The Color of Water
by James McBride
About_
This study guide accompanies James McBride’s memoir ‘The Color of Water,’ which alternates between his mother
Ruth’s account of her Jewish immigrant childhood and his own coming-of-age as a mixed-race child in Brooklyn and
Queens. It explores themes of racial identity, faith, family secrecy, and resilience across generations. The guide is
organized into seven sections covering the book’s full arc, from Ruth’s early life in Poland to the family’s later
reconciliation with the past. This study guide contains 91 questions across 7 chapter sections (70 Factual + 21
Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students track the memoir’s dual narrative structure while building comprehension
of its themes around race, faith, and family. The critical questions encourage students to grapple with difficult
moral and historical questions rather than settle for surface-level answers. We hope it saves you preparation time
while giving your students a rich, thoughtful way into this powerful memoir