Beyond That, the Sea

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Beyond That, the Sea can be categorized as a family saga. Are you usually drawn to these types of narratives? How much did you know about the plot before beginning to read, and how did this impact your experience?
• As a young girl, Bea Thompson is sent from England to America. Were you aware that, during World War II, children and adolescents were evacuated from England to other countries for their protection? Could you relate to the decision made by parents like the Thompsons, and do you think they acted in the best interest of their children?
• The novel is conveyed from multiple points of view, with chapters alternating between the perspectives of different characters. Do you like this style of narration? Would you have preferred a single POV style?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Millie fairly quickly begins to regret her decision to send her daughter to America. Have you ever made a choice and subsequently had second thoughts? Were you able to rescind your decision?
• Have you ever lived in a different country or region? How did this experience shape you? What factors lead to a place eventually coming to feel like “home”?
• Bea comes to feel conflicted about her loyalty to two different families. Have you ever felt torn between two people or two communities? Why did it seem impossible to reconcile these different options?
• Bea comes to understand, and even appreciate, that adults other than her parents played a formative role in her life. Other than your parents, whom else would you credit with a formative role? What qualities make someone likely to have a significant impact on a young person’s life?
• Although Bea and William initially experience love and attraction, they eventually realize that they are not well-suited to one another. Have you ever experienced a loss of attraction or connection to a romantic partner? What factors led to this realization?
• Do you agree with Bea’s decision not to tell Gerald that she previously had a romantic relationship with William? Do you think that Gerald would have still wanted to be with her had he known the truth?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• To what extent can Bea be considered an immigrant or a refugee? How does her story exemplify the experience of an individual caught between two worlds and two cultures, and where do you see these tensions in the world today? 
• Consider William’s character arc. To what extent does the novel ascribe the frustration of his dreams to mid-20th-century social norms and pressures—e.g., to marry and raise a family? Would his story play out differently in a contemporary context?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Millie gets married four times. What is she seeking in her various relationships? How does Millie’s romantic life influence Bea and her views on relationships?
• How does Spence-Ash characterize England and America and establish contrast between the two settings? How do the dynamics within the Thompson and Gregory families reflect broader cultural commentary about the two countries?
• Bea ends up having romantic relationships with both William and Gerald, even though they initially meet in a quasi-sibling dynamic. What does this dynamic add to the novel’s depiction of romantic love?
• Discuss the symbolism of Bea inviting Millie on a trip to America as a way of improving their strained relationship. Why is it important to Bea for Millie to visit the place that is so close to her heart?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine a sequel in which Bea and William’s relationship is revealed. How would this impact other characters (Gerald, Rose, Bea’s daughter, William’s children, etc.)? Would the sequel be more or less interesting if the secret were revealed during Bea’s lifetime versus generations later?
• The sea is a significant symbol and motif in the novel. Look for images of the Atlantic from both American and English coasts. What feelings does this ocean evoke? Consider looking at how visual artists have represented the ocean and Atlantic coastline in places like Maine. 

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