Reader’s Guide for Finding Emma

In the beginning of the story, Megan is a tired mother, overwhelmed by the daily tasks of her life and her children. Were you able to relate to her when you first met her?

After Emma’s disappearance, Megan started up the Walk Home Alone program. What do you think was the underlying reason for Megan starting up this program?

When you first are introduced to Peter, what is your initial reaction to him? Do you see him as a man trying to be the glue keeping his family together, or does he come across as more selfish?

Losing a child is every mother’s worst nightmare. Do you think you would react the same way as Megan does, or differently? Do you know anyone who has gone through this?

When Megan first thought she’d seen Emma at the coffee shop drive-thru, what was your first reaction? How would you have reacted if you were in her shoes? What about if you were that child’s mother and a stranger came up to your child like Megan did?

As the story progressed, how did your attitude toward Megan change? Was she a woman you felt you could sympathize with? Did you agree with Peter and everyone else in her life who felt she’d become so focused on finding Emma that she’d forgotten about everyone else?

When you are first introduced to Jack and Emmie, what was your initial reaction? Were you drawn to them as characters?

Dottie is a strong woman with a conflicted past. It becomes evident early on that Dottie has some memory loss. When did you start to wonder that things weren’t as they seemed at the farm house?

Emmie believed that her mommy was in heaven. How did that make you feel? Do you think Jack and Dottie handled it correctly when Emmie wanted to read stories about heaven, and draw pictures of herself and her mom there?

The scene where Peter showed his journal to Megan was crucial, not only to their storyline as a couple, but in showing how Peter was handling Emma’s disappearance. Did that change the way you looked at Peter? Did it affect how you viewed Megan and her thoughts about her marriage?

Why do you think Jack never fought Dottie on the issue of Emmie never leaving the farm? When Jack finds out the truth about Mary, his own daughter, how did you react?

Hannah carried a lot of guilt on her young shoulders regarding Emma’s disappearance. Why do you think that was? Why do you think she never let go of that guilt?

When Peter asks Megan to ‘let go’ of Emma, what was your immediate reaction? Was it right of Peter to give Megan the ultimatum of “Emma or me?”

When the subject of preparing a memorial service was brought up, how did you feel? Do you think you could go through preparing this type of service for a child you believed was still alive? Was a formal way of saying goodbye to Emma necessary for the family to move on?

The scene Megan witnessed at the cemetery was instrumental in her decision to say goodbye to Emma. How did you feel at that point?

A small county fair is always fun to attend. Have you ever been to one? Did you agree with Peter that it was time for the family to finally go? What were your thoughts when Megan sat on the bench and watched an elderly family with their young child? Did you think Dottie/Jack and Megan/Peter might run into each other there?

When Megan realized that the image she’d taken was of her daughter, what were your thoughts? When she brought the photo to Peter, did you agree with his reaction?

When Jack finally admitted to himself that he’d been ignoring the obvious, what were your thoughts? Do you think he purposefully turned a blind eye — or did he really believe this was his second chance?

What was your favorite moment of the final scene?

Now that you’ve finished the story, what are your overall thoughts? What was your favorite scene? Which character did you resonate with most, and which did you like least? If there was one thing you would change, what would it have been?