Discussion Questions:The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

What did you make of Raphael’s decision to leave his family?

Why do you think so many farmers chose to stay behind with their failing farms?

How would you describe the significance of the American Penny that was passed around Rose’s family?

What did you think of the relationship between Elsa and Rose?

Do you think it was right for Elsie and her family to hide Ralpheal’s desertion from the community?

What do you think it would be like to homeschool children if you hadn’t graduated from high school?

What did you think of Tony’s declaration that he would never leave his land?

Did you buy into Elsie’s belief that she wasn’t loveable, and that Raphael never loved her?

What did you think of Tony and Rose’s decision to stay behind and plant grass?

How would you describe the relationship between Elsie and Rose?

What did you think of Eloise having a fragile son and her being the fragile daughter?

What did you think of the reception Elsa and her children received when they finally arrived in California?

What did you make of Jack the communist’s ideas to unionize in order to make life better for farm workers?

Were you surprised by Elsa being the first one to sit down in the field and the one to stand up with the megaphone in the back of the truck at the strike?

What did you learn about the Dust Bowl from reading this book?