Book Club Discussion Questions – Refugees and Seekers (Books 1 and 2)

Many readers have requested discussion questions for their book clubs.  Book clubs vary so much that is is hard to develop questions that work for everybody.  Clubs range all the way from those interested in deep intellectual discussions to those that mainly drink wine and socialize with light references to the books they read. Both groups are fun!  So, I decided to draft numerous questions from which people can select one or two that fit their interests. No group will want to discuss all or even most of these, but I’ve listed enough that hopefully there is something for everyone!

If you are in a book club, I’d love to hear from you as to what type of questions generally stimulate the most interesting discussions!  I love it when people discover hidden meanings in my books.  Please feel free to share your reactions to any of the questions on this list.  Personally, I enjoy fiction that raises questions in my mind rather than offering me answers.  So, if you have questions, bring them on!   I’d love to hear from you!

The general questions listed below do not include spoilers, but please beware that the more specific questions do.

Discussion Questions for Refugees and Seekers.

General Questions

Setting: What is the time period and setting of the overall book? How did this add to or detract from your reading experience? Describe the unique setting for each of the three main characters. How did the geography of the 3 protagonists’ homelands influence their outlooks on life and even their use of words? Which place would you most like to live and why?
Characters: Who were your favorite and least favorite characters? Why? Which would you rather be, a Glider, an Armored or a Webby, and why? Were the characters believable? Why or why not? Of all the characters in the book which one would you most like to spend time with? Why? Even though it was in a vastly different world, were you able to relate to the character’s inner struggles? Why or why not? Who would you choose to play the characters in a movie?
Plot: Did the story line maintain your interest? What was the most exciting part? What did you find the least interesting? What was your favorite scene? What was your least favorite scene? What, if anything, would you have changed about the plot? Which of the three did you prefer, Mud, Rocks or Trees?
Themes: What major themes could you identify? What do you think the author was trying to get across?
Application: Was there anything in the book that made you uncomfortable? If so, why? What, if anything, did you relate to in this book that you would like to take away and use in your own life?
Helpful Tips for the Author:  What could the author have done differently that would have improved the reading experience for you? What would help make books 4, 5 and 6 of the series better than books 1, 2 and 3? What were the author’s strengths and weaknesses? Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Specific Questions – SPOILER ALERT!

