1. THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA explores many social issues that affected people during and after World War II, including antisemitism, hate, and women having agency over their bodies, lives and futures. We see these problems today, too. How have these issues evolved since the 1940s, and how have they stayed the same?

2. Baking is an important element in this novel. It connects Chana to her father and her heritage, it brings her happiness during difficult months in Vienna, it leads her to a rewarding friendship with Elias, and it gives her hope for the future --- a reason to fight for her independence. Do you have a talent or interest that has shaped your life in meaningful ways?

3. During the war years, Chana’s blond hair and light eyes could have allowed her to pass as a gentile and save herself. In Vienna, her mother urges her to use her beauty to land a job, though doing so makes Chana uncomfortable. Later, she strategically chooses when to reveal the scars on her chest, and when to hide them. What do you make of Chana’s choices to display or conceal her beauty? What would you have done in those situations?

4. Ruth pushes Chana to marry to ensure their family’s safety even though marriage isn’t what Chana wants for herself. How do you view Chana’s relationship with her mother? Do you find Ruth to be a sympathetic character? Or did you empathize more with Chana? Why?

5. Chana, Elias and Meyer each lost family during the war. In what ways do you think survivor guilt manifests in their postwar lives?

6. Chana idolizes her father, Jacob, and his talent for baking, though Ruth was occasionally frustrated by the depth of his passion. How do you view Jacob as a husband and a father? How do you think his passion for his business affected his family before and after the war?

7. The story depicts the hardships of war and postwar life, yet many of the characters still manage to experience moments of joy. How do they find joy during those dark times? How have you found joy during hard times in your own life?

8. The love triangle between Chana, Elias and Meyer is an intricate and emotional part of this novel. Were you rooting for Meyer or Elias to ultimately win Chana over? Why?

9. Love in all its forms is on display in this novel, including romantic love, sibling love, love between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and even love between friends. Which relationship in this story is your favorite and why?

10. What lessons does Zoe take away from discovering the truth about her family’s past? How do you think this knowledge will influence her future? How has your family’s history impacted your life?

11. Sharon Kurtzman’s inspiration for this novel came from learning about her own family’s Holocaust experiences. What do you think the author hoped you would take away from this story? What scene or image will stay with you and why?