An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meetingby Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski

Discussion questions

  1. An Invisible Thread introduces readers to some of the realities of poor families living in large metropolitan cities. How would you characterize Maurice’s family life? What kind of differences do you think exist between urban and rural poverty?
  1. Why do you think Maurice throws Laura’s business card away? How does trust influence the early stages of their friendship? What about later in their relationship?
  1. Laura’s grandfather would say “Il solo tempo lei dovrebbe baciare i sue bambini in quango dormono,” or “The only time you should kiss your children is when they are asleep.” What role do love and affection play in Maurice’s life? In Laura’s?
  1. Why is Laura so adamant about obtaining permission from Maurice’s mother so he can attend the Mets game with her?
  1. In what ways is privilege evident in An Invisible Thread? What types of privilege are shown? How has the situation changed since the 1980s, if it has?
  1. Laura’s family life growing up had a significant impact on her and her siblings, especially in terms of what they wanted for their own families. Based on Laura’s descriptions, how would you characterize the lives of the adult siblings’ individual families?
  1. What kind of role models does Maurice have growing up? While many of them set a negative example for him, are their positive influences?
  1. Laura writes, “Sometimes we are drawn to that which is exactly the same,” alluding to the impact that familiarity can have on one’s comfort, regardless of how bad the conditions may be. How does Laura’s life stray from this idea? How does she embrace what is different? How is it reflected in other members of her family?
  1. While writing the book, Laura discovers that Maurice was actually twelve when they first met, not eleven, because he wasn’t even sure himself how old he was. How does this detail signify the importance of identity in An Invisible Thread?
  1. Laura was initially careful to maintain boundaries between her and Maurice, ensuring that she was a friend to him and nothing more. At what point do you think their relationship changed from a friendship to something more akin to a mother and a son?
  1. What type of lessons does Maurice learn from Laura? How does she seek to influence him? Why does she choose those methods?
  1. Rituals are an important element of An Invisible Thread. Why do small rituals like setting the table and baking cookies with Laura mean so much to Maurice?
  1. In many ways Maurice has had to grow up quickly and provide for himself as a young child, but in other ways he shares the same enthusiasm as kids raised in easier circumstances. How do these two sides to his personality co-exist?
  1. Although she discussed the havoc and anguish her father’s drinking problem caused the family at length and with graphic examples, Laura never calls him an alcoholic. Why does she avoid using that term?
  1. Why did Laura’s mother stay with her abusive husband? How did her decision affect her children? Would it have been better for the children if their parents had divorced?
  1. Why did Laura stay with her husband Michael for over a decade, even though he denied her two of the things she wanted more than anything: having Maurice be a larger part of their lives and having biological children of her own? Why did Michael initially reject Maurice? What role did this rejection play in Laura’s decision to divorce him?
  1. When Laura is 16 she comes home to find that her father has smashed the kitchen furniture and is kicking her mother, who is on the floor. For the first time, she stands up to him, threatening to call the police and have him arrested if he does not stop, and he backs down. Why is she the only one in her family to confront him in this way?
  1. After her mother dies, angered at her father’s lack of appreciation for her help cleaning his house, Laura stops seeing him, even when he becomes ill. Do you agree with her decision?
  1. Why does Maurice forgive his father towards the end of the older man’s life? When Maurice promises his dying father that he will name his first son Maurice after him, he says yes but initially has no intention of fulfilling the promise. Why does he change his mind?
  1. The title An Invisible Thread suggests several meanings about the bonds that connect us with others. How is this theme reflected in Maurice’s and Laura’s lives, as well as in their relationships with other people?

About the authors

Laura Schroffwas born in 1951 and grew up in Huntington, Long Island. A former advertising executive, she helped launch three of the most successful start-ups in Time Inc. history: InStyle, Teen People, and People StyleWatch. She has also worked as the New York division manager at People magazine and associate publisher at Brides. She lives in New York City with her two poodles.

Alex Tresniowski is the top human-interest writer at People and has written several books, most notably The Vendetta, which was purchased by Universal Studios and used as a basis for the movie Public Enemies.