The Book of Lost Things

The Book of Lost Things 

• Genre: Fiction; young adult dark fantasy
• Originally Published: 2006 
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 9-12 
• Structure/Length: 33 chapters; approximately 339 pages; approximately 10 hours, 56 minutes on audio  
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, David, is a young boy mourning the loss of his mother. He finds solace in his books, which begin to whisper to him in the silence of the night. Transported into a twisted fairy-tale world filled with dark and grim versions of familiar characters, David embarks on a quest to find a mythical king’s Book of Lost Things, hoping this will allow him to return home. The central conflict revolves around David’s journey through this dangerous world, facing both external monsters and his inner demons. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Death of parent; grief and loss; dark, disturbing, and gruesome imagery; violence within a fantasy context; manipulation and betrayal

John Connolly, Author 

• Bio: Born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1968; best known for his series of novels starring private detective Charlie Parker; a versatile writer with works spanning genres including crime, fantasy, horror, and science fiction; known for lyrical prose, intricate plots, and the blending of the mundane with the supernatural
• Other Works: Every Dead Thing (1999); The Whisperers (2010); The Wolf in Winter (2014); A Song of Shadows (2015)
• Awards: ALA Alex Award (2009)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Benefits and Losses of Growing Up
• Accepting the Reality of Death
• Stories as a Means of Transportation

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an increased understanding of the social and historical contexts regarding civilians’ lives during World War II that contribute to the plot.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Benefits and Losses of Growing Up, Accepting the Reality of Death, and Stories as a Means of Transportation.
• Plan, create, and present a scene incorporating fairy tales, based on text details.
• Analyze and evaluate plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding the impact of nature on the story, the author’s use of sensory imagery, and other topics.