Does heroism take unexpected forms in the story? How does Heiligman define this concept? Does she offer more than one definition?

Consider the motif of the children’s debate about whether it is preferable to be bombed at home or torpedoed at sea. What does this debate reveal about The Illusion of Safety in Wartime?

How does Heiligman explore the balance between resilience and luck in determining who survives the disaster? What does the book suggest about the role of chance?

How do community and camaraderie factor into the story? How does working together help the survivors stay alive? What factors contribute to effective community-building in the context of disaster?

How do the children aboard the Benares respond to the torpedo strike and ensuing crisis? How does the crisis reveal aspects of each child’s character that may not have previously been apparent?

What lasting impact does the sinking of the city of Benares have on survivors, victims’ families, and the war as a whole? What do these lasting impacts reveal about The Human Cost of War?

How does Heiligman portray the crew of U-boat 48? What does this portrayal suggest about Heiligman’s larger project in the book?

With the benefit of hindsight, CORB official Elspeth Davis admits that the children might have been “safer at home” (255-56). Could this determination have been made before the City of Benares sailed? What does the books suggest about the difficulty of calculating risk in wartime?