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About the The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon category
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1
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120
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September 3, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of The Frozen River? (no spoilers, please!)
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64
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5237
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January 21, 2026
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What audience would you recommend The Frozen River to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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19
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688
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September 3, 2025
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Why does Martha take a particular interest in protecting Tempest (the fox) from trappers?
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17
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1411
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September 3, 2025
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Martha and her daughters spend much of the novel immersed in everyday household labor such as making candles, baking bread, weaving, and killing chickens. Were there any 1780s tasks you've tried or would be interested to try for yourself?
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16
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226
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September 3, 2025
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"Memory ... warps and twists. But paper and ink receive the truth without emotion, and they read it back without partiality." (p 39) Do you agree with this quote? Have you ever kept a diary? If not, did reading The Frozen River influence you to start?
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15
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155
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September 3, 2025
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Martha says the townspeople dislike her. Ephraim disagrees: "They respect you. Perhaps occasionally fear you. It's not the same thing." (p 56) Do you agree with his assessment? Is it always better to be honest than it is to be well-liked?
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14
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162
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September 3, 2025
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Did you read the author's note? If so, did it change your evaluation of Martha's life and the story of the "year of the long winter"?
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12
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476
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September 3, 2025
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Experts are few and far between in Hallowell, making Martha and Doctor's medical knowledge all the more important, and making Page's poor advice especially dangerous. Would you have acted differently in Martha's place to warn others about Page?
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11
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114
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September 3, 2025
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Much of the novel's action focuses on the legal process surrounding Rebecca Forster's assault and Martha's testimony. Were you surprised at the way the judicial process unfolded? How do you think Rebecca's story would have been received today?
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11
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148
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September 3, 2025
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The Ballards are an incredibly closeknit family—did you have a favorite character among Martha and Ephraim's brood? Was there a relationship between one of Martha's children and their suitors that you were particularly cheering for?
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11
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175
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September 3, 2025
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Martha's final confrontation with North has lasting consequences for both of them. Do you think justice was done? What about as regards Rebecca's assault and Burgess's killing? Would you have made the same choice as Martha?
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10
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371
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September 3, 2025
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If The Frozen River was adapted for film or television, who would you cast in the leading roles? Are there any components of the story you think would be especially striking to see acted out on screen?
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10
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2106
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September 3, 2025
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In discussing courtship and marriage, Ephraim tells Martha, “Any man worth his salt knows it’s a woman who does the choosing.” Do you think this is borne out in most marriages? Has this changed at all over time, in your opinion?
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9
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121
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September 3, 2025
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Martha discusses the French-Indian War with Mr. Coleman and learns of his wife’s death. She thinks to herself, “History is written by the men who live. Not the ones who die” (p. 305). Do you agree with her? Has this changed at all since her day?
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9
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119
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September 3, 2025
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Martha thinks, “The joy of having sons is that they worship their mothers. Until one day, suddenly, they don’t” (p. 202). What did you think of this statement? Do you agree?
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9
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334
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September 3, 2025
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How did life in Hallowell in 1789 surprise you? Did the characters act as you expected for the historical period? What revelations were most interesting to you? How does our contemporary notion of the American dream apply to these characters?
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8
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175
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September 3, 2025
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What did you think of the way Martha and Ephraim's past is revealed in the interstitial chapters? What did those glimpses of their earlier years reveal about them as the 1789 story unfolded? Which moments in their love story struck you most deeply?
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7
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206
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September 3, 2025
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Is there a quote or scene in The Frozen River that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
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6
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580
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September 3, 2025
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Throughout the novel, Martha is frequently called to deliver babies from women of all walks of life. Which laboring mother did you feel most connected to? Have you or anyone you know delivered a child with the assistance of a midwife?
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5
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93
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September 3, 2025
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Reminder messages
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4
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110
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September 3, 2025
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Sally and Sarah are set up in opposition to each other throughout the novel, and Martha guesses incorrectly about each of their futures. Did you see those plot twists coming? Would you have acted differently toward either woman?
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4
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256
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September 3, 2025
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Mrs. Hendricks lies to Martha to secure her help with Melody Page's delivery. Martha assists but berates Melody’s husband afterwards. What did you think of this scene and her “payment” demand (p. 299)? What would you have done in her shoes?
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4
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141
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September 3, 2025
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