February 2011: Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

None will leave unchanged

There is a promise at the front of the book that none that enter Fablehaven will leave unchanged. How did their experiences at Fablehaven change Seth and Kendra? What do you take from the book?

Conservation

Fablehaven existed to help protect and conserve vanishing magical species. Why would that be worthwhile? Why do you suppose Grandpa Sorenson even wanted to protect the dangerous creatures?

Attributes

Several of the creatures of Fablehaven personified specific attributes. What did the fairies seem to personify? The satyrs? The cliff troll? What are the strengths and weaknesses of those characteristics?

Lena

Lena spent part of her life as a naiad, in an unchanging state. What aspects of mortality did she like? What did she dislike? How do you think she felt about being returned to the water? Was it fair for the fairies to do that?

Risks

Circumstances arose where many of the characters in Fablehaven had to risk their lives. Do you think you would risk your life for anything? If so, what?

Courage

It can be a challenge to find the courage to do what we fear the most. What enabled Kendra to do something that terrified her? What circumstances do you find most intimidating? How do you find the strength to make it through difficult situations?

Decisions

Many of the problems in Fablehaven arose as a result of decisions the characters made, often without bad intentions. Sometimes, what we don't know can hurt us. How was that true for Kendra and Seth? Are there similar examples in the world around you?

Consequences

Consequences serve an essential role for maintaining order and justice and harmony. How do laws help to keep order in Fablehaven? How were Kendra and Seth affected by the consequences of their decisions? How have the consequences of past decisions helped or hindered you?

Rules

Kendra was generally a rule keeper, Seth a rule breaker. How did their attitudes evolve over the course of the book?  What are the advantages to both attitudes? Disadvantages?

Obedience

There can be great protection from exact obedience. How was this principle reinforced for Seth? For Kendra? How does this principle of obedience function in your life?

January 2011: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Likeable Characters

Are there any characters that you find likeable?

Edgar

Think about Edgar Linton. Is he a sympathetic figure? How does he compare to Heathcliff? Is Catherine really in love with him?

The narrators

How do Mr. Lockwood and Nelly Dean influence the story as narrators? Do you think that they are completely reliable observers? What does Bronte want us to believe?

Heathcliff and Cathy

Do you think that Bronte succeeds in creating three dimensional figures in Heathcliff and Cathy, particularly given their larger-than-life metaphysical passion? Why or why not?

unpleasant

George Barnett Smith describes Wuthering Heights as "perhaps one of the most unpleasant books ever written." What do you think may have troubled Smith, as well as other nineteenth centruy readers of the novel? How might the novel have offended contemporary custodians of morality? In what ways is it subversive? In what ways does it remain unsettling today?

Malevolant Force

William Dean Howells wrote that "a weird malevolance broods over the gloomy drama, and through all plays a force truly demoniacal." Numerous experienced readers have testified to a similar apprehension. How does Emily Bronte create this sense or feeling of a malevolent force?

Location

Virginia Woolf doubted that the setting in Wuthering Heights determined the action. What do you think? Do you agree with her? What do you see the relationship between Wuthering Heights the place and Wuthering Heights the book?

Heathcliff

Can a coherent psychological portrait be drawn of Heathcliff that would account for his character, his motives, his actions? Can you define or describe the complexities of Heathcliff's character?

December 2010: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Discuss

What was your favorite thing about this book?

gift to Baby Jesus

What do the Herdmans give to the Baby Jesus on the night of the pageant? Why does this mean so much? Do you think it shows that they have changed?

Bullies

Have you ever encountered a bully? If so, what did you do? Do you think the Herdmans were handled well?

Parents

Do you think the lack of present parents contributes to the Herdmans bad behavior?

November 2010: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Prejudices

In the Chamber of Secrets, we discover that Slytherin had wanted Hogwarts to be a school only for full bloods, with no 'mudbloods' admitted. His prejudice against anyone different from himself creates all sorts of problems. How does this attitude compare with real prejudices people have had throughout history, for example against people of 'mixed blood' regarded as inferior?

Foreshadowing

How does the author use foreshadowing to comment on and prepare the reader for the story's defining conflicts? consider the early introduction of Fawkes, the Dursley's hatred of all things magic, and Ginny's dismay when the cat was petrified.

Loyalty

Loyalty is a key attribute of many characters. Who is the most loyal character in your opinion and why?

animals

What role do animals play in the novel? How important are they?

October 2010: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Your thoughts

What were your feelings/thoughts while reading this novel?

Choices

In your opinion, did Kit make the right choice in coming to Wethersfield? What might you have done in her place?

themes

What do you think the main themes of this book are?

Sorry

Who do you feel the most sorry for in this novel and why?

Right or wrong?

In her attempt to help both Prudence and Hannah, Kit sometimes disobeys community and family rules. Was that the right thing to do?

Kit and Nat

When did you first suspect there might be something between Nat and Kit? How did Speare craft things so this relationship made sense?

Loyalty

As Kit adjusts to life in her new community, she must often ask herself whom must I be loyal to? How does that parallel our lives in this country today?

Prejudice

In the end, Matthew shows himself to be a law-abiding citizen, even though he is prejudiced against those with different ideas. Do you think it is possible for a good and decent person to have prejudices?

September 2010: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Once again- make sure there are no spoilers of the sequels for those of us reading them for the first time!!

Panem

How does Katniss feel about the country of panem? Why does she need to make her face "an indifferent mask" and be careful what she says in public?

relationships

Describe the relationships of Katniss with Gale, with Prim, with her mother. How do those relationships define her personality? Why does she say about Peeta, "I feel like I owe him something, and I hate owing people."

Stylists

Why are the tributes given stylists and dressed so elaborately for the opening ceremony? Does this ceremony remind you of events in our world, either past or present?

Peeta

Before the Games start, Peeta tells Katniss, "... I want to die as myself... I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not." What does this tell you about Peeta? What does he fear more than death? Is he able to stay true to himself during the Games?

Katniss

Why does Katniss ignore Haymitch's advice to head directly away from the Cornucopia? Did she do the right thing to fight for equipment? What are the most important skills she has for staying alive- her knowledge of nature? her skill with bow and arrow? her tapping ability? What qualities of her personality keep her going? her capacity for love? her intelligence? her self control?

Groups

Why does Peeta join with the Career Tributes in the beginning of the Games? What does he hope to gain? Why do they accept him when they start hunting as a group? Why do groups form in the beginning when they know only one of them will be able to survive?

Partners

What makes Katniss and Rue trust each other to become partners? What does Katniss gain from this friendship besides companionship? Is Katniss and Rue's partnership formed for different reasons than the other group's?

Gamemakers

Discuss the ways in which the Gamemakers control the environment and "entertainment" value of the Games. How does it affect the tributes to know they are being manipulated to make the Games more exciting for the gamblers and viewers? Does knowing she is on live TV make Katniss behave differently than she would have otherwise?

Love

When does Katniss first realize that Peeta does care for her and is trying to keep her alive? When does she realize her own feelings for him? Did Haymitch think all along that he could keep them both alive by stressing the love story? Are they actually in love?

Cruelty

What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger Games? What kind of people would devise this spectacle for the entertainment of their populace? Can you see parallels between these Games and the society that condones them, and other related events and cultures in the history of the world?