Things You Save in a Fire

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of gender discrimination and sexual violence and/or harassment.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel illustrates Cassie’s journey from emotional isolation to vulnerability. What moments struck you as being crucial to her transformation?

2. Compare Things You Save in a Fire to Katherine Center’s other novel, How to Walk Away. What similarities and differences do you notice her various approaches to the topics of trauma and healing?

3. What did you initially think the title of the novel might refer to, and how did your understanding of this phrase change?

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

1. Cassie struggles to forgive both herself and others throughout the novel. When have you found it most challenging to forgive someone in your life?

2. Can you recall a time when your preconceived notions about someone proved to be incorrect, like Cassie’s initial view of her mother?

3. Cassie’s black-and-white worldview gradually shifts to accommodate more nuance as she learns about Diana’s and DeStasio’s complex motivations. In what ways has your own moral compass evolved over time?

4. Diana tells Cassie that “love makes you stronger” (401). When has love given you strength that you didn’t think you possessed?

5. Cassie must constantly prove herself in the male-dominated Lillian fire department. Have you ever had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously?

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

1. The sexism that Cassie faces at the Lillian fire department demonstrates the gender inequality that persists today in traditionally male-dominated professions. What progress has been made in addressing these barriers?

2. At one point, Cassie laments the fact that modern society shows little empathy for women. How have initiatives like the #MeToo Movement changed society’s attitudes toward women’s stories?

3. Professional environments like the fire station often equate vulnerability with weakness. Where else does this belief appear in society, and what impact does it have?

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

1. What does the obstacle course symbolize in the novel?

2. How does the motif of hugging reflect Cassie’s healing process throughout the story?

3. How do Diana and Cassie’s different perspectives on life’s difficulties affect their approaches to forgiveness and vulnerability?

4. Center frequently employs workplace romance tropes like forced proximity and fake dating. How do these elements affect the rhythm of Cassie and Owen’s relationship?

5. Silence plays a crucial role in Cassie’s story, both in how she deals with her trauma and how the male firefighters respond to her presence. What does this pattern suggest about the realities of modern-day gender dynamics?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to imagine an epilogue set five years after the novel’s conclusion, what aspects of life might change for Cassie, Owen, and their family?

2. Write a letter that Diana might send back in time to a 16-year-old Cassie after her traumatic birthday. What wisdom would she share?

3. After the events of the novel, DeStasio volunteers at a women’s shelter to atone for his behavior. Design a program that he might develop to help men overcome their biases against women in male-dominated workplaces.

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