Discussion Questions (PART ONE)

[Kushti, Conquering YA One Book at a Time]

So, on the Scholastic website, there are some neat discussion questions for this book. I thought that we could discuss a few of them. So far, I am on Chapter Seven and so these questions only concern Chapters One-Seven. Please no spoilers for Chapter Eight and beyond. I will post the next questions soon.

1. Sage lives in an orphanage and steals food to
live, but refuses to go with Conner. Why is he
so reluctant?
2. Why doesn’t Conner let Latamer go?
3. During the lessons and competitions with
Tobias and Roden, Sage frequently acts as if
he does not want to be prince. Why does he
behave this way?

Here's the link to all the questions: http://www.scholastic.com/motherdaugh...

[Kushti, Conquering YA One Book at a Time]

1. Sage is street-smart. He knows that Connor looks fishy and he is trying to get away from him ASAP.
2. Sage feels that it was so wrong for Connor to trick Latamer into a sense of safety and really cannot go through with it.
3. He wants to show Connor that if he gets chosen, he will be the man ruling. He won't be a puppet for Connor.

[LauraW]

1. Sage feels a need to be in control.
2. Conner wants to let the other boys know this is serious and that they, too, might be destined to die.
3. Sage is smart enough to know that it is a difficult and often thankless job.

[Shaun]

1. Sage knows that Conner has an ulterior motive, and that he is to be used by the man. I think given his age, and his abilities, he thinks he can make it on his own - others might need to go into service with somebody, for them it might be the best option. But he thinks he has others.
2. Conner wants to send a message, but also simply pragmatically, Latamer can't be allowed to live. I'm not sure if he really believes what he is doing is justified or not, but if he does, then the life of a boy is nothing compared to the welfare of an entire Kingdom.
3. He does not want to be Prince. That's part of what might make him a good one. He does not want it for himself, but he will do what is best for the Kingdom.

[Bri]

1. Sage feels like Conner wants him for something bad and is street-smart so he doesn't trust people easily.
2. Conner doesn't let Latamer go since he wants to send a message to the other boys on what will happen to them if they're not brave or picked to be the prince.
3. He acts that way because he honestly does not want to be the prince and is just trying to find a way to escape before he is killed for not being picked.