Courtesy Henry Holt and Company

Web Exclusive... Ordinary Heroes: Additional Questions for Book Clubs By Lindsay Mergens, November 2005 If you'd like to discuss Ordinary Heroes in your reading group, these questions will help spark a lively dialogue

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1. Were you surprised at the revelations about David and Gita as their stories unfolded throughout the novel? Why or why not?

2. In discussing Robert Martin's bravery with Colonel Maples, David observes the question of bravery that all servicemen consider: "The Colonel nodded solemnly during the brief silence, one that often fell among soldiers when they faced the evidence of another man's courage. We all had the same thought then: could I do that?" How would you answer that same question?

3. The author depicts the racism and bigotry David observes and experiences firsthand while in the Army. How would you explain that some of the same soldiers who fought in World War II—a war in response to extreme prejudice and hate and fought in the name of freedom—showed such intolerance within their own ranks?

4. What did you initially think of Robert Martin? Did your opinion of him change as the mystery surrounding him unfolded? Did the truth about his death surprise you?

5. What does the book's title mean to you? Is there such a thing as an "ordinary" hero?

Back to Ordinary Heroes Discussion Guide