Literally Leander discussion

Our featured book for this month was The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron. Please know that there will probably be spoilers in this thread!

This month, one of our staff members wrote our discussion prompts. As always, don't feel pressured to use them; we'd like to see anything you had to say about this book, good or bad!

1. Excluding the first chapter which described when Max knocked on Stefania's door in November 1942, Sharon Cameron told the book's events in chronological order. Why do you think Cameron chose to highlight the aforementioned event?

2. Both Stefania and Helena demonstrate heroism throughout the novel. Which specific acts of the Podgórska sisters' bravery did you find to be the most impactful?

3. Describe the relationship between Stefania and Max. How did their relationship evolve over the course of the novel?

4. Stefania divided her education into four parts based on some of the most important lessons she learned while living in Przemyśl. Why do you think she chose to divide her education this way? How did Stefania apply the four lessons she learned later in the novel?

5. Did your perspective of the novel change after reading Cameron's author's note? If so, how?

1. Excluding the first chapter which described when Max knocked on Stefania's door in November 1942, Sharon Cameron told the book's events in chronological order. Why do you think Cameron chose to highlight the aforementioned event?
I think Cameron chose to highlight an event instead of telling the whole story in chronological order was to hook the reader and get them invested in the story. The scene where Max knocked on Stefani's door was the catalyst that caused Stefania and Helena to decide to hide thirteen Jews during the war. Cameron probably chose to highlight the aforementioned scene because of its importance in the novel.

2. Both Stefania and Helena demonstrate heroism throughout the novel. Which specific acts of the Podgórska sisters' bravery did you find to be the most impactful?
One brave act that stuck out to me was when Helena played ball with the SS man to pass notes to Max in the ghetto. This stuck out to me because Helena was such a young heroine and was able to use her youth to her advantage. The SS man thought she was a child playing a game, instead of the seven year-old courier she was.

5. Did your perspective of the novel change after reading Cameron's author's note? If so, how?
I would not say that my perspective of the novel changed after reading the author's note. But reading the author's note enhanced my understanding of the story. I appreciated all the research Cameron did when writing the novel. In the author's note, Cameron stated that nearly every incident in the novel was how Stefania and Joe (formerly Max) described it.

I read this a long time ago. (And by long time I mean 6 months.) In my review, I stated a truth that I still believe: WWII fiction is popular because humanity is both horrified and intrigued by evil actions. This is a time period that continually gets farther and farther in history, yet its still unsettlingly modern in some regards.

I do remember enjoying this story, but I also remember being a bit miffed because biographical fiction can be a real hit or miss for me. There's just such an unspoken distance between the character and the reader. I believe it's a result of the fact that the author is trying to fill in the gaps of the character's story, but they can only do so much without giving into quite a bit of artistic freedom.

1. Excluding the first chapter which described when Max knocked on Stefania's door in November 1942, Sharon Cameron told the book's events in chronological order. Why do you think Cameron chose to highlight the aforementioned event?
I think that this scene is chosen first for several reasons. As Christine stated, it's a hook; I remember being in school and being taught about how to write hooks for essays--you need to get the reader invested.

But second is that this is a turning point for Stefania. Sure, she's seen lots of terrible things, and sure, she's thought about how much she'd want to help. But this is her first change to truly help in a way that is grander, and more dangerous, than smuggling food or carrying letters. This is a veritable death sentence, a danger to herself and her younger sister. This is the moment in which she becomes a hero to someone--particularly, Max and the Jews she took in.

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I do want to ask one question of my own (that might have already been asked at some point, some where) but what are your thoughts on biographical fiction? I only recently started keeping track of these types of historical fiction, and therefore only have two books that I immediately remember--one is this one, and the other was written for an adult audience.