1. Deep inside, most women wish they were beautiful. How is Ruth’s beauty a blessing and how is it a curse?

2. Jack is a natural leader. Is his desire for a promotion good or bad? How does his ambition change throughout the story? How are Jack Novak and Jeff Babcock alike and different?

3. The Eighth Air Force took heavy losses before fighter escort was available all the way to the targets. On Aug. 17, 1943, they lost 60 of 376 bombers, and on “Black Thursday,” October 14, 1943, they lost 60 of 320 over Schweinfurt, with ten men on each plane. How did those young men deal with such staggering losses? How do you think Americans of today would deal with the same circumstances?

4. Although Jack has no desire to be a pastor, he pushes for that goal. Why do you think he does so? Have you ever tried to fill a role you weren’t cut out for?

5. Ruth feels a great responsibility for her family. What circumstances in her life factor into this? How does Aunt Pauline manage to manipulate Ruth? What does Ruth have to learn before she can stand up to her aunt?

6. Five hundred women served as flight nurses during World War II, and 17 were killed in action. Considering the role of women at the time, flight nurses were pioneers in many ways. What ways do you see?

7. Why do you think Jack reacts the way he does when he discovers Ruth’s secret? Why does May react so differently? What was your gut reaction to Ruth’s secret?

8. At the beginning of the story, Ruth says she doesn’t need friends. Is she telling the truth? Why does she reject female friends? Ruth also deals with cattiness and gossip among her fellow nurses. Why do you think female relationships, which can be so close and supportive, can veer in the opposite direction?

9. At the beginning of the story, Jack and Charlie are content in their roles as hero and sidekick. What changes in their lives cause growing friction? How does their friendship change throughout the story?

10. Ruth doesn’t trust God because of the bad things that have happened to her. Have you ever felt like that? Do you tend to pray for God to take you out of “the valley of the shadow of death,” or to be with you in the valley? How does Ruth learn to trust God?

11. Jack sees Ruth as wearing a “cloak of shame.” How does shame weigh Ruth down? How does she learn to throw off her shame, and how does this change her life? Have you ever felt the burden of shame? What have you learned about how to deal with it?

12. Jack comes to see pride as his root problem. How is this manifested in Jack’s life? In your life do you struggle with pride? In general, what role does pride play in sin?