Witchlings

Despite the pronounced differences in Thorn and Valley’s personalities, the Gran says that they are alike because both girls are “dealing with some pretty heavy burdens” (134). Compare and contrast Thorn and Valley’s character traits. What burdens do they carry, and how do they make some progress toward healing by the end of the novel? How does the protagonist support her fellow Witchlings’ character arcs?

Analyze Seven’s strengths and flaws as a character. How does this dynamic protagonist develop over the course of the novel, and what factors spur her growth?

What hinders the Witchlings’ unity at the start of the novel? How do Seven and Valley establish trust, and how do the three Witchlings’ accomplishments illustrate the power of cooperation?

What hardships does each Witchling face and what do they learn about themselves by encountering adversity? How does Ortega use the Gran’s ceremonial gifts and the girls’ progress toward their dream jobs to develop the theme of Self-Discovery in the Face of Adversity?

The novel’s central antagonist is a Spare like Seven and her friends. How does this plot twist impact the theme of Systems of Exclusion and Disenfranchisement and the novel’s overall meaning?

The color red represents Spares. By tracing the appearances of this symbolic color, analyze how Seven’s attitude toward being a Spare changes over the course of the novel.

How do Systems of Exclusion and Disenfranchisement impact the protagonist’s personal relationships and the Twelve Towns’ societal structure? How does the novel’s happy ending offer hope for social reform?

Names serve as a motif of the theme of Self-Discovery in the Face of Adversity. Explain the meaning of each of the Witchlings’ names. Why is it significant that their name prophecies connect to their climactic battle with the Nightbeast?