1. What is your first impression of the main character, June Bug?

2. At the beginning of the story, what did you think of John and his motivation for caring for June Bug? Does your view of him change throughout the novel? What would you have done in his situation?

3. What parallels/similarities did you see between John and Jean Valjean of Les Misérables?

4. Sheriff Hadley Preston is impressed with his wife’s spirituality but not enough to make him embrace her faith. What is holding him back? Do you think he will ever embrace her faith?

5. Do you think June Bug will ever meet her biological mother? Would you want her to? Why or why not?

6. Describe Mae’s hope for the safe return of Natalie. Is it a blind hope or one rooted in reality? How do Mae’s reactions and feelings differ from Leason’s and why?

7. How did you react to Mae’s relationship with her daughter, Dana? Would you have handled things differently if you were in Mae’s position?
8. June Bug meets several kindhearted people throughout the story—Sheila, the couple at the Arkansas farmhouse, Mrs. Linderman, Big Mac, the pastor, and the family at the water park. How do their actions demonstrate their faith? Of all the characters in the book, whose faith journey do you identify with the most?

9. What factors motivate John to return to Dogwood?

10. Every time Mae thinks of Natalie, Romans 8:28 comes to mind, even though she isn’t sure how the verse relates to her situation. Do you think the verse becomes clear to Mae later? Describe a time in your life when you’ve seen God work through a difficult situation.

11. At the end of the book, John uses the story of the june bug to explain to June Bug why things need to change for her. Do you think he made the right decision?

12. June Bug represents innocence. She is an “every girl.” If you could wrap your arms around her and tell her one thing, what would you say?