HFBC Book #2 Discussion

Holliday Farms Book Club (HFBC) Sophomore Meeting:

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Hosted by HF Stroll Magazine, HF Social Club and Rafael S. Garcia-Cortes

Tuesday, Septemebr 9, 2025 @ HF Social Club (Caldemeyer Room)

1. What’s the symbolism behind the Frozen River?

How does the frozen Kennebec reflect women’s silenced voices in 1789, and how does Martha’s diary “thaw” them?

Fun fact: The Kennebec River is ~170 miles long!

2. Martha Ballard's Legacy vs. Paul Revere's Ride

Why do some figures in the novel (like Paul Revere) get remembered nowadays while women like Martha Ballard are nearly forgotten?

3. A Mystical White Fox

What did the white fox symbolize to you? Was it danger, purity, survival, mystery, or something else? How did it mirror Martha’s resilience in a male-dominated world?

4. The Vintage Medical Record: Rape, Testimony, and the Diary

How does the diary as the only proof of rape show the fragility of justice for women then and now?

5. Maine's Wonder Woman

Do all heroes wear capes? How does the novel recast Martha's daily labor as true heroism?

6. How did you think the author handled the topic of rape?

Did Lawhon balance sensitivity with realism? Did the scenes feel respectful and impactful within the story?

7. Bonus / Joke Question

So… who else wants to own a hawk now, after reading this novel? 🦅