Unsheltered

Consider the novel’s epigraph by Wallace Stegner: “After the final no there comes a yes / And on that yes the future world depends.” What connection does this quotation have with the story? What might the yes/no metaphor be referring to? Is the question ever answered in the book?

Does Willa ever reach a conclusion about the social issues that are discussed during her storyline? If so, what is it? (Use direct quotes from the book to support your viewpoint.) If not, why might Kingsolver have made that decision?

Discuss the various marriages that are portrayed in the book—you might consider Willa and Iano’s, Thatcher and Rose’s, the Treats’, and/or the Carruths’. What similarities and differences are there? What could be implied from Kingsolver’s portrayal of these relationships?