War Stories

Juliette’s attitude toward the Firestones changes over the course of the story. Discuss her thought progression. How does her arc parallel young Jacob’s arc, culminating in his interaction with the frightened Nazi soldier?

How do the hedgerow battles affect Trevor’s perception of war? Discuss his reaction when Jacob tells him about these fights and compare it to his reaction as a gamer at the end of the novel.

Briefly explain the theme of The Personal Price of Victory in your own words. How does this factor of warfare conflict with Trevor’s initial perception?

We see two sides of Jacob Firestone. How does the younger version contrast with the older? In this context, what character growth does Jacob accomplish by returning to France?

René’s ring appears at several points. What does the ring represent to Jacob? Why does he give the ring to Juliette? What does it then signify to her?

Daniel’s perspective on warfare differs from Jacob’s and Trevor’s. Describe how he views the subject. What are the strengths of his perception? What are its weaknesses?

How does the video game representation of World War II differ from the real experience? How does the reader learn this? Describe Trevor’s perception of the video game experience at the end of the novel.

In the chapters from the perspective of the young Jacob, we see the reality of not only the war but also his fellow soldiers. How were these soldiers in reality different from Trevor’s imagined version of war heroes?