Book Club Questions for Kin by Tayari Jones

Book club questions for Kin by Tayari Jones feature discussion questions for this impactful book about found family and life choices. There will be spoilers, so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first.

Wow, Kin is a very special and profound read.

I so felt for Vernice and Annie as they go on their search to fill a hole that is impossible to fill. There’s so much to unravel with this novel.

Summary and Ending Thoughts

This is now getting into spoilers and ending thoughts.

After Annie’s death following her abortion, Vernice works to get her a proper burial and has to turn to Joette, her ex-lover, whom she left when she started to date Franklin. It was a messy breakup, and Joette has never quite recovered.

Eventually, Joette was open with her parents about her sexuality. So Joette won’t help Vernice until she tells Franklin the truth about their past relationship.

Franklin has always sensed that Vernice is holding back from him, so he’s ready to hear the full truth. But after everything is revealed, the two are silent, and the reader is left to their own judgments of what happens next.

After reading it a couple of times, I think they will make it, but it won’t be easy. I actually would have loved an epilogue that looked at everyone five years from now.

Let me know your thoughts about the book in the comments section below!

What’s the Story About

The story follows two lifelong friends, Vernice and Annie, who were raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana. Both lost their mothers at a young age. Vernice’s mother was murdered, and Annie’s mother left her behind. The two were immediately bonded by shared circumstances and proximity.

But while Vernice was raised to eventually be a proper woman who would go to college, Annie wasn’t afforded the same opportunity.

Eventually, Annie runs away to find her birth mother, while Vernice leaves the town to attend college in Georgia. Despite their now big distance, the two strive to remain close through letters and occasional visits.

While Vernice will eventually find stability, Annie embarks on a huge journey. After many years apart, the two are brought together, where everything will change.

Book Club Questions for Kin

1. Let’s talk about the meaning behind the book’s title, Kin, and how the story explores kinship and belonging, both by blood and by found family.
2. Annie and Vernice are instantly bonded by losing their mothers at a young age. Vernice’s mother was killed by her father, and Annie’s mother ran away. How did growing up without their mothers shape who they eventually became?
3. While they have a shared experience, the two girls are raised differently. Vernice’s aunt doesn’t show much in the way of affection, but she teaches Vernice how to be a lady. Annie’s grandmother is pretty much worn out and doesn’t have the energy to fully be engaged with Annie’s upbringing. Both girls don’t receive the nurturing they need. What stood out to you about their childhoods?
4. The novel takes place in the American South during the Jim Crow era, and each of the characters experiences systemic racism. How did these experiences have a greater impact on their livelihood?
5. Knowing her mother is out there somewhere gives Annie some hope. And eventually she runs away with her ex-boyfriend, his current girlfriend, and Bo, his cousin. What did Annie hope would happen if she found her mother?
6. Vernice heads off to college, and on the bus ride there, she accidentally sits on the white side, and the bus driver kicks her out. When her classmates hear about it, the story eventually becomes exaggerated to the point that Annie did this to take a stand. When Annie and Joette have their big confrontation at the end, Joette accuses Annie of trying to act like a hero when she wasn’t. Why did Annie somewhat hide the truth about that day?
7. Annie’s journey is not smooth, and on the road to Memphis, their car breaks down, and they’re forced to stop and eventually work at a whorehouse. What were your thoughts as you read the scenes there and the impact on each character?
8. Vernice starts a secret relationship with her roommate, Joette. What was your take on their relationship?
9. Annie’s relentless search for her mother and the ups and downs of her whereabouts eventually drive a wedge between her and Bo, and he breaks up with her as a result. How did you react when Bo left her behind?
10. Eventually, Vernice starts a relationship with Franklin, which is spearheaded by his mother, who takes a liking to Vernice due to their similar upbringings. As a result, she has a messy breakup with Joette. Did Vernice love Franklin, or was it more about what he could provide (money and eventual children)?
11. We do learn that Annie does, in fact, see her mother once, and they speak. But her mother doesn’t have much to say and simply says not to waste time on her. Let’s discuss this scene.
12. After Bo leaves Annie, she spirals and starts a toxic affair with her much older boss. She gets pregnant and turns to Vernice for support. But Vernice’s in-laws forbade her from helping Annie, which led Annie to go back to the whorehouse for an abortion. However, Annie dies shortly after. Let’s discuss our thoughts as all of this unfolded.
13. Vernice is devastated by the loss of Annie. She’s the one person who truly knew her. Regarding her burial, she has to turn to Joette for help. But Joette is cold and forces Vernice to reveal the truth about their past relationship to Franklin. Why was it so important to Joette that Vernice stop hiding their past?
14. Vernice tells Franklin the truth about her entire life, including Joette. It then says a silence follows. What happens after this silence? Will the two stay together? Or do you think he will leave her?
15. The last chapter is right before Annie’s abortion, and they ask for her next of kin. She eventually says it was Niecy (her nickname for Vernice). Let’s discuss the impact of this moment.
16. What were your thoughts about the open ending?
17. Overall, how did this story make you feel?

Additional Recommendations

Thank you for reading the book club questions for Kin! Here are some more recommendations, along with links to book club questions.

The story covers many timelines and different places. From the 1930s to the 1940s, Shanghai to Los Angeles in 2008. It also features time in Hong Kong and parts of Taiwan. The 1940s and beyond were quite volatile, with numerous wars and significant changes in government that devastated communities and broke apart families.

The two main characters—Sushi and Haiwen—were so human, raw, and memorable. An epic romance, filled with heartbreak, regret, yet also acceptance.

For my full review, click here. And check out my book club questions here.

If you haven’t read it yet, I’m sure you’re at least familiar with the concept: James is a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.

There’s clearly a reason why James received so much acclaim. It’s truly stunning in so many ways, and haunting, tragic, sometimes funny, and then takes a huge tonal shift toward the end that I feel actually worked well. 

Check out my full review here. And my book club questions here.

Happy reading!