Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay Reading Guide-Book Club Discussion Questions-Reviews and Ratings from Book Clubs-BookMovement

Introduction

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Editorial Review

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II—and the Vél d’Hiv round-up 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?

2. 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?

3. Per above: 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?

4. 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 in?

5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?

6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?

7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know—or read—more?

8. 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 her self?

9. 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 Vél d’Hiv) 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?

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

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

12. 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 our selves—from Sarah’s story?

1. What did you know about France’s role in World War II—and the Vél d’Hiv round-up 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?

2. 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?

3. Per above: 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?

4. 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 in?

5. What are the major themes of Sarah’s Key?

6. de Rosnay’s novel is built around several “key” secrets which Julia will unearth. Discuss the element of mystery in these pages. What types of narrative devices did the author use to keep the keep the reader guessing?

7. Were you surprised by what you learned about Sarah’s history? Take a moment to discuss your individual expectations in reading Sarah’s Key. You may wish to ask the group for a show of hands. Who was satisfied by the end of the book? Who still wants to know—or read—more?

8. 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 her self?

9. 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 Vél d’Hiv) 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?

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

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

12. 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 our selves—from Sarah’s story?

Suggested by Members

We discussed how in society there are those that follow and those that stand up for what's right morally and ethically.

When you look at today's society things haven't changed.

Look at bullying in school's. People always pick on someone who is different from them.

by JMUChica11 (see profile) 04/13/12

We used the readers guide in the back of the book.

by yjkkaiser (see profile) 01/28/12

How could this book be used to trigger interest during a history class about this time period?

by netmayo (see profile) 11/20/11

Was Sarah a strong person? Was Julia's relationship with Sarah's son contrived?

by tealover (see profile) 04/14/11

Did you know about the atrocities that the French Jews suffered by the French police?

Do you think you would ever get over what Sarah went through?

by abbeyonekanobe (see profile) 03/14/11

What do you think of the ending? Do you like endings that jump forward a few years or that wraps it up?

by jendorf10 (see profile) 02/16/11

Use the questions in the back of the book for discussion.

by nanabev (see profile) 02/08/11

Sarah was never able to forgive herself for her action, yet she was a child. Do you think the French soldiers felt such remorse?

by marteaga (see profile) 10/06/10

Julia mentions a couple of times that very little is taught in French schools about the role the French played in the Holocaust. Do you think there are sensitive topics not covered in US schools that are well known across the rest of the world?

by jenniferharding (see profile) 07/08/10

Why do you think the author referred to "the girl" instead of her name for the first portion of the book?

by dbriscoe (see profile) 06/28/10

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Author Tatiana de Rosnay's web site
»	Tatiana de Rosnay's Twitter Page
»	Tatiana de Rosnay's Facebook Page
»	Author Tatiana de Rosnay's web site
»	Publisher's Book Info

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

A special note from Tatiana de Rosnay to BookMovement club members:

As a French woman born in France, I discovered the taboo of the Vel d'Hiv round up and the scars it has left. When I started to research how the round-up took place exactly and the precise role played by the French police, I was devastated. I felt I had to write about it in order to share my emotions.

I've always been interested in the history of my city, Paris. I was writing a previous book about how a house can harbor memories, good or bad ones, and that book took me to the rue Nélaton, where the Vel d'Hiv used to stand. I went to see that street, and the sadness of it struck me deeply. A special note from Tatiana de Rosnay to BookMovement club members:

As a French woman born in France, I discovered the taboo of the Vel d'Hiv round up and the scars it has left. When I started to research how the round-up took place exactly and the precise role played by the French police, I was devastated. I felt I had to write about it in order to share my emotions.

I've always been interested in the history of my city, Paris. I was writing a previous book about how a house can harbor memories, good or bad ones, and that book took me to the rue Nélaton, where the Vel d'Hiv used to stand. I went to see that street, and the sadness of it struck me deeply.

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 466 of 479 members.

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

by Nelly S. (see profile) 03/14/21

by Lauren D. (see profile) 03/31/20

by Lara H. (see profile) 03/04/20

by Charlene H. (see profile) 11/04/19

We gave this book an A.

by Maureen W. (see profile) 06/07/19

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