Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Kristin Hannah is known for writing historical novels that center on strong women. Have you read any other books by Hannah, such as The Nightingale or The Four Winds? How would you compare the central female characters in these stories?

2. David Benioff’s City of Thieves is another work of historical fiction that centers on the Siege of Leningrad. If you’ve read both, what similar techniques do Benioff and Hannah use to explore a historical topic? What significant differences are there in their approaches? 

3. Did the novel’s ending seem “earned” by the characters and like a logical outcome of their experiences, or did the happy endings that Anya, Meredith, and Nina experience have a forced or artificial quality?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. What is the main issue that causes conflict between Anya and her daughters? Whose side did you find yourself on? Did your opinion change as events unfolded? 

2. How do Anya, Meredith, and Nina cope with their grief? Have you known people who cope in similar ways?