YA Fantasy: Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye

By -
To Think About:

1. The book starts with an ancient proverb: "It is the child of fire one sends on an errand of fire". How does this relate to Sloan and how do her reactions reflect this proverb?

2. The strings of the Ìlèkè and the red and white beads Sloan’s mother gives her connects Sloane and the Orisha she is descended from her. What items do you have that connect with where you come from, or where you are living now?

3. Nicolai is one of the first characters Sloane mentions who becomes a child soldier. Discuss how being forcefully taken at a young age would impact someone.

4. Imagine receiving a draft letter. How would you react?

5. This book was heavily influenced by West- African mythology. Are you familiar with African folklore? Dive deeper, and see if your library has any related material to expand your understanding of the book.

6. The author was inspired by the Bring back Our Girls campaign of 2014. What do you know about this campaign? Do some research and discuss in your class the impact this had in Nigeria. What connections do you see to this event and what happens in Blood Scion?

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for engaging in thoughtful & respectful dialogue about what you are reading.

Popular posts from this blog

Possible Titles for EDHS Book Club

By -
Image
Based on your feedback, here is an historical fiction, The Devil in the White Cit y, and a mystery/thriller, Bones Never Lie , by Kathy Reichs, on whose series the TV show Bones is based. Let me know by Friday, September 26th which one you'd prefer. To vote, see Mr. Feick for a ballot.  See you in the Library! Erik Larson... intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction. Image and text from  http://ugdsb.lib.overdrive.com/0CFD6710-371F-41E9-8C2F-2DDF7C7AD192/10/45/en/ContentDetails.htm?id=CF5326E9-9287-472D-93F2-66587F07BFA7#descExpand Temperance "Tempe" Brennan faces down the demons of her past in the seventeenth thriller in Kathy Reichs's phenomenally successful Bones series. Unexpectedly called ...
Read more

YA Fiction: A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

By -
Image
To Think About: 1. In the beginning of A Magic Steeped in Poison , we learn “the true wielders of Shénnóng magic have their unique specialties. Some brew teas for emotions – compassion, hope, love. Others are able to imbue the body with energy or encourage the drinker to remember something long thought lost.” If you are a wielder of tea magic, what sort of magic would you hope to specialize in? Why? 2. Ning’s connection with her family, especially her sister Shu, motivates her even while she encounters challenges in her journey. How is her relationship with her various family members described in the book? How did her time spent in the palace affect her perception of her family? 3. There are many different types of interactions with women of all ages portrayed in Magic Steeped in Poison . How do these women help or hinder Ning’s journey? 4. Who is your favorite character in A Magic Steeped in Poison ? Why? Is there something about yourself that you find relatable to this charac...
Read more