I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937

How does the novel contrast Gertie’s direct, instinctual comparisons with Hugo’s more experience-based analogies to build its argument about innocence and perception?

How does Tarshis use the airship’s physical setting—its structure, passenger areas, machinery, and cargo hold—as a microcosm of prewar, 1930s-era society?

How does the narrative hint that Mr. Singer might be the spy? Prior to his exposure, what is Singer’s relationship with Colonel Kohl and the Nazi regime? Are any other characters on the Hindenburg involved in the spy plot?

I Survived the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937, presents two distinct models of heroism through Hugo Ballard and Peter Singer. Compare and contrast their motivations, methods, and the nature of their courage. What does the novel suggest about how one person can make a meaningful contribution in a large-scale conflict?

What did the Ballards do before they decided to go to Kenya, and what was their motivation for going there? How does that backstory fit into the larger political and historical events in the novel?

Analyze how the novel’s inclusion of Nazi ideology distinguishes its story from traditional disaster narratives, like that of the Titanic, which typically focus on technological hubris and social hierarchy. What political factors, if any, influenced the Titanic disaster? In what ways did it mirror the Hindenburg?

Compare the novel with another book in the I Survived series. How are their characters and plots motivated by their specific historical moments? What do the novels have in common?

Analyze how Hugo’s internal struggle with fear regarding his sister’s illness prepares him for the external moral and physical challenges he faces in the spy plot and the subsequent disaster.