We Were the Lucky Ones Discussion Questions

Share the book love!

Occasionally, you find a book that not only stays with you but also demands you share it. A story that is simultaneously heart wrenching and gratifying. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter is that book, and this book club kit includes discussion questions and activities to bring the story to life. Read the book before you watch the Hulu TV mini-series!

We Were the Lucky Ones Discussion questions. The book lies on a white background with antique cast iron flat irons and brass pot.

Your bookish fun helps support my bookish fun — thank you! I may receive a small commission when you use my affiliate links. See my Privacy Policy.

We Were the Lucky Ones is the harrowing and unbelievable story of a Jewish family torn from each other and flung to far reaches of distant continents during WWII. It is a story that is too unlikely to be true, and yet it is. In the aftermath of the war, finding each other proved largely futile. Years of searching for those still unaccounted for yielded nothing.

Until one day, finally, it did.

But First…Is We Were the Lucky Ones for You?

Just the facts.

Title, author, and publication date: We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, February 2017
Genre: Historical fiction, WWII, family history
Summary in a Sentence (or two! 😉): The Kurc family is just one of many Jewish families trying to live as normally as possible in 1939 Poland. Soon, however, the horrors overtaking Europe scatter them to the far corners of the world, each struggling to find their own path to survival. This book, based on the true story of the author’s family, is a testament to hope, family, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of true evil.

We were the lucky ones, until we weren’t.
We Were the lucky ones by Georgia hunter

You might like We Were the Lucky Ones if…

Recommendations for “similar reads” can be tricky because different readers like different books for different reasons. However, you may appreciate We Were the Lucky Ones if you enjoyed:

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah – The women remaining in France after Germany’s occupation in WWII face impossible circumstances. This is the story of two sisters who follow different paths, each resulting in both heroic and tragic consequences. This novel sheds light on women in desperate situations who are forced to make unimaginable choices to survive, and will leave you thinking of these women for a long time.
Secretes of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner – In this dual timeline novel, two sisters in WWII England are separated when the Luftwaffe bombs rain down on London. In present day Oxford, a young American scholar is entrusted with an elderly woman’s decades-old secrets, including the woman’s real identity. What the young scholar does with these secrets will test her convictions — and her heart.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer – In this dual timeline novel spanning from 1942 Poland to modern day USA, one woman’s desperate choices have life-long ramifications. In the WWII refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It is a decision that will alter her destiny…and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.
Beneath A Scarlett Sky by Mark Sullivan – Based on the true story of one young man’s courage and resilience during one of the darkest hours in WWII Italy. An Italian teenager, the Jewish “underground railroad,” spying inside the German High Command, and a love story — there is something for everyone in this almost forgotten bit of history.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate – Though set during the same time period as We Were the Lucky Ones, this is not about WWII, but is based on the notorious true story of poor children stolen from their parents and sold to wealthy families. Themes of belonging and strong family bonds turn this heart-wrenching novel into an uplifting triumph despite the odds.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – Another book based on true events, this is the story of the University of Washington’s rowing team and their an unlikely win at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in the years just before WWII.

We Were the Lucky Ones: The Story’s (Back) Story

When Georgia Hunter was 15 years old, she attended a family reunion where she first discovered that she was from a family of Holocaust survivors. (She talks about this in the first post on her blog, but be sure to read the others!) The more she heard of this story, the more she realized it was one that must be told. So began years of meticulous research, culminating in this remarkable debut novel (now a Hulu mini-series!).

If you read this book strictly as a work of fiction, it would be easy dismiss the story as too improbable to be convincing. It is important to remember that this is a novel based on actual events. According to the author, she decided to write her family’s story as a fictional novel for a couple of reasons, one being the necessary liberty she took in supplying words and thoughts and other minor events. However, the fact that so much of the book is actually true, including the seemingly improbable moments, is nothing short of incredible. I dare you not to cry when you read the author’s note at the end of the book! 😭

The amount of research Ms. Hunter undertook to produce this work is daunting. She kept a blog during her research for the book, and I highly recommend you take a look! With interviews and photos, she documented her trips to places in Europe where many events of the story took place. Several family members she met only after starting the book commented on her blog throughout the writing, and it made them all feel so real to me as a reader. Her accounts of what she saw and whom she met were almost as moving as the book itself.

Without a doubt, WWII book fatigue is real and some may see this as just another addition to the towering stack of novels on this topic. However, of the many (MANY!) books I have read in this genre, this is the one that caused me to close the book, cry a little, and immediately comment on the author’s blog:

“I just finished your book tonight. It was stunning. After reading the last page and closing the back cover, I cried — for your family, for all they endured, for all they overcame, for the countless people lost, for your tireless effort researching and telling your family’s incredible story. Thank you for recording this piece of your history; the love, the perseverance, the miracle of your family’s survival is an inspiration for us all.”

