Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall emotional response to Kor’s memoir? Many readers are familiar with other accounts of the Holocaust, like Elie Wiesel’s Night (1956) or Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl (1947); how did Kor’s focus on the twin experiments and her philosophy of forgiveness offer you a different perspective on this history?

2. The book opens with the chaotic arrival at Auschwitz before flashing back to Kor’s childhood. In what ways did this non-linear structure shape your reading experience and your understanding of the events that followed?

3. Which scene or moment from Kor’s journey has stayed with you the most since you finished reading, and why?

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

1. Kor’s silent pledge in the latrine becomes a guiding force for her survival. Have you ever made a personal vow or resolution that profoundly shaped your actions and gave you a sense of purpose?

2. A central theme is the power of sisterhood. Do you have familial or friendly bonds that give you strength? How have these relationships helped you through negative experiences?

3. What is your reaction to Kor’s philosophy of forgiveness as an act of self-healing, completely independent of the perpetrator’s remorse? Do you take a similar approach? Why or why not?

4. Kor describes feeling a profound sense of betrayal when she sees the clean, well-dressed Polish girl living a normal life. Can you recall a time when you became acutely aware of a major injustice or a disconnect between your own reality and that of others?

5. After surviving unimaginable horrors, Kor dedicates her life to education and advocacy. Have you interacted with activists or educators that helped inform your opinion of global events or history? How did these experiences shape your opinions?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Dr. Mengele’s experiments represent an extreme betrayal of medical ethics. Where do we see the danger of ideology influencing science today, and what safeguards do you think are necessary to prevent such abuses?

2. When Kor’s family is marched out of Portz, their neighbors watch in silence. What does the memoir suggest about the role of bystanders in enabling systemic violence?

3. What does Kor’s experience with continued antisemitism in post-war Romania and even in Indiana reveal about the persistence of hatred after a major conflict ends?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The matching dresses are a key symbol, initially representing maternal love and later marking the twins for Mengele. How does the meaning of this symbol evolve, especially when considering the khaki dresses sewn after liberation and Kor’s signature blue pantsuits in later life?

2. What is the significance of the camp slang “organizing,” and how does this motif illustrate the underlying exploration of finding agency in a dehumanizing system?

3. The depiction of the Soviet “liberation” is complicated by the staged propaganda film. How does this scene challenge the traditional idea of a rescue, and what might the author be saying about the way historical events are recorded and remembered?

4. What does the contrast between Miriam’s physical vulnerability and Kor’s psychological resilience reveal about the different forms that strength and survival can take?

5. How do you see the power of a promise or a family legacy influencing the characters’ choices after their liberation?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were tasked with creating a new exhibit for the CANDLES Holocaust Museum, which object, story, or symbol from the memoir would you choose as your centerpiece? How would you design the exhibit to convey its significance to visitors?

2. The Afterword notes Kor’s wry humor and her embrace of joy. What message do you think she would want to share with young people today?

3. Imagine a final conversation between an elderly Kor and Miriam. What do you think they would say to each other about their lives and the legacy they created together?