from different backgrounds. How does this narrative structure enhance your understanding of the historical period and the varied experiences of marginalized women?

2. The symbolism of tree rings and shell necklaces recurs throughout the novel, connecting characters across time and culture. How do these symbols reinforce the novel’s themes of inheritance, memory, and interconnection?

3. Evangeline dies midway through the novel, yet her presence remains significant throughout the story. What narrative techniques does Kline use to maintain Evangeline’s influence despite her physical absence?

4. The experiences of the transported women in The Exiles share similarities with other literary accounts of forced relocation, such as Tara Westover’s memoir Educated, which depicts isolation from mainstream society. How do these narratives of displacement reveal universal aspects of human resilience?

5. Compare the character development of Hazel and Mathinna throughout the novel. How do their respective journeys reflect different responses to trauma and displacement?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Ruby’s future daughters become pioneers in women’s medicine in Australia. What other historical barriers might subsequent generations of women in this family break, based on the foundations laid by Evangeline, Hazel, and Ruby?

2. The women in The Exiles rely on various skills to survive their circumstances—Hazel’s midwifery, Mathinna’s cultural knowledge, Evangeline’s education. Imagine yourself facing the challenges these women faced. What resources or skills would you draw on? 

3. The novel reveals how seemingly small objects—a handkerchief, tin ticket, shell necklaces—can carry profound meaning across generations. What object from your life would you want preserved for future generations, and what story would it tell about you and your time?

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