--Henry Hopkins Sibley, 1862

1. There are four "point of view" characters in The Guns of Valverde: Alastar O'Brien, Laura Howland, Jamie Russell, and Kip Whistler. Which character did you find most interesting and why? Which character resonated most strongly for you? Would you have liked to see the story through the eyes of a different character?
   
   
2. The Confederacy claimed the southern half of New Mexico Territory (south of the 34th parallel) and called it Confederate Arizona. Do you think this division makes more or less sense than the modern division of Arizona and New Mexico? Why?
   
   
3. Do you think the author's portrayal of the Pima and Apache Indians was accurate and fair?
   
   
4. Do you wish any of the characters who died had lived, or vice versa? Why?
   
   
5. Did the novel convey a vivid sense of time and place? Did you get a good feel for the setting while enjoying the story, or did it feel too much like a "history lesson?"
   
   
6. Were the real historical characters portrayed well? What did you learn about historical figures from this story?
   
   
7. Did you like the historic quotes at the beginning of each chapter? Did they enhance your enjoyment of the book? After reading the book, what is your reaction to the quote from General Sibley at the beginning of the book?
   
   
8. What scenes or characters do you think are most memorable?
   
   
9. Have you visited any of the localities used for settings in the novel? If not, have you visited any Civil War battlefields? What were your impressions?
   
   
10. What question would you most like to ask P.G. Nagle about The Guns of Valverde?
    
    
11. Would you recommend this book to others? Did it make you want to read more books by P.G. Nagle?