80 pages • 2 hours read
Glendy VanderahWhere the Forest Meets the Stars
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Ursa and Jo both have some form of duality within themselves: the version before the trauma and the version after. How does recovering from trauma help them feel like whole people again? In what ways are their traumatic events similar? Consider how both characters view their bodies.
The reality of Ursa’s true origin is left open to interpretation. Do you think Ursa might have come from the stars? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
One key component of the story is the bond that forms between Gabe and Jo. How does their relationship help them heal from their respective illnesses?
How does the isolated setting of the forest contribute to the decisions the characters make and how the plot unfolds?
The novel explores fate through its relationship to Jo’s bird research, Ursa and Gabe’s interest in Shakespeare, and Ursa’s quarks. How do these different contexts of fate reveal a multifaceted interpretation of the concept?
How does Jo’s view on love influence her attachment to Ursa? How does Jo’s approach to dealing with Ursa differ from Gabe’s?
Jo and Ursa have a deep understanding of one another because of their similar personalities. How are Jo and Ursa alike? How do they differ?
How does the reaction of the first deputy Jo speaks to influence her opinion on calling the police and allowing Ursa to go to a foster home? Were any of these opinions her own before she spoke to the police?
Animals are a constant presence in the novel. The main characters interact with birds, Little Bear, the kittens, and Tabby’s lamb. How does the novel use animals to characterize the people interacting with them?
For much of the novel, Gabe harbors resentment toward his mother and George Kinney for having an affair. However, he eventually forgives them and supports their relationship in the final chapters because of his newfound understanding of love. Is Gabe’s forgiveness is warranted, or does he let go of his resentment for the sake of his own happiness?
