Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Wisteria vines give The Bean Trees its title. Would any other animal, vegetable, or mineral make a good symbol for the novel's major themes?
- The Bean Trees has a sequel called Pigs in Heaven (no, you can't use that animal to answer the last question). In your opinion, can the first novel stand on its own, or does the story only work when we get that porky counterpart?
- Why do two of the novel's seventeen chapters focus on Lou Ann instead of Taylor? Come to think of it, who narrates those two chapters?
- The Bean Trees' protagonist is a willful young woman striking out on her own, and that puts her in good company with some other young literary heroes and heroines. Does Taylor Greer remind you of anyone else?
- How does The Bean Trees tackle the relationship between individual and community needs? Is it like Commander Spock says—do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few?
- Quick! The studio called, and they want you to choose one Taylor Swift song that perfectly sums up Taylor Greer's whole deal. What's it gonna be?