The Flower Sisters

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

 Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with the tragic dance hall explosion, then jumps forward 50 years to show its impact. How effective did you find this narrative structure? 

2. The Flower Sisters explores how identity swaps and hidden truths can alter lives. How does this exploration compare to other novels with similar themes, such as Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper or Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half?

3. Anderson based her novel on a real-life tragedy—the Bond Dance Hall Explosion—which occurred in her hometown, but she only learned about as an adult. What was your emotional response to learning this connection? Did it change how you experienced the story?

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

1. Secrets and shame impact multiple generations of the Flowers family. Have you witnessed how keeping secrets affects relationships within a family or community? What were the consequences of that secrecy?

2. Daisy’s internship at The Picayune provides her with purpose and belonging in an unfamiliar town. When has finding meaningful work or activity helped you through a difficult transition in your life?

3. When Violet assumes her sister’s identity after the explosion, she commits to a lifetime of pretense to protect her unborn child. What sacrifices have you or someone you know made to protect a loved one? How did those decisions affect you or them over time?

4. Dash’s harsh moral judgments of others stem from his unresolved shame about his sister’s death and his past behavior. Have you encountered someone whose judgmental behavior seemed to mask their own inner struggles? How did you respond to them?

5. Joe feels trapped by the town’s perception of him as a football star rather than an artist. When have you felt constrained by others’ expectations or perceptions of you? How did you navigate that tension?

6. Violet tells Daisy that some people believed that her sister deserved to die because of her lifestyle. How have you seen judgment and blame affect how communities respond to tragedy?

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

1. Julie explains that following the dance hall explosion, all the Black families left Possum Flats after being blamed for playing jazz. How does the novel address racism in small-town America?

2. The novel shows how unwed motherhood in the 1920s could define a woman’s entire future. How do you think societal attitudes have evolved since then? Where do you see similar pressures still existing today?

3. The Picayune is both a keeper of history and a catalyst for change. What role do you think local journalism plays in addressing difficult community histories? Has this role changed in the digital age?

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

1. The novel alternates between different characters’ first-person perspectives. How does this contribute to our understanding of the explosion’s impact on the entire community? Which perspective did you find most revealing?

2. Hair is an important symbol throughout the novel—from Rose’s freshly cut bob to Violet’s long braid that conceals her birthmark. How does Anderson use this motif to explore themes of identity, deception, and revelation?

3. Daisy is both an outsider to and investigator of Possum Flats. How does her dual position allow her to uncover truths that have remained hidden for 50 years? What does this suggest about the role of journalism in understanding community trauma?

4. The book explores three generations of Flowers women, each struggling with connection in different ways. How do Violet, Lettie, and Daisy reflect patterns of inherited trauma? 

5. Compare Jimmy’s inability to confess his role in the explosion with Violet’s eventual decision to reveal her true identity. What is Anderson suggesting about the possibility of redemption and the cost of secrecy?

6. The dance hall explosion shapes the lives and career paths of multiple characters. How does Anderson use these character transformations to illustrate how tragedies have lasting impact on survivors?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The closing scene features Dash’s spirit watching various townspeople’s futures unfold. Choose another character whose afterlife perspective would offer a valuable window into Possum Flats. What would they observe and reflect upon?

2. Hazel, Jimmy, and Smiley each tell their story of the explosion to Daisy for her newspaper series. Write a headline and opening paragraph for another survivor’s account that wasn’t included in the novel.

3. The physical memorial in Oak Lawn Cemetery commemorates those who died in the explosion but tells little about them. Design a more comprehensive memorial for Possum Flats that would honor both the victims and survivors while acknowledging the complex truths uncovered by Daisy.

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