The Railway Children
E. (Edith) Nesbit
Contains spoilers for the entire book.
Discussion topics
Topic 01 of 08
Leaving London
How does the family's sudden move to Three Chimneys change the children?
Keep the conversation going
- What do they understand, and not understand, about what happened to Father?
- How does Mother hold the family together?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.
Discussion topics
How does the family's sudden move to Three Chimneys change the children?
Keep the conversation going
- What do they understand, and not understand, about what happened to Father?
- How does Mother hold the family together?
What does the railway come to mean to the three children?
Keep the conversation going
- Why do they wave at the 9.15 every day?
- What does the railway give them that London didn't?
What did you make of the old gentleman on the train and his friendship with the children?
Keep the conversation going
- How does he help them, and how do they help him?
- Why does Bobbie trust him with her secret?
What does the porter Perks teach the children about pride and kindness?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of the birthday gifts misunderstanding?
- How does class shape their friendship?
How did you feel about the children stopping the train with the red petticoats?
Keep the conversation going
- Who was the bravest in that scene?
- What does it show about each child?
How does Bobbie grow up over the course of the book?
Keep the conversation going
- What does finding out the truth about Father do to her?
- Why does she carry the secret alone?
What do the Russian writer and the boy in the tunnel show about the children's kindness?
Keep the conversation going
- Why do they help strangers so readily?
- What does the book say about generosity?
How did you feel at the ending on the platform?
Keep the conversation going
- Why does the narrator step back at that moment?
- What has the family gained from their hard time?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.