Note: Maddie’s Ghost is suggested for readers 8–12. However, some of the sensitive content and historical chapters may be more suitable to the older end of the range. Parents, teachers, and librarians are the best judges of the book’s appropriateness for their students. Estimated Lexile measure: 750L. Word count 48,629. Suggested Common Core correlates for grade 5 appear at the end of some questions or writing prompts.

Discussion: The Story

1. How did the prosecutors at Madeleine’s trial make her look bad? Quote from the trial transcript to explain how their questions made it difficult for her to tell her story. RL.5.1

2. Lainie’s mother died when Lainie was five, and her father is busy with work. What are some ways this situation affects Lainie’s life? RL.5.2

3. Lainie is not very frightened when she sees Madeleine in the bathroom mirror (“Midnight in the Mirror”), but she is terrified when she sees her in the silver tea tray (“The Message”). How are the two events the same and how are they different? RL 5.3

4. Why does Elle say Lainie is like Snow White (“Elle”)? RL.5.4

5. Do you think Lainie should have continued to tell her Dad about her dreams and visions of Madeleine? Why does Lainie decide not to? RL.5.6

6. Do you think Madeleine received a fair trial? Explain why or why not. W.5.1

7. Discuss the way Tini Ferrari set up the interview with Lainie and Seth. Is this good journalism? How might another journalist have approached the interview?

8. Does Lainie prove that Madeleine was innocent? List all the pieces of evidence and decide whether they add up to proof or not. W.5.2

9. Madeleine had proof that Slade knew the new drug could harm many people. Imagine you are in Maddie’s shoes. Learn about "whistleblowing." Write about what you might do differently to stop Slade without putting yourself in danger. W.5.3

Discussion: Social Issues and History

1. What does it mean to “exonerate” someone of a crime? RL.5.4

2. Compare Cicely’s treatment in chapters “1938,” “1945,” “1950,” “1958,” “1966,” and “1985.” What conclusions about the treatment of mental illness did you draw from these brief glimpses of her life? RL.5.5

3. Is diethylene glycol still used today in products for sale? What kinds of products? RI.5.7

4. In 1935, women were considered less deserving of a job than a man. Explain why you believe this is either the same or different today. W.5.1 

5. Should the government  get to decide what products are too dangerous to sell, or should companies be able to sell whatever they want? W.5.7

6. Should one person be able to have another person committed to a psychiatric hospital against their will?

7. In mental health, is there such a thing as "normal"? What does it mean?

8. If someone is convicted of a crime, what reasons can they use to appeal for a new trial? Do most people win a new trial? Are most new trials successful in overturning a conviction? SL.5.4

Resources

Diethylene Glycol

National Center for Biotechnology Information. “PubChem Annotation Record for Diethylene Glycol, Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB).”

Schep, L. J., Slaughter, R. J., Temple, W. A., & Beasley, D. M. (2009). “Diethylene Glycol Poisoning: Clinical Toxicology” (Philadelphia, PA), 47(6), 525–535. 

Treatment of mentally ill persons

“A History of Mental Illness Treatment: Obsolete Practices.” Concordia University St. Paul, CSP Global Resource Center. 

Roth, A. “The Truth about Deinstitutionalization.” The Atlantic, May 21, 2021.

Women’s rights in the 1930s

Rotondi, J. P. “Underpaid, But Employed: How the Great Depression Affected Working Women.” History.com.

“Confidence and Crises, 1920-1948: The Great Depression.” Women and the American Story. New York Historical Society.

Wrongful conviction

“About Federal Courts: Types of Cases; Appeals.” United States Courts (USCourts.gov).

“Judiciary News: Just the Facts; US Courts of Appeals.” United States Courts (USCourts.gov). 

“Research Resources.” Innocence Project.

“Exonerate.” Merriam-Webster.com.

Journalistic Ethics

The New York Times. "Ethical Journalism." 

"SPJ Code of Ethics." Society of Professional Journalists, September 6, 2014.