SSF Book Club July 2020 My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie: Go Beyond the Book Kirkus Book Review https://www.kirkusreviews.com/bo ok-reviews/stephanie-dray/my-dear- hamilton/ Finding Eliza Hamilton's Voice, interview with authors https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=zfe02Q1DQ84 More from author Stephanie Dray, including a video tour of the Schuyler home and other essays: https://www.stephaniedray.com/l earn-more/ Discussion Questions July 2020 My Dear Hamilton In what ways did Eliza shape Alexander Hamilton’s legacy? In what ways did she shape that of the United States itself? Did the book change your opinion of an event, place or time period? How? How does Eliza view herself in the novel, and how does that change over the course of her life? The Schuyler family’s motto was Semper Fidelis. Always loyal. How does this play out in the book for Eliza? In what ways is the family story in this book relatable to modern families? To your family? Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before? What did you think of the relationship between Eliza, Angelica, and Alexander? What do you make of the open flirtatiousness between Angelica and Alexander? How and why does Eliza’s relationship with Angelica evolve over the course of their lives? Discussion Questions July 2020 (cont.) My Dear Hamilton How do Eliza’s thoughts about slavery evolve? What factors influence her thinking? How do the depictions of slavery in New York differ from or meet your expectations and understandings of American slavery? Martha Washington tells a newly married Eliza that achieving independence will require the support of women, and one way women can offer that support is by advising their husbands. What did you think of her advice? Does Eliza take it? How and when? How effective is Mrs. Washington’s advice? What did you think of Eliza’s reaction to learning about Alexander’s infidelity with Maria Reynolds? What did you think of the reconciliation they found after suffering Yellow Fever? Was Hamilton a good husband? Was Eliza a good wife? How did they change in those roles over the course of a novel?

Resources: Harper Collins Publisher's Reading Guide Morristown Books