Operation Sisterhood

Bo joins the Dwyer-Saunders family after her mother marries Bill Saunders. What is unusual about this family? Do you think the family’s uniqueness helps or hinders Bo’s experiences in settling into a blended family? Why, or why not?

Compare and contrast Bo and Sunday’s characters. What similarities and differences do the girls share? How do these play out in the dynamic between them? What does each girl learn from each other, and what does that suggest about the role of relationships in personal growth?

Describe how food is used as a recurring motif, and illustrate which larger themes it ties into with examples from the text. What kinds of food appear other than the ones Bo bakes? What are the cultural, historical, and personal significances of these foods?

How are the different bonds of community created and nurtured in the book? What best helps foster the sense of belonging and support that the characters feel within their different kinds of communities?

Bo’s experiences with the Dwyer-Saunders family set her on a path of personal growth and self-discovery. What are some of the important lessons she learns along the way? How do these lessons translate into the way she lives her life?

Comment on the characters of Reese and Ms. Tyler. Are they antagonists, foils, or something else? What role do they each play within the story? Do any of their roles transform over time? How and why?

Lola develops two different cakes in the book: the “Sunshine Surprise Smilecake” and “Sistersweet.” Comment on the symbolism of both of these cakes and the larger themes they connect to.

What are some of the different ways the book understands and celebrates differences? Justify your response with references to characters, ideas, and/or incidents from the text.