Last Night at the Telegraph Club
Last Night at the Telegraph Club Series
on Goodreads (103,445)
What’s inside...
A story of love and duty set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the Red Scare. Lily Hu, a seventeen-year-old Chinese American, finds herself questioning her sexuality after discovering a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club with Kathleen Miller. Amidst the Red-Scare paranoia and looming deportation threats to her father, Lily and Kath must navigate their blossoming love in a time and place where it is deemed unsafe. This poignant tale won the National Book Award.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
14-17
Length
409 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Lily Hu
Shirley Lum
Kathleen Miller
Tommy Andrews
Discussion points
How do you think Lily felt when she explored new parts of her identity? What steps did she take to understand herself better?
Discuss the significance of the Telegraph Club in the story. How did it contribute to the characters' development and experiences?
Friendship plays a crucial role in this book. How do the supportive friendships impact Lily's journey? Can you relate to any of these friendships in your own life?
This book is set in 1950s America. How do you think the time period affected Lily and Kath's experiences and decisions?
What did you learn about the challenges faced by different communities during the 1950s? How can we apply these lessons to today’s society?
Tip: Role play these questions
Set a comfortable and quiet environment to discuss the book. This encourages open and thoughtful discussion.
Connect topics from the book to current events or your child’s personal experiences to make the conversation more relatable and meaningful.
Listen actively to your child’s thoughts and perspectives, and ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into their understanding of the book’s themes.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative scenarios in the book, and discuss how different actions could have led to different outcomes.
Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding diverse perspectives as portrayed through Lily’s experiences and relationships.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Acceptance of diversity
Explanation: The book portrays the journey of a Chinese-American teen in 1950s San Francisco, exploring her identity and the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting the importance of acceptance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of embracing differences within themselves and others, encouraging inclusivity and empathy in their social interactions.
Example Lesson: Courage to be oneself
Explanation: The protagonist faces societal pressures and personal fears but strives to remain true to her identity, showing bravery.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the value of authenticity and courage in expressing themselves, even when it may be difficult or unpopular.
Example Lesson: Resilience in adversity
Explanation: Despite the challenges of racism and homophobia, the protagonist perseveres, underscoring resilience.
Real-World Application: Children learn to face personal and social challenges with determination, understanding that resilience is key to overcoming obstacles.