What are good book club discussion questions for The Hired Girl?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Joan pours her whole heart into her diary. If your teenage self had kept a diary, what small daily comfort would show up on every page?; Was there a book as a young person that felt like a door opening for you, the way reading does for Joan? Tell us about it; Joan longs for a place that feels like home rather than just a house. When in the story did you feel that warm sense of belonging settle in, and did it remind you of a home of your own?; So much tenderness in this book happens in kitchens and around ordinary chores. Which homey, everyday moment stayed with you and left you feeling cared for?; Joan finds unexpected kindness from people quite different from her. Who in the story most comforted or moved you, and what did their gentleness stir up in you?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a The Hired Girl book club?

Food: Warm apple hand pies, Buttered soft rolls with honey, and Hearty potato and leek soup. Drinks: Spiced hot cocoa, Honeyed black tea with milk, and Mulled red wine.

Cozy night

The Hired GirlBook club questions, food & host guide

Laura Amy Schlitz

4.3 (87)

A cozy book club night for The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

a warm, unhurried club that loves character-driven stories and sharing a little of themselves

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A big-hearted, diary-style coming-of-age story about a farm girl in 1911 who runs away to become a hired girl in Baltimore, chasing books, faith, and a life of her own. It is tender, funny, and easy to sink into on a cozy night.

Why it works for clubs

Joan's earnest, hopeful voice invites people to share their own younger-self dreams
Themes of home, belonging, and found family spark warm, personal talk
Faith, books, and self-education across different backgrounds open gentle conversation
The diary format makes it feel like reading letters from a friend

Themes & mood

heartfelt coming-of-age found family hopeful turn-of-the-century

Browse all themes →

Reading level

Easy

Warm-up questions

1 Joan pours her whole heart into her diary. If your teenage self had kept a diary, what small daily comfort would show up on every page?
2 Was there a book as a young person that felt like a door opening for you, the way reading does for Joan? Tell us about it.

Digging in

1 Joan longs for a place that feels like home rather than just a house. When in the story did you feel that warm sense of belonging settle in, and did it remind you of a home of your own?
2 So much tenderness in this book happens in kitchens and around ordinary chores. Which homey, everyday moment stayed with you and left you feeling cared for?
3 Joan finds unexpected kindness from people quite different from her. Who in the story most comforted or moved you, and what did their gentleness stir up in you?
4 Faith means something deep and personal to Joan, and to others in the household in different ways. How did watching her hold onto what she believes make you feel, whatever your own beliefs?

Going deep

1 Joan is dreamy, dramatic, and sometimes gets herself into a tangle by leading with her heart. Did you find yourself protective of her, amused by her, or a little of both, and why do you think she got under your skin?
2 By the last pages, Joan has grown in ways that feel earned and gentle. Without giving anything away, what did you most want for her, and did the story leave you feeling tucked in and hopeful?

Soft, unhurried, parlor-warm strings and gentle piano for candlelit conversation

08 Simple Gifts - Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss

Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.

You're invited

A Cozy Night with The Hired Girl

Come curl up with cocoa, soup, and warm hearts as we spend an unhurried evening with Joan's hopeful diary. Slippers and soft sweaters strongly encouraged.

Trivia

1

Who wrote The Hired Girl?

Answer: Laura Amy Schlitz
2

In what year was the novel published?

Answer: 2015
3

In what form is the story told?

Answer: As the narrator's personal diary
4

Which American city does Joan travel to for work?

Answer: Baltimore
5

Around what year is the story set?

Answer: 1911
6

Laura Amy Schlitz won which major children's award for an earlier book, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!?

Answer: The Newbery Medal
7

What is the profession that gives the book its title?

Answer: A hired girl, or domestic servant
8

Joan's great love and comfort throughout the diary is what pastime?

Answer: Reading books