Reading Guide for The Boys in the Light
Here are some questions to jumpstart your discussion.
Section I: Book clubs (general questions)
Section II: History, civics and society
Section I: Book clubs
The author begins the book with, “It always starts with innocence.” What do you think she meant by this?
Which scenes moved you? Which scenes were uplifting? Which scenes were difficult?
Who were ‘the boys in the light?’ What does the theme of “light” represent in this story?
How did Eddie and Mike look after each other? What was special about Siegfried, and his role in this story? How did he play into Eddie and Mike’s survival? To what can you attribute Eddie and Mike’s ability to remain strong mentally and physically? How did faith, will to live, constant thoughts of escape, friendship and personal discipline play a role? How did moments like their small act of sabotage from inside the concrete Einmannbunker empower them?
How did Elmer become Company D’s “North Star?” How did faith play into his leadership? Why was Pepsi’s role in the unit so important? How did his sense of humor help others to cope?
What were the qualities in Elmer that you found most compelling? What about Pepsi? Fred? Vance? Lieutenant Myers? What about the most compelling traits of Eddie? Mike? How would you describe how each character evolved from the beginning of the war to who they became in the end?
In a world that prioritizes self-interest, how does an act of compassion transform a person to being more human?
What did you learn from Eddie and Mike’s unbreakable bonds? How did those bonds carry them through the rest of their lives? What did you learn from the camaraderie of the boys of Company D? What did the soldiers and survivors ultimately learn from each other?
If you could sit with one of the characters for a quiet evening of discussion, who would it be and why?
After finishing the final page, what message did you walk away with that you would want to share with a friend?
Section II: History, civics and society
Hitler claimed to be the messiah. He claimed to be ordained by God to lead the German people. He twisted Christianity into a new kind of ‘religion’ which resembled little of Jesus’ teachings. Meanwhile, Elmer followed Jesus’ principles of goodness, morality, service and compassion. Discuss the contrast.
Did prayer and having faith help the Jews in concentration camps? If you found yourself in a camp, do you think faith and prayer would have helped you? Why or why not? What do you think would have helped?
How was Hitler so persuasive? How did he manage to pull in so many followers? How did he convince the Germans to buy into a warped philosophy that was so obviously at odds with German societal values?
Across Europe, the Nazis found countless willing collaborators who were complicit in their crimes. What motivated people to turn on their friends and neighbors?
What made some like the Catholic neighbors, the Zahnens, different? Why were they willing to help the Jewish Willner family when others turned away? How does this example of empathy, decency and true friendship in times of strife hold promise for us today?
Many Americans boys who went to war 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 cornerstone 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?
Lessons of the Holocaust are a call to fight against hatred and racism. Why is it important to continue to learn the lessons of the Holocaust? Name some things you can do, or have done, to fight against bigotry and the mistreatment of others.
Was Hitler solely, mostly or somewhat responsible for the Holocaust? Were the German people also responsible?
Are people born to hate?
Why didn’t Jews just leave? Discussion: The simple answer is that it was very difficult to leave. Jewish assets were frozen; they were not able to retrieve their money. Also, those who tried to leave had difficulty finding countries willing to take them in. Another reason: Up until Kristallnacht in 1938, many Jews in Germany expected to be able to hold out against Nazi-sponsored persecution. Many did not think the Nazi Party would remain in power for very long and hoped for positive change in German politics. Before World War II, few could imagine or predict mass murder.
Why didn’t Jews fight back? Discussion: Against impossible odds, Jews committed acts of resistance in ghettos, concentration camps, and killing centers. However, many factors made resistance difficult, including a lack of weapons and resources, Nazi brutality and fear of reprisals, and the overwhelming power of the Germans and their collaborators. One of the most satisfying acts of rebellion was sabotage.
The American tankers were largely young, inexperienced kids who had a substandard tank and were battling German soldiers who had far more experience, had better equipment, more powerful tanks, and were fighting on their own, familiar territory. Fear gripped many American GIs from the start. What held them together?
For Elmer, teamwork, faith, character, 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?
This is 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?