The Last of the Moon Girls

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your thoughts about the system of magic in The Last of the Moon Girls? Did it feel cohesive? Was it well integrated into the book’s mostly realistic world?

2. Which aspects of Lizzy’s journey toward reconciliation did you find most emotionally compelling? Why?

3. How would you compare and contrast The Last of the Moon Girls with Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic , one of the books that established the subgenre?

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

1. In The Last of the Moon Girls, Lizzy has to decide whether she will return to the family farm or become “the last of the Moon girls” by abandoning her family’s traditions. When have you dealt with The Tension Between Tradition and Personal Choice?

2. How would you compare and contrast your family’s traditions with the traditions of the Moon family?

3. Do you believe in ghosts or the presence of ancestors? In what ways do those who are no longer living remain present in your life?

4. Do you relate to Lizzy’s experiences in New York City or Salem Creek? What dichotomies does the book set up between urban and rural settings, and do these align with your experience?

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

1. Althea mentions “the burning times” (367), when women were persecuted for being witches. How does this historical persecution influence the novel? What does this continuity suggest about the persistence of systemic misogyny?

2. How would you compare and contrast the Moon family’s spiritual Path with modern day Paganism or Wicca? How does it differ from the Christianity that dominates the town of Salem Creek? How is it similar?

3. The town of Salem Creek has a complex relationship with the Moon family, often persecuting them in public ways while many townspeople privately rely on them. What does this suggest about how small, culturally homogeneous communities respond to difference?

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

1. How does moving between the perspectives of Lizzy, Andrew, and Althea develop the novel? How did each perspective enhance your understanding of the others?

2. How are books used in The Last of the Moon Girls? What power or influence do they have? What do they represent?

3. Davis is fond of the word “always”; it appears many times throughout The Last of the Moon Girls. How does her frequent use of this word impact the text?

4. Fire and ghosts both move from figurative symbols to literal elements in the plot. What are some effects of this? What connections exist between this literalization of the symbolic and the book’s depiction of magic?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If The Last of the Moon Girls were adapted into a movie, who would you cast as Althea, Lizzy, Andrew, and other characters?

2. Rhanna is a fan of the blues-rock singer Janis Joplin and the folk music trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, both icons of the 1960s. What other musical artists would you include in a playlist for her?