The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancyand getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhoodand the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.

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Discussion Questions:

1. Taylor’s journey into motherhood is unplanned and How does her relationship withTurtle evolve throughout the novel? What does this say about motherhood and family?
2. How does Taylor’s journey symbolize a larger process of self-discovery? What are the key moments that push her toward understanding who she truly is and what she wants out of life?
3. What do the “bean trees” symbolize in the context of the novel? How might they represent the themes of growth, survival, and resilience?
4. What role do external factors, like socio-economic conditions and political climate, play in shaping the characters’ opportunities and decisions?
5. How do the themes of survival and growth in the natural world relate to the personal journeys of the characters?
6. How do you interpret the ending of the novel? What does it suggest about Taylor’s future, herrelationship with Turtle, and the choices she has made?