Reading Guide for The Boys in the Light
Here are some questions to jumpstart your discussion.
Willner begins the book with, “It always starts with innocence.” What do you think she meant by this?
Who were ‘the boys in the light?’ What does the theme of “light” represent in this story?
What was special about the role Siegfried played for Eddie and Mike in the camps?
Contrast the role Christianity played in the story—between Elmer’s faith and the Nazi’s appropriation of religion.
How did Eddie and Mike’s unbreakable friendship help lead to their survival?
If you could sit with one of the characters for a quiet evening of discussion, who would it be and why?
Why was Hitler so successful in taking over Germany? How did he manage to pull in so many followers? How did he convince the Germans to buy in to a warped philosophy that was so obviously at odds with German societal values?
Many American boys who served in World War II came from immigrant families. How do immigrants add to the strength of a nation? Discuss the value of diversity. Contrast the unity of America’s immigrants and native-born citizens, with Hitler’s aim to create a racially pure Germany.
A hallmark of victory for the US and her allies was initiative, unity and teamwork. What is meant by “Yankee ingenuity,” “cowboy mentality,” and “prairie farm toughness,” and how did it help the Americans win the war?
Was Hitler solely, mostly or somewhat responsible for the Holocaust? To what extent were the German people also responsible?
The American tankers were largely young, inexperienced kids who had an inferior tank and were battling German soldiers who had far more experience, better tanks and better weapons like the Panzerfaust. Fear gripped many American GIs from the start. What held them together?
For Elmer, teamwork, faith, competence, and compassion were important, and his troops loved him for it. What traits do you think make a good leader?
What are the lessons of “the Greatest Generation?” What did they teach us? Do you have a relative who fought in WWII? Before reading this book, did you understand their contribution to the war effort?
THE BOYS IN THE LIGHT is ultimately a story of the triumph of good over evil and being “on the right side of history.” How did defeating Hitler and being perceived by the world as “the good guys” benefit America in the decades that followed WWII?
After finishing the final page, what message did you walk away with that you would want to share with a friend?