Mayor's Book Talk

For those who love books, “Mayor’s Book Talk” has something for everyone. Join Mayor Pam Iorio as she examines today’s literary environment.

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August's Guest Author is Dr. David Colburn

Mayor Pam Iorio’s guest on the August episode of “Mayor’s Book Talk” is Dr. David Colburn, a longtime University of Florida faculty member and the author of numerous books focusing on politics, race, and ethnicity in 20th Century America. The two discuss From Yellow Dog Democrats to Red States Republicans: Florida and Its Politics since 1940. The book is Colburn’s latest work, which begins with the Florida population explosion and chaotic gubernatorial politics of the 1940s, and reaches into the present day.

September's Discussion Group Book: Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by: Brandon Mull Brandon Mull  is the author of the Fablehaven, the New York Times bestselling series about a mystical refuge for magical creatures. In Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star, Fablehaven is in grave danger, as an ancient organization is determined to infiltrate the preserve and steal a hidden artifact of great power.   If the artifact falls into the wrong hands, it could mean the downfall of other preserves and possibly the world.

Discussion Questions for At-Home Participation.

1. In the first chapter of the book, Kendra’s power to recognize magical creatures allows her to see Casey Hancock for what he is, an evil kobold. Do you think she made the right choice not to tell her friends about him? What would you do if you felt like you should warn a friends about something or someone, but you were embarrassed or afraid to do so?

2. Which of the “experts” – Coulter, the magical relics collector; Tanu, the potions master; of Vanessa, the magical creatures expert – would you be most interested in learning from? If you could be an expert in one of these areas, which would you choose? Why?

3. On pages 106-9, Kendra samples one of Tanu’s bottled emotions, shame. After it has worn off, she realizes that the emotion made her blow little problems all out of proportion. How can our emotions make things seem worse than they really are? What can we do when we’re caught up in the “spell” of a negative emotion?

4. On page 122, Seth asks Dale what he’ll do if he can’t find a way to cure his brother, Warren. Dale answers, “I’ll never know that day has come, because I’ll never stop trying.” How do you keep your hope up when you’ve tried lots of different solutions to a problem, and nothing seems to work? Have you ever kept trying and ended up succeeding at something that you failed at to begin with?

5. Pages 134-37 describe Grandma Sorenson’s interaction with the jinn that resulted in her being changed into a chicken. Have you ever felt that you “handle” a situation that you knew would be dangerous?

6. If you had a magical glove like Coulter’s, how would you use it? How could you help people? What magical relic would you most like to invent? What would it do? Why would you like to have that power?

7. Chapter 9 describes Kendra’s and Seth’s encounter with the Sphinx. Why do you think he treated them differently, especially in the Foosball game? Is it best to always treat everyone the same, or are there times when certain individuals may need special handling? Why?

8. Every good and lasting relationship must have trust. However, Kendra finds herself betrayed by people whom she trusted. How much are you willing to trust someone? If you found out someone lied to you, would you be willing to forgive him or her? If so, what would that person have to do to earn back your trust?

9. Seth and Coulter encounter paralyzing fear from the revenant. Is fear always a bad thing? Can fear ever be good? Why or why not? If you could overcome one fear, what would it be?

10. In book 1, Seth’s boldness caused problems. In book 2, his courage helped save the day. What is the difference between bravery and recklessness? Is it always easy to see the difference?

11. When Slaggo and Voorsh, the goblins, are about to cook Kendra and Seth, Kendra persuades them that her grandparents will reward them for letting the children go. The goblins recall, “Stan and Ruth have repaid loyalty in the past.” And “[Stan] has a history of fair rewards.” How does a person gain a reputation for fairness or other good qualities? How might you be helped by your good reputation, or that of your parents?

12. In Seth’s battle with the revenant, when his courage is almost gone, he remembers all the people who have helped him and are depending on him. Has thinking about people you love ever given you more courage than you thought you had? How does remembering your loved ones help you make better choices in your life?

13. What do you think of the end of the book? What reasons are there to believe the final message? What reasons are there to disbelieve it?


 

*For Our Teachers

Certificate of Completion for Mayor's Book Talk