The Foxhole Victory Tour

During her time with the Swinging Sweethearts, Maggie runs up against the problem of being taken seriously as a female musician. Why do you think that was such a challenge in her day? Do you think the problem has gone away?

Though partly motivated by a desire to reconnect with Leo, Catherine also joined the USO as a way of declaring independence from her feuding parents. Do you think she should have handled things differently?

Given the risks and the regulations, do you think you would have been willing to join a USO Foxhole Circuit unit? What would have been the most difficult part?

The performers visit several cities and rural areas of North Africa. Was there a historical or cultural detail that surprised you? How much did you know about North Africa during World War II before reading this book?

“Pretty girls aren’t meant for ugly wars” is a line that comes back to haunt Catherine repeatedly throughout the novel. To what extent, if any, do you think women should be shielded from the hardships and trauma of war?

Each of the performers has his or her own reason for wanting to join The Pepsodent Show tour. Which did you find most compelling? Did you find yourself cheering for one of them as the story progressed?

Early in the story, Catherine displays a fear of conflict, while Maggie is relentlessly self-reliant. Do you feel they have improved in these areas by the end of the book?

Do you think it was fair for Senior Leader Franklin of the WAAC to initially distrust the USO women? What factors do you think often lead women to see themselves as competitors instead of friends and allies?

While the labor camps of North Africa were much less far-reaching than those in Europe, conditions there were still appalling. Would you have accepted Roosevelt’s explanation that relations with Vichy France were too tenuous to close the labor camps right away?

Did you have any sympathy for Leo after he explained his actions? Did you have any suspicions before that he might not be right for Catherine, and if so, why?

Maggie’s mission-minded father initially sees no purpose in nonreligious music. In what ways did Maggie find meaning in the songs she played, both for herself and for others? What role has music played in your life?

Arthur, despite his quirks, staunchly supports Catherine in the end. Do you see them staying friends—or even something more—after the war, or do you think they’ll go their separate ways?

Major Newton of the Salvation Army tea canteen appears at a critical time in Maggie’s journey. What do you think of her statement, “It’s somewhat better to find your worth in what you accomplish rather than how you look, but it still won’t give you what you’re looking for”?

Much of the peril faced by Maggie and Catherine’s troupe is based in historical fact. Some USO performers even died during their service to the troops, including several who perished in a plane crash. Do you feel it was right to risk civilians, including women, for the sake of entertainment?