Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Things We Didn't Know by Elba Iris Pérez

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. The Things We Didn't Know is inspired by the author's own experiences growing up between Woronoco, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. How do you predict that her connection will impact your reading experience? As you read, reflect on how the author writes about these places that are extremely meaningful to her.
2. The book opens with a conflict between Andrea and Pablo's parents, as their mother hopes to return to Puerto Rico and their father wants to stay in Woronoco. How do these opposing viewpoints affect Andrea and her brother?
3. On page 16, Andrea explains that her father permitted bike-riding and playing after school, a monumental difference from their previous isolation. What do you think this shift felt like for Andrea and Pablo? How does the author show these emotions in the text?
4. We meet Aunt Cecilia at the airport on page 23. Raquel is taken aback by her appearance, but Andrea and Pablo watch their interaction with confusion, since they "couldn't imagine her being any other way" (27). How does the children's point-of-view impact your experience of this scene? What might it suggest about how people can be more inclusive in real life?
5. Many dishes are written in Spanish with English descriptions, such as "viandas con bacalao, a codfish stew with root vegetables" (37). Why do you think the author chose to use language in this way, and how does this affect your impression of the food?
6. On page 42, Andrea proclaims that Tito is her hero. Who was your hero when you were growing up? Was it a family member, neighborhood friend, book character, or someone else?
7. Andrea describes her excitement to wear her school uniform with complete exhilaration: "The hours couldn't go by fast enough. All I could think of was wearing my uniform on Monday. Life was the best it had ever been" (61). What were some of the simple pleasures you were excited about as a child (such as, Halloween candy, new school supplies, jumping into piles of leaves)?
8. Pause on page 93, when Andrea and Pablo are about to return to Woronoco with their father. What do you think will await them back in the Beehive? How would you feel if you were Andrea and Pablo?
9. On page 101, Andrea learns some upsetting news. How has the author written this scene to embody the mind of a child? Are there any specific words or phrases that stick out to you as being particularly good examples of how this news affects Andrea?
10. Two characters experience a delightful reunion on page 251. How has time changed their relationship, and what aspects have endured despite the distance?
11. How do you think Julio's childhood compares to Andrea's and Pablo's experience growing up? How do all three compare to your own experiences?
12. At the end of the book, Andrea and Pablo have been on quite a journey. Which twists and turns did you predict, and which surprised you?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Gallery Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.