Characters:
Iris James - Postmaster
Harry Vale – mechanic, nightly patrolled coastline for Germans
Frankie Bard – radio gal
Harriett Mendelsohn –Frankie’s roommate
Edward R. Murrow
Billy – 6 year old boy, mother killed by bomb
Jim Tom Winthrop
Maggie Winthrop – died in childbirth
For discussion:
- Edward R. Murrow’s three questions for reporting the news were: 1) what is happening? 2) how does it affect Americans? and 3) what does the Common Man say? Do you think current news reporting is following these guidelines? Why or why not?
- Discuss Will Finch and how the events of his life affected his decisions. For example, what effect did his father’s behavior during the bank crash and the death of Maggie in childbirth have on him?
- Discuss Will’s death. It was commonplace compared to other deaths caused by the war. Why do you think the author had him die in such an undramatic way?
- Frankie reported on some boys as heroes who, “…wept and picked themselves up and went on…” How does this agree or disagree with your idea of a hero?
- Frankie did not tell Emma about meeting Will or the letter. Was this the right thing to do? Why or why not?
- Did you like the writing style? Did you like the mix of real and fictional characters?
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