Unbroken - SchoolNotes

Unbroken
By
Laura Hillenbrand
Book Club
Discussion Guide
Grades 7-12
By
Kayla Motroni
Summary
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (adapted for young adults) tells the story of Louis
Zamperini, an Olympic runner stranded at sea during his service in WWI. Captured
by the Japanese and forced into years of degrading enslavement, Hil enbrand
weaves Zamperini’s story into a reflection of courage in the face of adversity.
Themes
An accurate representation of the conditions for POWs during WWI, there are
some graphic parts of Unbroken. However, the young adult adaptation pares
down the most graphic aspects of Zamperini’s experiences, focusing only on the
parts of his story that allow readers to stil understand his journey. A tale of war,
corruption, heroic behavior, and determination in the most deplorable conditions,
this is an incredible story to discuss with students in grades 7-12.
Part I
1.  What was Louis Zamperini like as a child? 2.  Compare and contrast Louie with his brother Pete. 3.  What is eugenics? How and why does Louie try to change because of this practice? 4.  Why did Louie begin running? 5.  Who is Glenn Cunningham? 6.  Where does Louis travel in 1936? 7.  What signs of Hitler exist when Zamperini arrives in Berlin? How does Hitler inKluence Zamperini’s experience in Berlin, both directly and indirectly? 8.  Why were the 1940 Olympics eventually cancelled? Part I
9.  Describe the members of Louie’s bomber squad. 10. Who is Super Man? 11. Describe the attack on Wake Island. 12. Apart from the enemy, what other dangers did the troops face during WWII? 13. What often happened to the men when the planes would go down? 14. Describe Louie’s mission to Nauru. 15. What happens to Harry Brooks? 16. Describe the attack on Funafuti. How do the men on the island react to this attack? 17. When going on the rescue mission, why is the crew concerned about Klying The Green Hornet? Part I I
18. Who survives The Green Hornet’s crash? 19. How do the families respond to the news of their missing sons? 20. How do the stranded men eventually capture food and water? 21. How do the men pass their time at sea? 22. Describe what happens when the Japanese bomber passes over the life raft. 23. How do Phil and Louis respond to Mac’s death? 24. Who eventually Kinds Phil and Louie? How are they treated? 25. How far did the three men drift in the raft? 26. Where do the Japanese transfer Phil and Louie? What reputation does this place have? Part IV 27. The Japanese focused on depriving captives of their dignity. Why? 28. What information do the Japanese want from interrogating Louie? 29. Describe Kawamura. 30. Where are Phil and Louie transferred to? Why? 31. Describe the conditions at Ofuna. 32. Who is William Harris? 33. Who is Gaga? 34. Incredible stories were lived by those who fought in the war. What are some of the remarkable stories Louis hears while at Ofuna? 35. Where is Phil transferred to? 36. How does Louie’s family respond to his disappearance? 37. Louie is transferred to Omori, outside of Tokyo. What is it like there? 38. Who is Musuhiro Watanabe? 39. How did the POWs manage to wage war against Japan in the only way they could? 40. Why does The Bird have such a vendetta against Louie? 41. What was a propaganda prisoner? 42. How does Louis manage to send a message to his family? 43. What is life like at Omori after The Bird leaves? 44. Where is Louie transferred to? What is it like in this camp compared to the others? 45. What rumor spreads about the inmates of Naoetsu? 46. What is liberation like for the POWs? 47. How does Louie make his way home? Part V
48. What was life like for POWs such as Louie after the war? 49. General Douglas MacArthur orders the arrest of Mutshiro Watanabe, who is included with the mastermind behind the attack on Pearl Harbor, on a list of 40 Japanese war criminals. How does The Bird manage to avoid arrest? 50. Describe the relationship between Cynthia and Louis. 51. How are soldiers affected by the destruction of dignity they endured as a result of the Japanese camps? 52. What ends up saving Louis from his path of destruction after the war? 53. What act of Louie’s demonstrates his forgiveness? 54. How does Louie Kind out that The Bird is still alive? 55. How does Louis spend his last years alive? 56. In what was did Louie remain “unbroken” after the war? Thank You!
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