The Foundling Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Sybil Neville-Rolfe (1885-1955) and our BookBrowse Review of The Foundling.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. When we first meet Dr. Vogel on page 7, she uses many dog whistles in her speech that alert the reader that she's talking about eugenics and that her practices and positions betray a dehumanizing view of people with mental disabilities. What phrases did you pick up on as suspicious or concerning? What made them stick out to you? How do you pick up on language like this in everyday life?
2. On page 77, Dr. Vogel explains to Mary, "Wild antelope drive the genetically weak, aged, or inferior members away, for the health of the rest of the herd... . Of course, we're not animals... . We must look after our weak and afflicted." How has eugenics historically couched racism, ableism, and sexism in compassion? What remnants can you find in modern-day life and language?
3. On page 96, Jake and Mary talk about how women labeled "feebleminded" aren't allowed to marry, and on page 123, Lillian mentions that if Vogel acknowledged that some women didn't have mental defects, she'd have to pay them. Research laws in your state or country surrounding people with disabilities and marriage and labor laws. What parallels do you see between now and a century ago when The Foundling is set?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Marysue Rucci Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.