Hush

Compare and contrast Toswiah (Evie) and Cameron (Anna). How do their responses to challenge differ, and how does this speak to their personalities? How do their responses mirror those of their parents?

The Rocky Mountains are a recurring symbol in the novel. Trace their appearances to illustrate what they signify.

Shirley and Jonathan respond to the challenges of relocation in different ways. What do you think contributes to their differing responses? Support your answer with details from the text.

Comment on the “Blue Wall of Silence.” What effect does it have on Jonathan’s decision to testify? How does it contribute to his conflict over Officers Randall and Dennis’s incarceration?

Names are a recurring motif throughout the novel. What does Toswiah’s name mean to her? What is the dynamic between Evie and the other Toswiah, and how does it evolve?

What do Grandma’s letters provide the family? What theme do they point to? Discuss other exchanges that support this same theme.

How does the photograph of Jonathan with the other members of his precinct point to the theme of racial biases? What is the significance of Jonathan’s statement that he doesn’t feel safe anymore?

The story is narrated in the voice of teenage Toswiah Green. How would the narrative and the ideas explored have been different if one of the adults in the family had been the one to tell the story?