The Girls Who Grew Big

Examine the function of the natural landscape in Padua Beach. How do spaces like the dune lake and the ocean create a counterpoint to the scorn imposed by the town’s community?

The Girls Who Grew Big employs archetypal and almost mythic imagery. How does Mottley use this technique to elevate the narrative of marginalized teen mothers into a broader statement on female power and creation?

Adela’s father teaches her that he “raised a winner,” not a liar. How does this philosophy encourage her use of deception as a tool for survival and social acceptance in Padua Beach? What compels her to lie to both Chris and the Girls, and how does she break free of this pattern?

How does the novel critique the recent changes to the reproductive laws in Florida (and the United States)? What implicit commentary does the author deliver on the country’s systemic control of women’s bodies?

Choose at least three pivotal scenes featuring the red pickup truck and analyze the many functions that the vehicle serves for the Girls. What does it reveals about the growth of their chosen family?

What techniques does Mottley use to portray the female body as a site of instinctual knowledge? How does this narrative challenge dominant societal attitudes that marginalize or ignore women’s most fundamental experiences?

How do Simone, Adela, and Emory’s paths collectively illustrate the diverse and transformative nature of motherhood?

What aspects of Simone’s life compel her to move beyond instinct and embrace a more reflective and deliberate form of mothering?