{Pssst…She wrote me back. Okay, fine, she just replied to my comment. Still, I may have felt a little fan girly! 😍}

More Resources for Your Book Club!

For Your Book Club: We Were the Lucky Ones Discussion Questions & Activities

We Were the Lucky Ones was an absolute favorite in one of my book clubs. If your bookish group has already chosen this novel (lucky you!), these ideas will spark a lively exchange. Enjoy Georgia Hunter’s family story, both the heartbreak and miracle!

NOTE: These questions do not contain spoilers, but as every reader knows, you can’t really discuss a book without talking about the whole book! Click here to get the full guide with all of these questions plus all the spoiler-rich goodies!

We Were the Lucky Ones Discussion Questions

The words “Based on True Events” are printed at the beginning of the book. Did this cause you to approach the book differently than you would have otherwise?
Was your appreciation of the story enhanced after reading the author’s note and finding out just how much of the story was actually true?
How did the non-fiction historical facts between chapters affect you as the reader? Did this technique of providing historical context add to or detract from your enjoyment of the story or otherwise affect your reading experience?
There is a large cast of characters in this book, and the author uses a unique literary structure of short chapters focusing on different characters in their different circumstances. Did you feel the characters were well developed in this way?
We are introduced to Halina in chapter 8. What was your initial impression of her? Based on that impression, did her actions throughout the book surprise you, or did you expect them?
The author, Georgia Hunter, did not know she came from a family of Holocaust survivors until she was 15 years old. Did it surprise you that her family (particularly her grandparents) never discussed this?
What were your emotions when you read the last paragraph on page 398?

Home. Family. Nothing is more important. He knows that now.
We were the lucky ones by Georgia hunter

The Words On Location Twist for We Were the Lucky Ones

Yes, this is a serious book. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it. I mean, the ending! Let’s up your book club game by bringing your own personality to the discussion. These ideas are a starting point — use them as is or as inspiration to create your own experience.

Culinary Adventures

Serve food and drinks that represent the different countries where the various family members landed.

Poland – Try Polish Apple Pancakes or Strawberry Soup With Noodles (an unusual and, apparently, polarizing choice!)
France – Try Julia Child’s French Onion Soup or classic Coq Au Vin
Italy – Try Bucatini Cacio e Pepe Pasta or a refreshing Peach Bellini Cocktail
Brazil/South America – Try classic Feijoada (Brazilian Black Bean Stew) or Pao de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread)
Russia – Try Honey Goat Cheese and Pecan Stuffed Dates or Russian Beef Stroganoff (or any of the other 30 authentic recipes here!)
Middle East – Try Mediterranean Rice Pilaf or Homemade Hummus
North America – Try Classic Potato Salad or Grandma Ople’s Apple Pie

Get more book talk!

These free discussion questions reveal all the juicy spoilers — you’re gonna want them!

This form collects information I will use to send you free materials, my newsletter, and other resources. I promise to protect your personal information and will never share it. By clicking below, you consent and understand you can unsubscribe anytime. See my Privacy Policy.

Explore “The Story Behind the Story”

You’ll find so many interesting stories on Georgia Hunter’s blog. She takes us on an almost first-hand journey through stories and photos. Along with her, we get to meet the family members, both living and dead, she never knew existed.

Don Your Comfy Bing-Fest Clothes & Host a Watch Party for We Were the Lucky Ones

The TV adaptation of We Were the Lucky Ones debuts on Hulu March 28, 2024! 🤩 This amazing story will be brought to life in an eight part mini-series, perfect for a virtual watch party. Even better, enjoy a weekly book club binge-fest together for a few weeks!

You can go low-tech (and possibly, high frustration!) with Zoom or a WhatsApp group message. Everyone will watch on their own and message or chat during the show. Or any of these methods can make it easier and more seamless to interact with each other throughout the show. Break out the popcorn! 🍿

Museums and Memorials

Visit a WWII or Holocaust museum or memorial in your area (here is a listing by state). If there is not one near you, plan a virtual event for your group. The Holocaust Museum in Washington DC is an incredible (and incredibly heartbreaking) museum. It offers a plethora of free online and live programs with opportunities to connect with survivors. You can even request a meeting with a Holocaust survivor to hear their personal experiences (currently virtual only).

The Friendly Nudge for We Were the Lucky Ones

Should you read We Were the Lucky Ones? Let’s just say you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t.

Just a note, the large cast of characters and vast areas covered in this book may make the audiobook difficult to follow. I enjoyed a combination of both the hard copy and the audiobook.

Your Turn: How will your book club experience We Were the Lucky Ones?

I can’t wait to hear if you felt the same way I did about this book and how your book club brought it to life. Please let me know in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @wordsonlocation and use #WordsOnLocation!

Pin this to your bookish boards!

Share the book love!

WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES – Review & Discussion Questions – Read This Powerful Book BEFORE You Watch the TV Series!