When Ida Mae’s brother Thomas is rescued, her mother implores her to stay home. She tells Ida Mae that Thomas’s return means she doesn’t have to keep serving. In response to her mother’s plea, Ida Mae says, “Are you saying that’s all over now that Thomas is back home? Now we can let the country fend for itself, let all those other sons and brothers find their own way back home because we’ve got ours?” (Chapter 20). In addition to this display of civic duty, what are some of the other reasons Ida Mae gives for becoming a WASP? Consider the different conversations Ida Mae has about why she wanted to become a WASP and the historical context of the novel as you discuss and analyze the following questions.

• Do you believe that Ida Mae’s sense of civic duty is the main reason she chose to become a WASP? Why or why not? Which details from the text support your answer?
• Is there a difference between civic duty driven by personal relationships versus by patriotism or nationalism? Do you think the results are different if people join a cause for the common good or for the things they can personally gain from fighting? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This discussion can be rich for students whether they focus on literary or social/cultural analysis. Students might be interested in studying other wars or examining the war’s impact from the perspective of other countries, or the marginalized groups highlighted in the novel, to add context and validity to their answers.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who benefit from language and writing support, teachers might select only one of the above questions and have students produce a group model essay or essay outline before they answer a different question or write the essay on their own. This practice will allow students to see oral responses become written responses in real time.