'The House at Sugar Beach' by Helene Cooper - Book Club Discussion Questions

The House at Sugar Beach is an astonishing and moving memoir about growing up in Liberia during a violent civil war. Helene Cooper is the daughter of one of Liberia's elite families, but after a coup threw her people out of power she moved to the United States, eventually becoming a journalist. Use these book club discussion questions on The House at Sugar Beach to discuss Cooper's story and Liberia.

Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper. Finish the book before reading on.

1. Were you familiar with the history of Liberia and the current turmoil in the country? What were some new things you learned about Liberia?

2. How is Liberia's history tied to the United States'?

3. Why do you think Cooper opened her memoir with stories about her fears of heartmen and neegees at the Sugar Beach house?

4. What were some of your favorite passages from the memoir?

5. Do you think Cooper was able to connect her story to the larger story of Liberia well?

6. Do you understand why Cooper decided to return to Liberia after so many years?

7. How did The House at Sugar Beach compare to other memoirs you have read? What roles do memoirs play in teaching history?

8. Rate The House at Sugar Beach on a scale of 1 to 5.