Haven is an emotional book and one that was challenging to write. It is loaded with thought-provoking questions that can act as the catalyst for memorable book club discussions. Please feel free to use these in group settings—or discuss here!

• Discuss the differences between Poppy & Haven‘s personalities. Discuss the similarities.

• In the chapter where they build their backyard fort, Haven says, we’re a good team. Thinking about the differences in their personalities, think of some of the things there did that would have needed both types of personalities. What were some of those team projects? Do you think individuals are capable of truly dual thinking to accomplish tasks: how common, or rare, do you think this is ?

• What are some of the things Haven is most afraid of? Which is the most detrimental?

• Haven’s father tells her, you’re mine, Haven. What rights do parents have over their children? In China, a new piece of legislation was introduced that would create a law that’s dictates the time kids had to be in bed and another that parents are not allowed to hire tutors for their kids, both are being introduced because of the stress parents place on their kids to do well in school. Who’s right: the government for trying to protect the overall health of the kids or the parents for installing the qualities they deem important?

• What makes sexual abuse shameful?

• Who wrote the letters? Poppy or Haven?

• The word poppy is a flower; poppies have alkaloids in them which are used to create morphine and codeine. These are pain relieving drugs. Discuss Poppy as a healer: where is this shown, and how? In what ways does Poppy block the pain for Haven?

• Discuss the definition of haven and the ways Haven’s defense mechanism allowed her shelter from the abuse.

• Haven talks about feeling ants crawling inside her and worries about being broken. Feeling ‘broken’ is common among sexual abuse survivors. In what ways could a traumatizing act damage someone? Which ways, if any, could these damages be irreparable?

• Haven’s dad used a mixture of authority and grooming to maintain the abuse. Why might Haven not have told someone of the abuse? Discuss the various reasons that keep children quiet.

• Discuss some of the girls’ favorite spaces: the old train tracks, the fort, Shady Sal. What made each place special, what made each different?

• What might have been some of the wishes each girl make on Shady Sal?

• When they first see Shady Sal, there are no other indications that other children know about the tree. But, later, the tree is loaded with wishes and we never see the children who placed those wishes. How do children share their innermost wishes / feelings? How are those ways similar and different than adults?

• In many ways, Shady Sal represents hope. How?

• What were some clues within the book as to the ending of the book?

• Poppy says in regards to Miracle I let her go, but she came back to me. What things do we have to let go of in order to heal?

• Why did Haven stay?

• Haven’s hands clench when she is scared or when her dad is near. Discuss how emotional pain manifests into physical reactions.

• Haven teaches Poppy how to make fire. What else does she teach Poppy? What does Poppy teach Haven?