When We Were Young and Brave

1. Set on the brink of World War II, the novel begins in a moment of uncertainty. How does the approaching war influence the early decisions and priorities of the women at the center of the story?

2. The school serves as a sanctuary for displaced children, but it also becomes emotionally charged. In what ways does this setting create both comfort and tension?

3. The women face fear and responsibility in very different ways. Which character's response felt most authentic or compelling to you, and what shaped that connection?

4. Courage in this novel is often understated rather than dramatic. Which quiet or uncelebrated acts of bravery left the strongest impression?

5. Childhood and innocence are altered by wartime realities. Where do you see the characters growing up too quickly, and where do they manage to hold on to a sense of wonder or hope?

6. Many of the characters must make difficult choices with no clear "right" answer. Were there moments when you felt conflicted about a decision, even if you understood the reasoning behind it?

7. As the story unfolds, bravery takes on new meaning. How does your understanding of what it means to be brave evolve by the final chapters?

8. The novel centers on women whose wartime roles were rarely celebrated. How does this perspective reshape common ideas about heroism during World War II?

9. Several characters are torn between personal fulfillment and moral obligation. Which of these dilemmas felt the most painful or unresolved to you?

10. The children in the story are more than background figures. How do their presence and needs influence the emotional strength and choices of the adults around them?

11. Fear permeates nearly every aspect of the characters' lives. Who seems most willing to face it head-on, and who avoids it? What are the consequences of each approach?

12. Small gestures of care and generosity appear throughout the novel. Which moments of kindness stayed with you, and why do you think they mattered so much?

13. Relationships formed under pressure often become deeply meaningful. How does the novel redefine the idea of family when traditional structures are disrupted?

14. Circumstances force many characters into unfamiliar roles. Whose transformation surprised you the most, and what prompted that change?

15. When you step back and consider the novel as a whole, what emotional note lingers most strongly-grief, endurance, optimism, or something more complex? Which scenes influenced that takeaway?