Killers of the Flower Moon (Adapted for Young Readers): The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

What are the roles of memory and forgetting in Killers of the Flower Moon? How does memory affect the legacy of the Osage murders and the impact of trauma on later generations?

Although the book is historical nonfiction, it reads like a murder mystery. What narrative techniques does David Grann use to make the book read like a mystery?

Choose two marriages from Killers of the Flower Moon to explore. Describe the role of marriage for those characters and draw conclusions about each partner’s expectations and experience of marriage.

Discuss the significance of the title Killers of the Flower Moon. How does it relate to the themes and events of the book?

Examine the character of Mollie Burkhart and her role as a symbol of resilience and resistance. How does Grann use her story to highlight the struggles faced by the Osage people?

How does the author use the story of Ernest Burkhart to explore the themes of loyalty and betrayal? Use specific events and quotations from the text to support your answer.

Investigate the role of power and corruption in Killers of the Flower Moon. Identify three people or institutions (or a combination) that exploit their positions of authority for personal gain. What are their motivations? How do their decisions lead to tragedy for the Osage people?

Grann highlights aspects of Osage culture at pivotal points in the story. How are Osage myths and cultural practices used to further the story? What do they add to the story?