- How do Jennie and Sara’s contrasting personalities shape the way they influence their sons? Did one approach feel more effective or admirable to you?
- The book spans a century of dramatic historical change. How do the women’s lives reflect or resist the expectations of their time?
- In what ways did Jennie and Sara exercise power in a world that offered women limited formal authority?
- Gray argues that these women were instrumental in shaping two of the 20th century’s most influential leaders. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- How does the book challenge traditional narratives about motherhood and legacy?
- Were there moments when you felt sympathy or frustration toward either woman? What shaped your emotional response?
- How does Gray balance historical detail with storytelling? Did the narrative style help you connect with the subjects?
- What parallels can you draw between the political and social landscapes of Jennie and Sara’s time and today?
- If you could ask either woman one question, what would it be—and why?