The Lost Girls of Willowbrook

Ellen Marie Wiseman has been praised for her historical accuracy. Research the history of Willowbrook and discuss how Wiseman’s inclusion of real events and characters enhances her novel.

Why does the novel feature several male antagonists in positions of authority? How do gender dynamics work in the novel’s social, medical, and historical context?

What features mark Sage’s internal monologue? How does Wiseman characterize the protagonist through her diction, grammatical structure, and style?

Consider the novel’s use of mystery genre tropes such as red herrings, misdirection, and foreshadowing. Find three examples of these hints and discuss what effect they have on a reader’s experience of the novel.

How does the novel depict physical disability and mental illness? How does Wiseman illustrate the ableist biases of Willowbrook’s historical context? Does the novel perpetuate any of these prejudices? Why or why not?

Compare the novel’s maternal figures: Sage’s mother, her stepmother Cathy, and later Sage herself. How does the novel treat motherhood?

Close-read a description of the sensory experience Willowbrook. Why does Wiseman highlight smell in particular?

Why are Sage’s clothes a significant part of her characterization? What role does her self-presentation play in the novel’s plot and how does it relate to its themes?