What strategies and coping mechanisms does 9-year-old Sherry use to survive in her neglectful and abusive home? What kinds of unspoken messages has she internalized about herself?
 

​What do you notice about the fairy tales that Sherry tells in the book, compared to the ones Miss Mary tells? What purposes do the fairy tales serve in the story? Did any of the imbedded tales strike a chord with you, either positive or negative?
 

The forest is a common setting in fairy tales, and can be a place of darkness, mystery, and transformation. What is the forest for Sherry, and how does it contrast with the house she shares with her father?
 

The relationship between Sherry and the stray kitten mirrors another relationship in the story. Whose? And in what specific ways are they similar?
 

​How did you feel towards the three main characters: Sherry, her father, and Miss Mary? Did your feelings fluctuate or evolve at any points in the book?
 

Why do you suppose Sherry was so determined to find the fairy fort? What is underneath her fascination with fairies?
 

What do you think are some of the themes and major symbols of this book? How well are they developed?
 

What does Miss Mary say on page 122 is the most powerful catalyst for transformation? Do you agree or disagree? 
 

​What do you think Queen Gossamer represents in the book? What is her relationship to Sherry and/or to Miss Mary?
 

What was your response to the way the book ended?