Connect the book’s title to the theme of Wishful Thinking Versus Confronting Adversity. How does Starla “whistle past the graveyard” when it comes to Lulu? How does Starla not “whistle past the graveyard” concerning the wrongs of her immediate world? Discuss Eula and the other characters. When do they construct illusions, and how do they face their hardships?

Baking is a complex symbol in the story. Unpack what it represents. How does baking symbolize love, security, and independence? How does it reinforce Starla and Eula’s bond, and how does it give Eula agency?

Talk about the historical context of the book. How does Crandall bring in the civil rights movement, and how does it impact Starla, Eula, and the other characters?