Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did this journey narrative compare to stories like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where children are also thrust into a dangerous new world?

2. Which character’s change left the biggest impression on you, and why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Janner and Tink both struggle with the roles assigned to them. Have you ever felt a conflict between others’ expectations of you and the path you wanted for yourself?

2. How did your perception of Podo Helmer change after learning his secret past as the dragon hunter “Scale Raker”? Can a person’s past actions be separated from the person they are today?

3. The feeling of being without a home is a powerful driver for Janner. He reflects early on that he isn’t sure he has a home anymore. In what ways does the story explore the idea of home not just as a physical place, but as a sense of safety and belonging found with family?

4. Trust and betrayal are dominant forces in the story. In your own life, how do you decide who to trust?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Andrew Peterson’s Christian faith informs the book’s allegorical layers. How does this worldview shape the narrative’s depiction of Gnag and the Igiby family?

2. The Igibys encounter several societies that paint a grim picture of life under oppression. How do these different communities reflect how societies can either break down or adapt in the face of tyranny?

3. The history of Anniera is a source of both sorrow and strength for the children. What does the novel suggest about the importance of knowing and preserving one’s history when powerful forces are trying to erase it?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The story often shifts perspective, describing events from Janner, Artham, or even the Fangs’ point of view. How do these parallel narratives affect your understanding of the larger conflict?

2. How does the journey north serve to strip characters of their illusions and force them to forge new identities under pressure?

3. How do Janner and Tink serve as foils to one another? Examine at least three concrete examples from the novel.

4. How does the novel use the physical changes to Artham and Tink to explore the battle between reclaiming and erasing the self?

5. How does the book follow the conventions of a classic quest narrative, similar to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring? How does Peterson’s story depart from that traditional fantasy structure?

6. The novel places great value on art as a source of power. How does the story use Leeli’s talents to argue for the power of beauty and empathy?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What might have happened if Tink had successfully integrated into the Strander community? Imagine an alternate path in which he becomes a leader among them.

2. Imagine a conversation between the fully restored Artham Wingfeather at the end of the book and the desperate Janner trapped in the Fork Factory. What words of wisdom or encouragement would Artham offer his nephew?

3. Sara Cobbler chooses to stay behind at the Fork Factory to ensure Janner’s escape. If you were to write that scene from her perspective, what thoughts and feelings might she be experiencing as she watches the carriage pull away?