Kantika

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Kantika is a work of historical fiction. How does this novel differ from other historical fiction novels you’ve read? How does the author’s relationship to the central character affect your experience as a reader?
• Elizabeth Graver presents members from multiple generations of the Cohen family. How does the author’s use of structural and narrative techniques affect your connections to the characters? Of the different members of the Cohen family, which ones do you relate to most, and why? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• As Rebecca strives to create a home for her family in Spain and later in the United States, she contends with the effects of displacement and discrimination. Have you ever felt like an outsider? If so, what helped you build community and find a sense of belonging?
• Rebecca helps Luna transform her relationship with her body and realize her strength as a woman. Identify the women who have played a formative role in your own life. What lessons have they taught you, and how have you put this wisdom into practice?
• The novel follows Rebecca’s life from her childhood to the night she learns that she is a grandmother, capturing moments of great joy and love but also profound grief and loss.