The Booklover's Library

While it was suggested (quite insistently) that parents relocate their children from potential bombing targets in certain areas of England, it was ultimately the choice of the parent. Children left to an unknown location to live with strangers for an indeterminate amount of time. Do you think as a parent/if you were a parent, you could send your child(ren) away?

Which character did you most connect with and why?

There were various places to shelter during an air raid, though all had their downsides. There were Anderson shelters in backyards, cleared-out basements, brick buildings in the middle of the streets, and, of course, the caves. Where would you likely prefer to shelter during an air raid? Or would you seek shelter at all?

Have you had any experience with single parenthood—either being raised by a single parent or being one yourself? How has this impacted your life?

Emma’s father once said, “The world is full of readers, some just haven’t found the right book yet.” What was the book that made you a reader?

During WWII, most people in England worked their actual job but also did volunteer work on the side. For women, many worked with the Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) doing any number of things from serving food to soldiers, mending clothes, driving mobile canteens—and, yes, even knitting. But there were other options like being an Air Raid Precautions Warden to keep people safe during bombings, being a nurse or a doctor, or working with the fire brigade. Which volunteer service/activity would you likely want to participate in?

Mr. Beard was a participant of the Mass Observation initiative, recording daily events, gossip, and the mood of the overall population around him. If you had been approached to participate in something like the Mass Observation during the pandemic, do you think you would have? Why or why not?

Rationing created a lot of difficulty in daily life during the war, from limits on foods like butter, meat, fats, sugar, tea, fruits, etc. to various items like gas, clothes, and paper. What aspects of the ration do you think would have the greatest impact on your life and why?

Books really can bring such comfort to our lives. What is a book that brought you comfort in a time when you needed it most?

Women had to give up their jobs when they married so they could devote their time to their husbands and future children. Is this something you would do?