Part of Your World

Jimenez has described her process for naming Wakan by saying, “The area south of Minneapolis is traditional Dakota Sioux land. The best-known Dakota word for ‘magic’ is ‘Wakan’ (pronounced wah-kahn). This word means not only magic, but spiritual, sacred, or wondrous” (325). What impact does this have on your understanding of Wakan as a setting?

When Daniel comes to Royaume, Neil is the only one to show him kindness. What does this reveal about Jimenez’s framing of Neil’s character and his role?

Alexis and Daniel create the family name Montgomery Grant so that their child can “pick whatever legacy they [want]” (313). In what ways is this significant, and what does it say about Alexis and Daniel’s development as characters?

What role does friendship have in the novel? How do Alexis’s and Daniel’s friends shape the development of their characters and choices?

On her drives to Wakan, Alexis frequently listens to the albums of Lola Simone, the sister-in-law she has never met. What is the significance of this detail, and how does it enrich the reader’s understanding of Alexis’s family relationships?

Jimenez subverts the common contemporary romance trope of an age gap involving an older man and a younger woman. In what other ways does Jimenez subvert familiar tropes? What is the effect of those subversions?

There are several key animal characters in Part of Your World. How does the inclusion of these animals help shape the characterization and plot of the novel?

How does the novel’s exploration of abuse contribute to its overall tone? Why might Jimenez have addressed this topic in a romance novel?