Sarah's Key

What did you know about France’s role in World War II—and the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup in particular— before reading Sarah’s Key? How did this book teach you about, or change your impression of, this important chapter in French history?

Sarah’s Key is composed of two interweaving story lines: Sarah’s, in the past, and Julia’s quest in the present day. Discuss the structure and prose style of each narrative. Did you enjoy the alternating stories and time frames? What are the strengths or drawbacks of this format?

Which “voice” did you prefer: Sarah’s or Julia’s? Why? Is one more or less authentic than the other? If you could meet either of the two characters, which one would you choose?

How does the apartment on la rue de Saintonge unite the past and present action—and all the characters—in Sarah’s Key? In what ways is the apartment a character all its own?

What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?

Tatiana de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets that Julia unearths. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices does the author use to keep the reader guessing?

How do you imagine what happens after the end of the novel? What do you think Julia’s life will be like now that she knows the truth about Sarah? What truths do you think she’ll learn about herself?

Among modern Jews, there is a familiar mantra about the Holocaust; they are taught, from a very young age, that they must “remember and never forget” (as the inscription on the Rafle du Vel’ d’Hiv’ memorial also informs). Discuss the events of Sarah’s Key in this context. Who are the characters doing the remembering? Who are the ones who choose to forget?

What does it take for a novelist to bring a historical event to life? To what extent do you think de Rosnay took artistic liberties with this work?

Why do modern readers enjoy novels about the past? How and when can a powerful piece of fiction be a history lesson in itself?

We are taught, as young readers, that every story has a “moral.” Is there a moral to Sarah’s Key? What can we learn about our world—and ourselves—from Sarah’s story?