Speaker questions for book clubs:

Here are some ideas for book group discussions:

ANIMALS:

• What kind of consciousness do animals have?
• Is it different from human consciousness?
• What kind of animal is a human?
• What are some of the differences between the animals?
• How do you imagine you would speak with an animal? (Maybe you already do!)
• What is the nature of language in this world (or any world)?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?:

• If you were able to communicate with animals the way Hamish does, how would you use that skill?
• What would you be most curious about discovering?
• What animals would you most want to talk with?
• How do you think being able to communicate with animals as Hamish does might change you?

SEX TRAFFICKING:

• What kind of sex trafficking is portrayed in Speaker?
• What other kinds of sex trafficking do you know about?
• Is there any relationship between sex trafficking and animal behavior?
• As different as Heigo Kuusk and Thaddeus Knox are, can you see any commonalities/similarities between them?

WHY HAMISH? WHY NOW?:

• Why do you think Hamish has been called to be a Speaker at this moment in history?
• What crisis or crises might have made the appearance of a Speaker necessary?
• What do you imagine a Speaker might have done in other historical crises?

BECOMING A MAN:

• Hamish is going from an adolescent to a young man in a very short time. Describe how Hamish is growing up.
• What are the most important things to happen during the year of Speaker that move him towards manhood?
• What kind of man do you imagine he will become?