part romance, part mystery, part procedural, part heist, with a healthy dose of found family to top it all off. With a description like that, you know that you’re in for a heart-wrenching ride.
Use these discussion questions to engage with the book further, whether in a book club with friends, or just on your own as you digest the story.
Reading questions for Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran:
- Have you read any stories set in a detention centre before? What were your expectations going in and how did the story align with those expectations?
- For the most part, we only meet Fina’s romantic interest, Magnus, through his emails. How did this format shape your perception of him?
- There are quite a few twists and turns in the story – did you see any of them coming? Which clues did you pick up on?
- “Have you ever been so sure of something – of someone, of their character – and then found out that you could be completely wrong about them?” While Fina is at the centre of the story, we also meet a lot of different characters. Did you have a favourite character, or did anyone surprise you with their actions through the story?
- What makes a home, home? Fina has called several places home over the course of the novel and in her own history – what do you think made each of those places a home?
- Safe Haven is inspired by real stories – including that of the ‘Biloela Family’. Did your knowledge of these real stories impact the way you read this fictional take on these big issues?
Please note, these questions were written and distributed in May 2024.