Book Club Discussion Questions for The Bielski Brothers by Peter Duffy

1. Members of the Bielski community had to do things they would have considered morally reprehensible outside of the forest -- lying, stealing, and even killing. Do you feel their choices were justifiable under the circumstances?
   
   
2. What activities did members of the group develop to create a sense of community and maintain their religious and cultural traditions?
   
   
3. Do you believe that the cultural and religious activities that the Jews implemented into their daily lives helped them make it through the war?
   
   
4. One amazing fact about the story is that, although many gentile neighbors knew about the Jews hidden in the forest, their experience was never revealed. Why did the townspeople help keep the Bielski's secret?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Harper Perennial. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.