16. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

1.  The first week after her daughter's birth goes surprisingly well for Victoria.  What makes Victoria feel unable to care for her child after that week ends? And what allows her to ultimately rejoin her family?    The baby needs more than Victoria feels she can give which makes Victoria feel inadequate.  She feels that she has to get away from the baby.  So she leaves the baby crying and she feels terrible.  Victoria never feels capable of being able to give love and receive love.  She realizes that she is capable and her past mistakes don't have to define her future.  

2.  The novel touches on many themes (love, family, forgiveness, second chances).  Which do you think is the most important?  And what did you think was ultimately the book's lesson?  All of the books themes are important.  I believe love is the most important because it is the basis for all the other themes.  Love is key in being in a family, forgiving, and getting second chances.  Love breaks all barriers.  The book's lesson is to believe in yourself and don't let your past define you.  Once realizes she doesn't have to live by what has happened in the past she can move on and learn to love her family.

3.  Based on your reading of the novel, what are your impressions of the foster-care system in America?  What could be improved?  The foster-care system has cracks in it and some kids like Victoria fall through it.  Some people abuse the system only seeing the kids as a paycheck.  The system is flawed mostly for kids who get a certain age and are lost in the system. More effort could be focused on helping these kids be more successful when they become adults.  

4.  Victoria and Elizabeth both struggle with the idea of being part of a family.  What does it mean to you to be part of a family.  What defines family?  Being a part of a family is like having an enormous support system that helps each other through life's ups and downs.  Family doesn't have to be blood-related they just have to love and support each other.

5.  What potential do Elizabeth, Renata, and Grant see in Victoria that she has a hard time seeing in herself? Because of the years she spent feeling unwanted and unloveable she think she doesn't deserve to be loved or to be a part of a family.  Elizabeth, Grant, and Renata try to show Victoria that she is wanted and is accepted into their family.  Victoria thinks she will mess up anyone she tries to love.  But they believe that she is capable of being anything she wants to be.

15. Defending Jacob by William Landay

1.  How would you have handled this situation if you were Andy?  Would you make the same choices he made?  Where would you differ the most?  Clearly, Jacob had some issues.  I understand the he wanted to defend his son but when it became obvious that Jacob committed murder Andy should have told the truth.  In telling the truth he might have been able to get Jacob the help he needed.  I don't have any children but if I did I hope I would always do the right thing. I know some parents would cover up for their children and even help them bury the body so to speak.  I would have turned Jacob over to the police and hope that he could get some kind of insanity plea.  So he could live in mental institution because he had severe mental problems.

2.  Before and during the trial, how would you have handled the situation if you were Laurie? Do you feel she made strong choices as a mother and a wife?  I would have broken completely down.  It would have been hard to know that your child is crazy violent.  You try your best to raise a responsible child and then it all falls apart.

3.  Is Andy a good father? Why or why not?  He loves his son that is clear.  I think deep down he knew his some committed the murder but he was so focused on defending him he refused to see the truth. I think part of being a good parent is always supporting your child but also calling them on it when they do things that are not right.

4.  Do you believe Jacob is guilty?  Hell yeah!!! In the beginning and the middle there are small doubts but at the end its apparent Jacob is guilty.

5.  Is Jacob a product of his upbringing?  Do you think he is a violent person because his environment makes him violent, or do you think he has violent inclinations from birth?  I think people are like a gumbo a variety of factors make they who they will become.  Biological elements are a huge part and we have no control over these.  Skin color, height, inclinations to be violent, kind, shy, talkative.  We have no control over these things.  Then throw these natural proclivities in with our surrounding environment which sometimes we have little control over also you have a recipe for a human being.   I believe you always have a choice in what you will become.  But negative biological and environmental inclinations are often insurmountable obstacles.   Also we must never use our situation as an excuse.  We must always push ourselves to be responsible human beings even if everything in our bodies seems to go against the society we find ourselves in.