Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

1. What scene or imagery stood out the most to you while reading? Did anything in the book surprise you?

2. Ellie is self-assured and appears to know who she is and what she wants. How does her headspace compare to other YA protagonists? Could you relate?

3. Ellie frequently consults her parents (and elders) throughout the story. How does her relationship with them compare to other YA protagonists? What did you think of Ellie’s community, such as her friendship with Jay and the involvement of Ronnie and Al? Ellie is also ace — how does this impact the story?

4. The book is classified as YA. Does the writing style match that description? Could it be Middle Grade or Adult? Ostensibly, it is also a Fantasy with mild Horror elements, but the driving plot is a Mystery. Instead of “who is the murderer?” Ellie’s powers change the question into “how and why did Abe Allerton murder Trevor?” How does this affect the story’s structure and pace? Do other mysteries function this way?

5. The story takes place in a world much like our own, with supernatural elements. What did you think of the world building? What was familiar or different? Was anything confusing? 

6. How do the stories about Ellie’s ancestors integrate into the story? How does Six Great influence and inform Ellie? What is something else you learned about Lipan Apache culture? 

7. In a letter on page 350, a real Lipan Apache burial site is referenced. Due to a lot of work from the tribe, this site was finally (recently) returned to the Lipan Apache in a surprising turn of events for the state of Texas to return land to Natives. 

What other parts of the story mirror real world issues?

How does the town’s secret connect with real events?

How does heritage play into the story? Allerton and Ellie both come from magical legacies — how are they similar and different?

8. What does the book say about grief? How do different characters handle death? In what ways does the Lipan Apache reality of human ghosts affect the story?