Push

Precious narrates Push in her own voice and vernacular. What does her voice add to the story? Is anything left out or unclear in the narrative because it is told through her perspective? What do you think is the significance of seeing the story through Precious’s eyes?

Watch Precious, the 2009 film adaptation of the novel. How is the film different from the novel? Do you think the film serves the novel well? How does it compare to the way you envisioned the characters and the action while you were reading?

Research the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. Given Precious’s life, position in the social hierarchy, and economic status, what prospects does she have for treatment and longevity? Would her prospects be the same or different if the novel were set today? How have attitudes changed?

Compare and contrast Celie’s experience in The Color Purple and Precious’s life. Why do you think the author put these two books in conversation with each other? Why is The Color Purple significant?

How does the novel address race and racism? How does Precious understand the effect of racism on her life?

What does Push say about public education in the United States? Why do you think Precious wasn’t served and taught properly by the existing system? How do you think she might have been helped?

How would you describe Precious’s relationship with her mother and her understanding of herself in relation to her mother? How do that relationship and understanding change by the end of the novel?

Like The Color Purple, Push has drawn criticism for its unfavorable representation of Black men. How are the novel’s Black men represented? Do you agree that the representation is unfair? Why or why not?