5. Doctor Hodgins tells May Haynes, "It's in the hearts of people like you that miracles are born, and where would we be without miracles?" Where do you think Kit would have been without the actions of the adults in her community?

6. There is a very strong sense of community in Haire's Hollow, and everybody knows everyone else's business. Discuss the pros and cons of living in a community like this. Would you like to live in a similar situation?

7. "Timin's everything," Lizzy pronounces, "but sometimes, 'tis only the hand of God that can save ye." Discuss the role of timing and God in the fates of Nan, Kit, and Josie.

8. When did you figure out who Kit's father was? How did this affect the rest of the reading experience for you?

9. Do you think Doctor Hodgins had a responsibility to tell Kit what he knew about her parentage?

10. Doctor Hodgins says "Damned if I know why we expect to be happy all the time. Even when we were youngsters with everything being handed to us, we were never happy, always wanting more and bigger. But there's more than happy, Kit. There's peace. And pride. And those things measure good." Do you think this is true? Can we ever be happy?

ALSO BY DONNA MORRISSEY.

Downhill Chance.

Sylvanus Now.

What They Wanted.