Lit Circle #5: Song of The Three Children/The Eyes In The Trees: Moderator

1. In the last section of the book, The Eyes In The Trees, Ruth May was missing her usual childish voice. Why do you think this is?

2. Based on the three sisters personalities can you identify them in their last reunion?

3. In The Song of The Three Children Orleanna does not have her usual starting section, what is the significance and why was Rachel the one to go first?

4. Rachel talked about her regrets for not moving back to America, what stopped her what do you think would be different about her and her life had she gone?

5. Rachel has referred back to her book of How to Survive 101 Calamities and how it has saved her, what do you think the significance of this book is and why is it so important to her?

6. In Leah’s section she talks about Anatole’s stories, she told one in particular about a couple trying to cross a river. What is the meaning of this story and who might the couple, represent?

7. Adah talks about being left under a tree in the forest as an infant. This was the original tradition in Kilanga if one were to give birth to twins. So why does Adah say that she was left under a tree, what is she trying to say?

8. Adah often refers to how her mother stares at the sea as if, glaring across the ocean at Africa. Why does Adah say this and why would her mother be glaring?

9. What could the okapi represent? It has come up a few times in correlation with Orleanna.

10. Why does no one know what happened to Kilanga? Has it disappeared? And if so how, where is every one they used to know and who was the familiar woman who spoke their local tongue?

11. Why could they not find Ruth May’s grave? And why was it so important to find?