Crow Mary

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, sexual violence, graphic violence, substance use, and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does Grissom’s approach to narrating Crow Mary’s story compare to her storytelling in The Kitchen House? Do you notice similarities in how she portrays marginalized characters attempting to navigate hostile environments, or did you find her approach distinctly different in each work?

2. Grissom chose to tell this story through Crow Mary’s first-person perspective. How did this narrative choice affect your understanding of and emotional connection to the historical events and cultural conflicts presented in the novel?

3. Crow Mary’s life journey encompasses profound love, devastating loss, cross-cultural conflict, and ultimate resilience. Which aspects of her story resonated most strongly with you, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, Crow Mary maintains her Indigenous identity despite pressure to assimilate into white society. Have you ever experienced or witnessed the challenge of preserving cultural identity in the face of pressure to conform to dominant social norms?