Denial:  Why does Amanki’s village choose the comfort of denial over Baskrod’s warnings? Why didn’t they listen to him? Have you ever ignored the warning of a friend? Why? Describe. Give real life examples when people have chosen to ignore warnings. Why do people behave this way? Do they sometimes choose comfort over truth? Is there anything in your life you are in denial about right now? What value is there for you in that denial?
Prejudice: Give examples of prejudice by one group of people against the other in the book. How is prejudice encouraged? Why? How does it influence their behavior? What purpose does it serve? The first trees chapter follows a grass chapter in which fliers are described as beasts without souls who were made by the cat gods as treats for the cave lions. How did you feel when you realized they were talking about Brina’s family? Were the gliders also blinded by their prejudice against the Samalitans? As you were reading, did the fact that the people had armored backs, webbed feet and glides prejudice you against the protagonists so that you had trouble seeing them as people? Why or why not? What qualifies a group as having souls or being civilized in your eyes? Is anyone able to effectively combat prejudice in the book?
Destiny: What role does destiny or a belief in destiny play in the book? How did each of the protagonists’ knowledge of or beliefs about their own destiny affect their behavior? What do you believe about destiny? How does that affect your behavior? If you had a specific destiny, would you want to know it?
Prophecy and Signs: How do signs and prophecy affect the people in the book? How do they affect us today? In Seekers, the jester comments on the power of amulets as bribes.   Do signs and prophecies play any role in your life or the lives of people you know?  What is the difference between an oracle and prophecy?  How much free will do we have?
Shame and Contempt: What characters show contempt for others? What characters feel shame? How do these emotions play a role in the book? How do they damage relationships? How do these emotions play a role in your life? Do they have any value?
Culture: Amanki, Brina and Moshoi all share the faith in Adon taught to them by the Society of the Word. How does the culture they came from affect their beliefs and actions? Although you may have embraced different beliefs than those you were raised with, how has your background influenced you? What idols of your childhood do you still struggle with?
Family: Describe Brina’s relationship with her father, Moshoi’s relationship with his father and Amanki’s relationship with his family.   Why did each of the families react differently to Baskrod or Rhabdom? How did the behavior of Moshoi and Tuka’s father affect the brothers’ relationship? Is this realistic? Were you able to identify with these family relationships and if so, in what way?
Infatuation: Compare Metlan and Barque. Why does Brina find each of them attractive? What do you think will happen with these relationships in the next book? If you were Brina, which would you prefer to have a romantic relationship with and why?
Power or weakness: When Brina describes her bow she says that its power lay in the very bend that should weaken it. What do you think this means? What weaknesses do characters in the story have that make them strong, and what strengths make them weak? How does Amanki use Gepathi’s love of power to weaken her in the end? What weaknesses do you have that can also be your strengths? Explain.
Change: Amanki talks about the way in which one day can change everything. Have you ever had that happen? Discuss. How were you able to adapt? How do the characters in the book adapt to change? How were they able to move on from regret? How have you done this in your life?
Adon: In one scene, Amanki dives into the river and “wrestles with Adon.” If you are familiar with Jacob in the Bible, how is this scene similar? After this, how does Amanki’s relationship with Adon differ from the relationship he had been taught to have with the gods of his village? How, if at all, does this affect his behavior? What other instances are there in the book where Adon is similar to the God in the Bible? Do you think such similarities do or do not belong in a fantasy novel? Why?
Prayer: When Amanki prays for Baskrod to appear in the boat, he does. Right after that, Amanki panics over Manhera being missing. Why does he give way to despair so soon after his last prayer was answered? What causes his panic? What causes some characters in the book to fall into despair? What does Moshoi mean when he talks about ruts in his mind? Could you relate? What ruts do you have in your own mind? How did they get there? How do characters in the book combat despair at different times? How do you combat despair in difficult times?
Evil: How is evil described in the book? How do each of the cultures see evil, or what do each of the cultures value as the highest good? How do their rituals support their values? Who do you think is the most evil character in the book? Can you think of anyone in history or a modern person like that? Is the emperor mentally ill or evil? Do you believe that evil people exist? Why or why not? At one point, Amanki says that to do nothing was to be a part of the evil. Do you agree? What makes some people in the book act against evil and others not? What can you do to be sure you would have the courage to act?
Crowd Contagion: Give examples in the book when people act like sheep. How is crowd contagion described and used in the book? How is Gepathi able to get the young women to willingly allow themselves to be sacrificed? Is this believable? Why or why not? Why does the crowd go along with it? Is there anything similar happening these days, and if so what? How does crowd contagion influence people today? Give an example from your own life or the news. How is it destructive and what value, if any, does it have?
Identity: Which characters seem to gain some of their own identity from that of their ancestors? In what way? Why is it important to them? Is ancestry still important today? Is it important to you and in what way?
High Born, Hidden Away: Baskrod hides Amanki for his own safety.  Name other high born people in history or fable who were hidden away.   Why was this done? Is it still done in our culture?  Have the dangers changed? How do the rich and famous protect their children in modern times? Why did Baskrod keep so many secrets from Amanki? Do you think it would have been better if Amanki had always known? Why or why not?
Civilization: Amanki hopes that the people they meet when washed up on shore are civilized.   He is concerned because he does not know what manner of people lived there. Odysseus shares this concern in Homer’s Odyssey. What does Manhera see as the sign of a civilized people? Baskrod tells her that people in the city have learned to be suspicious due to bad experiences with strangers. Do you think that is true today? How do you define a civilized people today? How is our notion of hospitality different than that in ancient times?
Faith: Amanki, Brina and Moshoi take off on a long journey, knowing very little of what they will face, and with very little knowledge of their mission. How are they able to step out into the unknown? What brings each of them to make the decision to begin such a journey? Does it make a difference that they are young? Have you ever been motivated to take such a “journey” into the unknown? What motivated you?
Bullying: What characters face bullying in the book? How is it handled by those in power? Do you think the solution is effective? Is this bullying similar to modern day bullying? How does the culture affect the solution? In what modern situations would the solution in the book work?
Sidetracks and Difficult Choices: What causes each of the three protagonists to waver from their mission? How does Moshoi decide whether to help those hibernating below? How does Brina decide whether to help Metlan? How does Amanki decide whether to try to save Manhera? Would it have been wrong for them to choose differently? Have you ever been faced with a choice where neither answer seemed right? When? How did you decide what to do?
Betrayal: At the beginning, Bladar says that “spies like any man can be bought for the right price?” Do you agree with this statement?   What might the “right price” mean besides money? Is it honest to think that you would not betray those who trust you or betray your own values, no matter what? If you believe you could resist, how would you find the strength to do so? Have you ever been tested? Which characters in the book face the choice of betraying friends, family or their own values and what do they choose to do? Discuss.
Growth: How do each of the three protagonists grow during their journey to Tzoladia? How were Rhabdom’s final words to Moshoi similar to what Elder Lepton told Brina? How do the youths succeed or fail in putting this advice into action? What does Elder Lepton mean when she talks about mastering evil inclination? Is Brina able to do this? Is Moshoi able to heed Rhabdom’s warnings? Why does Baskrod tell Amanki who he truly is when he does? What was Baskrod waiting for? How has Amanki shown that he is ready?
Destruction or Victory to Come? Some say there are three outcomes in dangerous circumstances: we go through them and live, we are able to go around them and live, or we die. Where do you picture each of the 3 main characters in the beginning of the next book? Now that you have finished the book, read the prophecy at the beginning again. What do you think it means? What signs were given throughout the book of an impending disaster? Did you pick up on them? What do you think is the meaning of the seals? What do you think will happen in the next book?
Bonus Question:  The author is an ancient history buff. What plot lines or cultural practices did the author borrow from ancient history?   Can you identify them?

If your book club has discussed Refugees and Seekers, which questions stimulated the most discussion?  What has been the all time best discussion question asked in your book club about any book?  Why?