A few ideas for discussion:

1. Historical Fiction. Why use it to discuss race and racial injustice in America? What makes
   this genre especially effective?
2. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Why this title?
3. Setting and Characters. Place and time? Large cast of characters? Was any of this new to you?
4. Wit and Humor. How is language used to convey this? How is history/the past conveyed?
5. Puzzles and Mystery. What are the various ones and how do they connect the disparate stories in the narrative?
6. Relationships. Which do you find interesting/moving/surprising?
7. Race and Racial Tensions. What are the disappointments? Besides the obvious and
   expected, what are the other conflicts and antagonisms?
8. Community. How does the author regard community and what makes it so effective? Is it
   realistic?
9. Serendipities/Coincidences. Is the author asking the reader to suspend disbelief? Is the story believable and are we satisfied?
10. National Humanities Medal (2015). Awarded by President Obama, who said of McBride, “. . . for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America. . . his works of fiction informed by our shard history, his moving stories of love display the character of the American family.”
11. Downsides/Negatives. What are the problems/dissonances of teaching race in America via the novel?
12. Balance. Is the reader satisfactorily informed and moved?

Anything Else?