Things You Save in a Fire

When Cassie first arrives in Rockport, she is unnerved by the town’s charm. How does this initial description of the town influence or reflect her relationship with Diana?

Cassie’s fire department in Austin is far more socially progressive than her department just outside of Boston. Based on evidence in the novel, how did it come to be this way? Is there evidence that the Lillian fire department may go through a similar process of cultural change?

Owen is called “the rookie” by the firefighters at station two even after he has quit the fire department. What does this reveal about his fellow firefighters and how they treat their crewmates?

Cassie is persuaded very slowly over the course of the novel to forgive her mother. Is there any evidence in the novel that suggests there is a specific moment when Cassie fully forgives Diana?

In Center’s short story “The Girl in the Plane,” Cassie saves the life of the heroine of one of Center’s other novels, though these novels are not part of a series. What does Center accomplish by casting the protagonist of this novel as a minor character in another work?

Before falling asleep every night, Cassie imagines herself baking chocolate chip cookies, even though she hasn’t actually done so in years. Additionally, the rookie bakes Cassie chocolate chip cookies, and their crewmates tell Cassie that her and Owen’s couple name would be “Cookie.” What do you think is the significance of Cassie imagining herself baking, or chocolate chip cookies specifically, in the novel?

In “The Girl in the Plane,” it is revealed that Center had the story of Cassandra of Troy in mind when writing Cassie’s character. Are there any other characters in Things You Save in a Fire that might be considered allusions to other mythical, historical, or literary figures?

Just before Diana dies, she predicts that Cassie is pregnant with a girl even when Cassie does not yet know this herself. What does this reveal about Cassie and Diana’s relationship at the end of the story?