When We Were Vikings Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Female Viking Warriors and our BookBrowse Review of When We Were Vikings.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. On page 13, Zelda says, "Deeds and actions are what will make a person great and legendary." Do you think Zelda's deeds and actions throughout the book have given her legendary status? What about Gert's or AK47's? Discuss with your group.
2. In the beginning of the book, Zelda tells a woman, "Hurting children causes emotional unstability as adults." Discuss Zelda's and Gert's childhood. Do you think they were able to overcome the instability of their own childhoods and form meaningful relationships with others? Why or why not? Do you think it is possible for people to come out of a traumatic childhood unharmed?
3. Zelda frequently repeats wisdom she has learned from others, such as "we do not lie to people in our tribe." Share with your group something you learned from Zelda or your favorite Zelda quote. Have you applied any of Zelda's wisdom to your own life?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Gallery Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.