READERS GUIDE

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. Tin Camp Road is the moving story of the compromises a mother must make for her child. It’s also a beautiful portrait of a strong single mother trying to give her daughter the resources, love, and care she needs. In what ways does Laurel excel as a mother? In what ways is she hampered by her lived experiences and the realities of life in Gallion? 

2. The novel has a very strong sense of place—the rhythms of the Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior are an important part of the story. In what ways does Ellen Airgood conjure the remote beauty of the region?

3. Skye is an incredible character—feisty, fierce, precocious, and full of a deep love for her mother Laurel. How does Skye grow and change over the course of the novel? How much is she aware of Laurel’s precarious situation, and how much does Laurel shield her from it?

4. To an outsider, moving from Gallion to the nearby town of Waiska might not seem like a big change, but to Laurel and Skye, they may as well be moving to the moon. What makes Gallion feel like home to their family? What unexpected benefits does their move to Waiska bring?

5. Mary Lynn, a wealthy local woman, takes an interest in Skye’s development. How does she influence Skye? Discuss the challenges Laurel faces as she adjusts to Mary Lynn’s influence. Does Skye benefit from her relationship with Mary Lynn?

6. Naomi is a source of nurturing and stability for Laurel as she contemplates a new life. But Naomi also has a tragedy in her past that has shaped her. What do these two women offer each other, in terms of friendship, care, and understanding? What is Ellen Airgood saying more broadly about how women support each other in times of hardship?

7. Discuss the character of Jen. Laurel’s oldest friend, Jen knows her better than anyone. But Jen’s decisions end up putting Laurel and Skye at great risk. What do you think about Laurel’s decision to leave Skye alone to help her friend?

8. Through the moving story of Laurel and Skye, Tin Camp Road explores the relationship between independence and community. What tensions exist between the two? How are they ultimately reconciled? What emotions were you left with at the end of the story?