Sold on a Monday

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child abuse and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your immediate reactions to the moral dilemma Ellis faces when he substitutes different children in the photo, and did your views shift throughout the story?

2. “Sold on a Monday” joins other Depression-era narratives like John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath in depicting family hardship during economic crisis. Compare McMorris’s approach to portraying this difficult period with other Depression-era literature you’ve encountered.

3. Which character’s journey resonated with you most strongly?

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

1. Have you ever faced a situation where professional advancement tempted you to compromise your values? What did you decide to do, and why?

2. Lily keeps her son Samuel a secret for fear of societal judgment. Describe a time when you felt the need to hide an important aspect of your identity or life from others.

3. Reflect on a time when a seemingly small choice you made had significant ripple effects in your life or the lives of others.