The Kindness of Strangers
Chapter 1, Reviews &
Reading Guide
“Compulsively readable… Kittle knows children and writes about them well.”
—Chicago Tribune
“A moving novel about the ways in which healing can occur…Kittle’s clear prose gives a luminous quality to her story of thriving against the odds.”
—People Magazine
“Kittle crafts a disturbing but compelling story line, as Sarah, Nate, and Jordan uncover and come to terms with the horror in alternating chapters… Though the movement is toward healing, there are bumpy roads ahead for everybody in this…gripping read.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A story of ordinary people trying to make the best of an awful situation and finding the healing power of love and forgiveness in the process.”
—Booklist
“The Kindness of Strangers grabs hold of you from the first page and won’t let go… Definitely not a novel to be missed!”
—BookSense (A BookSense Pick for February 2006)
“A heartbreaking story [that] encompasses fear, fury, and loyalty. Thanks to the author’s exceptionally fluent narrative skill, [this]novel…becomes utterly compelling… [A] heartbreaking story [that] encompasses fear, fury, and loyalty…Kittle unfurls her tale with absolute devotion.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Kittle burrows deeply into how people react to an abomination in their midst, and makes the case that people have to proactively involve themselves in the well-being of others, even when they are afraid to take on the burden of doing so… The story is a brisk, lively, intelligent page-turner that gives the proper payoff and never lets the reader doubt that they’re in capable storytelling hands.”
—Dayton Daily News
“Engaging and thought provoking.”
—Sunday Oklahoman
“Unselfishness is at the heart of this most memorable, compelling novel of survival. Kittle’s careful character development and depiction of a loving family situation, along with the variety of statistics offered, help make this tale hard to put down. Although it is a grim, disturbing study of abuse, the conversational style and vividly drawn characters render it a moving portrait of how we heal. Recommended for all public libraries.”
—Library Journal
(The author’s personal favorite!) “Powerful and gripping… Kittle is a humanitarian superstar.”
—The Independent (BookPeople’s newsletter, Austin)
Kindness Reviews
Kindness Reading Guide
1. Why was Sarah so reluctant to give up her “friendship” with Courtney? What is she holding on to when she refuses to believe in Courtney’s guilt? What does this say about Sarah?
2. Jordan’s relationship with his mother is complicated. His relationship with his father is more black and white. Which relationship is the more harmful one to Jordan's long-term health? Why?
3. In addition to parent-child relationships, what other relationships of dependence merge in the novel? How do the Kendricks prey on the weakness and vulnerability of others, both children and adults?
4. Consider the relationship between Danny and Jordan. In many ways it is the most difficult, but at the same time it could be argued that it is the most redeeming. Discuss the complexity and evolution of this relationship.
5. Jordan demonstrates a rare psychological sophistication when he rejects Danny in order to protect him from the Kendricks. In what other ways does Jordan behave in more mature ways than this age might predict?
6. Nate, Sarah, Danny, and Jordan all feel guilt at some point, yet those who are genuinely guilty do not seem abashed by their deeds. Examine these various manifestations of guilt; are they justified?
7. What role do domestic pets play in the novel? Why does Jordan take the rabbit to his closet? In what ways does Sarah's interaction with the robin suggest what is to come in the novel?
8. The chick is a powerful symbol in Sarah’s first chapter. How does it follow through? What other instances of birds or flight play a significant role in the text?
9. What is the role of food in the novel? How does it create family? How does Sarah's talent as a caterer and cook shape her relationships with others? How does the metaphor of feeding and nourishment extend to the entire novel?
10. Each character in this novel has experienced a loss that has changed them. How does loss connect the various characters in the book to each other?
11. If Sarah’s husband were alive, would circumstances be significantly altered? Why or why not?
12. Sarah’s perceptions of Nate's behavior has been clouded by his earlier troubles. What allows her to go beyond this perception and to trust him again? What does it take to restore trust between parents and children?