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At one point in the book, Eunice and Polly discuss whether race or class shaped their hardships more profoundly. Did you better understand each woman’s perspective after this conversation? Did it shift your own view of race and class?
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3
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16
|
June 6, 2026
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Eunice & Polly formed an unlikely alliance to take down Lucky. What qualities are required to make these kinds of alliances successful? Can you think of other situations where women from different backgrounds came together to achieve a common goal?
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1
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9
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June 4, 2026
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Regret is a recurring theme in the novel. Do you think it's possible to live a life without regret? How does regret or fear of regret drive people's choices?
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17
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91
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June 4, 2026
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What lessons can we derive from Eunice and Polly’s relationship, and how can we apply them today? Have you ever formed this type of strategic partnership in your life? Can you envision a reason or issue that might inspire you to do so?
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0
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4
|
June 3, 2026
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Do you think Eunice and Polly influenced each other’s lives? Do you think they learned anything from one another? How did their relationship change over the course of the book? What factors led to this transformation?
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0
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4
|
June 3, 2026
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Both Eunice and Polly had to sacrifice a lot to achieve their positions. What trade-offs did they have to make? Do you think it was worth it? What would you have done in each of their positions?
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0
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3
|
June 3, 2026
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As an assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, Eunice Hunton Carter achieved incredible success. What personality traits led her to achieve this success?
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0
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3
|
June 3, 2026
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Merritt and Olivia have a disagreement about sexism in the workplace. (pp 162-163). Merritt feels the problem with Olivia’s generation is that they “expect things to be easy.” Olivia replies, “No, not easy. Fair.” What did you think of this debate?
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11
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57
|
June 2, 2026
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What did you think of the research Olivia did on Merritt before interviewing for the position of assistant?
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14
|
75
|
June 2, 2026
|
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What did you think of Olivia’s relationship with Trevor? Why do you feel she forgot about his opening, and kept putting off calling his mother?
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18
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83
|
June 2, 2026
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Olivia is more empathetic than Merritt, and asks herself, “Must I always suspect the absolute worst of a person?” (p. 240). Do you think this trait is required to be an effective investigator, or is it something that develops with experience?
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13
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59
|
June 2, 2026
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One of the “Purple Hat Ladies” believes that Vicki would hide the fact that she was depressed because she’d be ashamed.(p. 141) Do you feel that she’s correct, that there’s a stigma associated with depression? Do you think this has changed over time?
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17
|
84
|
June 2, 2026
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Olivia enjoys the resort but thinks that if she had the money, she likely wouldn’t spend it at a place like that. (pp 139-140). What about you? Would you spend time at the resort? What would be your ideal vacation if you had the funds available?
|
|
15
|
72
|
June 2, 2026
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What information in the book was new to you? Did you learn anything about the time period from it? Did anything surprise you?
|
|
14
|
66
|
June 2, 2026
|
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Many of the characters' actions are motivated by the desire to protect or support their families. Mimi, Daniel, and many of the women who seek abortions at the clinic are driven by this desire. Does this change how you view their actions?
|
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12
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40
|
June 1, 2026
|
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How does Mimi change and grow over the course of the novel? What lessons does she learn?
|
|
10
|
54
|
May 31, 2026
|
|
Mimi assists in a procedure on a 12-year-old girl and afterwards wants to provide more help to her. Ada, however, shuts her down. (p. 135). What did you think about her stance? Given the time period, is she correct to limit their assistance?
|
|
14
|
65
|
May 30, 2026
|
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What role does gender inequality play in the story? How much has changed since the time period portrayed in the book?
|
|
8
|
42
|
May 30, 2026
|
|
Have you read any of Shana Abé’s previous novels, and if so, how do they compare to A Crown of Stars?
|
|
21
|
99
|
June 3, 2026
|
|
Mimi’s sister sent letters home after being sent away, yet her parents never opened them. Why do you think this was? What impact did their actions have on Mimi? How would Mimi’s life have been different if she’d been in communication with her sister?
|
|
14
|
57
|
May 30, 2026
|
|
Merritt is sometimes harsh with those she’s interviewing but at other times she fawns. What were your thoughts as she spoke to suspects? What was your opinion of her investigative style? Is there another fictional detective she reminds you of?
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|
8
|
49
|
May 28, 2026
|
|
To what audience would you recommend The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
|
|
12
|
77
|
May 28, 2026
|
|
While watching the gorilla in the Chicago zoo, Mimi tells Daniel, “Iron bars aren’t the only thing that can cage people.” (p. 166) To what do you think she was referring? What else can cage people, in your opinion?
|
|
8
|
34
|
May 27, 2026
|
|
Do you think Billie made the right decision to stay in Hutch and take care of her mother?
|
|
20
|
123
|
May 27, 2026
|
|
How does faith influence Mimi and other characters' choices? How does faith—religious, spiritual, humanistic, or otherwise— influence your choices?
|
|
6
|
41
|
May 26, 2026
|
|
Overall, what did you think of Won’t Be Long Now? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)
|
|
29
|
164
|
May 22, 2026
|
|
What was your first impression of the two main characters, Aubrey Merritt and Olivia Blunt?
|
|
15
|
76
|
May 22, 2026
|
|
What do you think of the author’s choice to use first-person narration, setting the plot entirely from Olivia’s perspective? What might have been different if it had included other perspectives, or if the novel had been written in the third person?
|
|
12
|
50
|
May 22, 2026
|
|
Who did you suspect of the crime? Did your opinion about the guilty party change over the course of the novel?
|
|
11
|
60
|
May 22, 2026
|
|
Merritt tells Olivia that “Truly good people…tend to assume other people are just like them…It’s a dangerous state of affairs for them.” (p.22). Olivia replies that that’s a dark way of looking at things. Which of these characters do you agree with?
|
|
17
|
66
|
May 22, 2026
|