Morning in This Broken World
Chapter 1, Reviews &
Reading Guide
Unforgettable protagonist” —Jessica Strawser,
A Million Reasons Why
“A powerful reminder of what we have to live for”
—Erin Flanagan, Come With Me and Blackout
“… full of heart-stirring highs and cathartic sorrows. I am buying stock in tissues.”
—Kelly Harms, bestselling author, Wherever the Wind Takes Us
“This life-affirming, heartwarming novel captures the unlikely friendships and connections that can emerge out of perilous circumstances—and ultimately make life worth living.”
—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Orphan Train and The Exiles
“There are very few writers who can address the human condition in such a thoughtful and poignant way as Katrina Kittle. … This novel was beautifully written, leaving me wanting more from these amazing characters. This novel is timeless and once again solidifies Kittle’s immense talent to create a deeply moving page-turner. If you are looking to escape into a wonderfully diverse and entertaining world, this book is exactly what you are looking for as a reader.”
—Angela Jackson-Brown, The Light Always Breaks
Morning Reviews
Morning Reading Guide
How was each of the four point of view characters already isolated and guarded before being forced into lockdown?
In what ways do the various characters emerge as their more authentic selves by the novel’s end?
What are the different ways in which the characters help one another, both physically and emotionally? Luna says repeatedly that she is accepting Vivian’s charity, but Vivian disagrees. Do you?
Why is it important that Luna invests in her ballet classes near the end of the story? She’s never going to be a professional dancer, so why does she pursue this? What does it represent that was missing from her life before the novel’s start?
Vivian invest a great deal of time and money on her garden. Why do you think it means so much to her? How does it parallel what she is growing and nurturing in other areas of her life?
Time with this new family changes how Cooper sees his potential future. What impact do Vivian and “the boys” have on him? How does he change his relationship with and awareness of his father’s shortcomings?
The Brood X cicadas are a strange, natural phenomenon, emerging every 17 years for a brief and very noisy life cycle. How do they play into the novel’s themes? How does the process of their metamorphosis compare and contrast that of the point of view characters?
Luna often sees herself as weak. Do you think this is true? In what ways does she exhibit weakness and in what ways does she exhibit strength?
Wren has very strong beliefs about the power of her “wishes.” How does her belief evolve over the course of the novel? What important revelation does she have about her “super powers?”
How did your own experiences during this strange time affect your reading of the novel? In what ways were the characters’ experiences similar to or different from your own?
Could this nontraditional family have formed if it weren’t for the pandemic? COVID is the catalyst that changes each of their lives profoundly. How have challenging experiences changed you, in both negative and positive ways? Were you able to keep any of those positive changes in your life as you moved forward?
Vivian’s feelings about her own life and death change greatly from Chapter 1 to the end of the novel. What caused her to change? Do you think there was a specific moment that was the turn-around for her, or was it more of a gradual transformation?
Caretaking—for anyone—is important but exhausting. Both Vivian and Luna admit to neglecting their own health while they take care of others. You may have heard the expression, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” How does that saying apply to both of these women? In what ways have you perhaps had to make changes so that you, as a caretaker, were taking care of yourself as well?