About This Book
"The Forgotten Girl" introduces 11-year-old Iris, who inadvertently awakens the ghost of Avery Moore, a girl her age, while making snow angels in an abandoned, segregated Black cemetery. Iris feels compelled to help Avery gain recognition and bring light to the town's hidden racial history, tying into her school project. However, as Iris delves deeper, she discovers Avery's intentions are more sinister than they appear, threatening to trap Iris as her "best friend forever" in the spectral realm. This book thoughtfully blends a spooky ghost story with important themes of historical injustice, racial tension, and the power of uncovering forgotten truths. It's suitable for middle-grade readers ready for a suspenseful mystery with a poignant social commentary.
When eleven-year-old Iris sneaks out at night to make snow angels, she was not expecting to raise the ghost of Avery Moore, a girl her own age; but bringing to light the segregated and abandoned black cemetery seems like the perfect way to help Avery get the recognition she craves, and it will also be a good idea for the school project about the history of her small North Carolina town, where racial tensions are never far from the surface--only it seems that if Avery gets everything she wants Iris will join her as a ghost, best friends forever.
Discussion Prompts
1
What does Avery Moore truly want, and why is it so important for her story to be remembered?
2
How does Iris show bravery throughout the story, even when she's scared?
3
What does this book teach us about history and why it's important to remember all parts of it, even the difficult ones?
4
If you were Iris, how would you try to help Avery, knowing the danger involved?
5
How do the racial tensions in the town, both past and present, affect the story?
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