Atomic Anna Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Soviet Atomic Bomb Project and our BookBrowse Review of Atomic Anna.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. At the beginning of Atomic Anna, Yulia and Lazar believe that "we can be anything in America." Discuss the reasons why they buy into this and the way this belief changes for them over time. What do these characters want for themselves and for Molly?
2. The idea of assimilation is a strong thread throughout the novel and is present for every character. What effect does this assimilation have on Anna's, Yulia's, Molly's, and Raisa's lives? Discuss how the idea of assimilation is relevant in your life or in today's landscape.
3. Throughout Atomic Anna, Molly and Anna both struggle with the intersections of their identities—Soviet, Jewish, and, in Molly's and Raisa's case, American. Describe the ways their identities are in flux or conflict with each other. Have you experienced something similar?

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