The Girls in the Stilt House

What is the purpose of Peggy Creedle’s character? How does she contribute to the characterization of Ada and Matilda? To the narrative as a whole?

Who or what is the antagonist in this novel? Is it a character like Virgil or Frank? Is it Ada herself? Is it society? How do you know?

The setting of Natchez Trace looms large, teeming with flora and fauna, capable of sucking houses into the mud, the birthplace of cypress trees, full of scents and sounds that affect different characters in different ways. What might this setting symbolize? What figurative meanings are conveyed by the narrator’s descriptions?

How does Mustian’s decision to tell the story in three parts impact your understanding of the characters?

What does the Prologue contribute to the text? What are the benefits of including it? How would it change the narrative if the Prologue were not there?

According to the text, what circumstances must exist for two people of different races to develop a satisfying friendship?

What does the novel suggest about the importance of mothers? Consider Sylvie, Teensy, and Ada. How do mothers have the power to shape their children’s lives?

The most corrupt characters are men: Creedle, Virgil, and Frank. Peggy and the other women lack the same level of dishonesty. Why is this? Why are the men so corrupt while the women seem so much more innocent?