Book Club Discussion questions for A Wish in Time
1. Magda asks David and Todd what makes them who they are. What do you think makes a person uniquely his/herself? What do the characters think? Do David and Davy share the same belief? Magda and Maggie? Father Toddy and Todd? What does their point of view say about them?
2. Bradley keeps the Scottish dialect to the chapters that take place in the 18th century. Why do you think she did that? How would it have affected the story to have Magda speak with the accent throughout the book?
3. What was Auld Annie’s intent when she switched Magda and Maggie? Why didn’t it work out the way she thought it would?
4. How did Davy and David react to the switch? What do their different reactions say about the ages they live in? Would the story have worked as well had their reactions been the same? Switched?
5. Is Magda’s reluctance to accept David into her bed true to her character? Why didn’t Maggie share her reluctance? Are there times in your life when you would choose one course of action and times when you would choose its opposite? Explain.
6. Is Madga a changeling? Do myths and folktales have their bases in fact? Can you give an example of how a myth or folktale explains an actual phenomenon?
7. Davy asks Father Toddy about faith and fairness. Davy comments, “Seems all too often those that do good are rewarded with pain.” What do you think? Are good deeds always rewarded?
8. What do you think happens after the book ends? Are Maggie and Magda able to adjust back to their own lives? What do you think happens with their relationship to David/Davy the day they switch back? Five years out?
9. Was Maggie right to let Davy think she was Magda? What would you have done in her place?
Copyright 2012 Laurel Bradley
2. Bradley keeps the Scottish dialect to the chapters that take place in the 18th century. Why do you think she did that? How would it have affected the story to have Magda speak with the accent throughout the book?
3. What was Auld Annie’s intent when she switched Magda and Maggie? Why didn’t it work out the way she thought it would?
4. How did Davy and David react to the switch? What do their different reactions say about the ages they live in? Would the story have worked as well had their reactions been the same? Switched?
5. Is Magda’s reluctance to accept David into her bed true to her character? Why didn’t Maggie share her reluctance? Are there times in your life when you would choose one course of action and times when you would choose its opposite? Explain.
6. Is Madga a changeling? Do myths and folktales have their bases in fact? Can you give an example of how a myth or folktale explains an actual phenomenon?
7. Davy asks Father Toddy about faith and fairness. Davy comments, “Seems all too often those that do good are rewarded with pain.” What do you think? Are good deeds always rewarded?
8. What do you think happens after the book ends? Are Maggie and Magda able to adjust back to their own lives? What do you think happens with their relationship to David/Davy the day they switch back? Five years out?
9. Was Maggie right to let Davy think she was Magda? What would you have done in her place?
Copyright 2012 Laurel Bradley
