The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

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Description:

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter compels us to understand the redeeming and destructive properties of truth. When a doctor in Kentucky in the 1960s makes a quick decision about what to do with his child after she is diagnosed with Down syndrome, his family feels the effects for more than twenty years. A story of love, loss, redemption, and wholeness, the novel explores family dynamics and personal journeys, urging us to reconsider everything from the danger of underestimating our fellow human beings to the amount of influence parents have in the lives of their children.

Activities:

Students discuss the value of truth, analyze the danger of secrets and the power of choices, and consider the challenge of forgiveness. They also examine literary elements such as point of view, characterization, symbolism, theme, and motif; make connections with poems, music, photographs, and literature; participate in group discussions, role-playing exercises, and what-if scenarios; and complete creative writing, research, and independent reading assignments.

Study guide questions and essay topics are included.

Ethical Values:

Family commitment
Integrity
Responsibility
Truth