Aminata clings to who she was when she was first stolen in the woods outside Bayo. Although remnants of her youth are still within her, she fails to realize how she changes with every migration and experience. Who is Aminata, truly? How does Aminata’s identity change as the story progresses? When does she finally realize how her identity has changed? How does her experience inform the novel’s theme of identity in crisis and transition?

The story is told through the eyes of an elderly Aminata, who lives in London at the start of 19th century. This first-person point of view allows the reader to experience Aminata’s story through extended flashbacks. How does this narrative style contribute to your understanding of the plot? In what instances does returning to the “present day” foreshadow the events of the coming chapters? How might the story be different if “present day” Aminata was not introduced until the end?

Chekura is the only person from Africa who remains in Aminata’s life. Even after he dies, she feels tied to him as his wife and family. How does her tie to Chekura transcend love and the bond of marriage? In what instances does her attachment to Chekura represent an attachment to her homeland