Grab the popcorn because we’re making book club for THE EXISTENCE OF BEA PEARL easy with ten questions and five creative writing prompts! Available for use for school & private book clubs, homeschooling groups, ELA classes, and more.

A printable copy is available here. Educators, if the students want to send me their author letters and/or postcards, please let me know via my contact page.

The Existence of Bea Pearl Discussions & Creative Writing Exercises for Book Clubs or Classrooms

1.      Bea Pearl references a few things that might or might not exist, including Grendel from Beowulf, pookas from Irish folklore, and swamp monkeys. Do you think swamp monkeys exist in the story or not?

Exercise: Choose a cryptid or make up your own. Write a newspaper article interviewing an eyewitness who also saw something that may or may not exist.

2.       After the riverside meet-cute, Bea Pearl wonders if Colin is real. What if he was only a figment of her imagination? How would that change the story? What scene made you decide if he was real or not? Do you think Bea is a reliable narrator?

3.      Even though Bea Pearl and Honey are best friends, their personalities are different. Which character do you connect with more? If any of the characters were real life people, who would you be friends with?

Exercise: Choose one character from the book to be your pen pal. Write them a postcard. Draw something on the front to illustrate what you are writing about.

4.      The three ‘villains’ of the book are Beth, Sara, and Junior. Pick character attributes that define each of them. Do you have a favorite and why?

5.      The author has said in interviews that one of the inspirations for this book came from an exercise about writing one’s biggest fear. She uses nighttime sights and sounds to show the fear of losing a loved one.

“… the Big Dipper is in the same spot it always is.

But it’s all wrong.

The coyotes in the woods know something’s off. Their mournful, lonely howls stir the sadness within me and tears well up in my eyes.” (p.48)

Using your senses to heighten emotions, describe a situation when you faced something you are afraid of.

6.      Discuss the overall setting of the story. How did the descriptions of the swamp and river affect how you felt while reading it?

7.      Was there a twist to the plot that you didn’t see coming? Do you have a favorite scene?

Exercise: Write a letter to the author describing your favorite scene and why you liked it.

8.      What words would you use to tell a friend about this book? What did you like or not like about it? Does it remind you of other books you’ve read?

9.      When Bea and Colin leave the sandbar and head to his four-wheeler, they have an exchange that confuses and scares Bea Pearl.

“A chuckle rumbles in his chest. “You are something else, Bea Pearl.”

“Something else?” I repeat, confused.

“I meant it as an expression. But yeah, if I’m a water sprite, what does that make you?”

For some reason that simple question scares me. Bad. “I exist.” Fear pinches my voice, making my words come out small and disfigured.” (p.108 )

Why does Bea Pearl say “I exist”? How does that tie into the theme and title of the book?

10.    Bea Pearl attributes dreams of the sparkle-eyed water spirit are what led her to meeting Colin and waking her when she was being kidnapped. Have you had a dream that felt prophetic? What was your dream about?

Exercise: Write a poem about your dream. Be sure to use similes and metaphors. Begin your poem with the first line: “I wonder if this isn’t a dream anymore.” (p.205)