About This Book
Kathleen Karr's 'Gilbert and Sullivan Set Me Free' tells the poignant story of Libby Dodge, a sixteen-year-old inmate in a Massachusetts women's prison in the early 1900s. Her bleak existence is dramatically altered when a new chaplain introduces a choir and the ambitious plan to stage Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Pirates of Penzance.' The book explores themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative power of art, as Libby finds her voice and a sense of belonging within the prison walls. It's a hopeful historical fiction piece that offers a unique look at a challenging period and setting, suitable for readers interested in history, music, and stories of overcoming adversity.
During the early 1900s, a teenaged inmate's dreary life at Massachusetts's Sherborn Prison for Women changes for the better after she becomes a member of the prison choir and participates in the production of the operetta "The Pirates of Penzance."
Concepts
Self-Confidence & IdentityResilience & PerseveranceJoy & GratitudeCreativity & ImaginationLoneliness & BelongingEmpathy & KindnessFriendship & LoyaltyTeamwork & CollaborationFreedom & IndependenceJustice & FairnessSadness & GriefForgiveness & RedemptionBeing DifferentGrowing UpMaking FriendsMusicFriendship & Social
peril_danger
separation_from_parent
mental_health_themes
Discussion Prompts
1
How does music and theater help Libby and the other women in the prison?
2
What does 'freedom' mean to Libby at the beginning of the book, and how does that idea change by the end?
3
What challenges did women face in the early 1900s, especially those in prison?
4
How does Libby's 'murky past' affect her, and how does she begin to move past it?
5
Have you ever discovered a hidden talent that changed how you felt about yourself?
External Reviews
If Your Family Enjoyed This
Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share how this book landed with your family.