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1. From the first paragraph of this story our narrator Catherine drops multiple hints that she is not a happy person, and in fact may have a hard time getting along with others.  Do you find this off-putting or does it pique your curiosity about her?
2. Crows, ravens, and coyotes are traditionally depicted as “trickster” figures:  they may play pranks but most often their actions teach lessons or raise awareness.  Other wild animals may symbolize adventure or challenges.  On the other hand, domestic animals are often associated with comfort and familial feelings.  With this in mind, what animal might you choose if you could have a support animal?  Your choice might be practical (a pack animal like a llama might be helpful at the farmers’ market) or whimsical (if I’m going to confide in anyone, it will be in my cats). Dare to have fun and be creative with your answer.
3. Catherine has an unusual disability called prosopagnosia or face blindness.  How do you think the inability to recognize even familiar people affected her choices before Sierra’s disappearance—and after?
4. How does Catherine’s relationships with Veronica and Mari help her recognize her compulsion for order and control?  Do you think she was like this before Sierra disappeared?
5. Veronica and her Mother Crow speak to Catherine about The Stream, their actual experience of the air streams as they fly, but also an essential metaphor in the Crow Community for faith in an energetic higher power and guidance.  Do you find this idea appealing, helpful, or merely fanciful?  Are you acquainted with any religious or philosophical beliefs that are similar to this?
6. What do you think of the character Mari, whom we first meet when she is living on the street?  Were you surprised to learn she grew up with the privileges that come from having well-connected, professional parents?
7. The frequent appearance of smoke creates a claustrophobic atmosphere in the story and raises questions about climate change.  Veronica tells Catherine that humans have neglected their responsibility, and Crows feel they must prepare for a time when they may have to take on a leadership role.  Tap into your imagination, and consider what a world might be like if a species other than humas dominated the planet.  Or, to make the idea more manageable, speculate on how it might be if a different species dominated one small island.  What species might create an environment where all plants and animals may thrive?  Or would that be impossible?
8. Images of Persephone underground with Hades demonstrate the sadness of the Earth Mother when her daughter has been kidnapped, and feminine energy has been diminished.  Mother Crow equates this to climate change.  Are you familiar with other old myths and stories that have relevance in our 21st century culture and society?
9. Throughout the novel Catherine says repeatedly that she is stuck in a limbo created when Sierra disappeared.  She does not want to give up hope, but her reluctance to grieve causes her to repress a great deal of pain.  She feels stuck, angry, and exhausted.  How do the events of this story help her to move forward?
10. The author has stated that Catherine found two ways to move forward:  connecting with other people, and creating art.  Have you found this to be true in your own life? Have you found other ways that are helpful when dealing with hardshipand loss?