My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

At Granny’s funeral, Elsa thinks, “The mightiest power of death is not that it can make people die, but that it can make the people left behind want to stop living” (220). What does this mean? Support your answer with examples from the novel.

According to the novel, what is the importance of stories and storytelling? How do Granny’s fairy tales help Elsa make sense of the world around her?

In what way is forgiveness a major theme of the novel? Who needed to forgive? Who needed forgiveness?

Do you consider Britt-Marie a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

Elsa refuses to allow George to get close to her, certain that “if you don’t like people, they can’t hurt you” (209). What does she mean by this? Give examples of two other characters who appear to share Elsa’s philosophy. What is the outcome?

Discuss the ways in which My Grandmother Asked Me is a coming of age story. How does Elsa demonstrate growth and maturity throughout the novel?

The woman in the dark skirt refers to the “trolley problem,” a dilemma that questions whether it is ethical to sacrifice one person in order to save many others. How does the “trolley problem” relate to Granny’s choices? Do you believe her choices were correct?

Elsa believes that Wolfheart, like herself, “understands what it’s like when people have secrets from you just because you’re a child” (166). What secrets do adults keep from Elsa? Do you believe they were right to keep secrets from her? Why or why not?