Chapter 16 Summary/Discussion ?s

   Evening came and Kira went to Thomas' room for a lunch break.  Thomas explains that he carved a key for Jo's room, and Kira and Thomas go to visit her.   Jo is afraid at first, but Kira lulls her and she asks them if they heard her beautiful singing.  Thomas and Kira said they would come visit her anytime  she needed help or comfort only.  They decide that Jo has to signal them to come by thumping on the ceiling of her room.  Jo finally said she wanted the freedom to sing her songs as she always did.  Kira felt the same way.

Discussion ?s
1) Why did they decide thumping as a signal for Jo?  How is Jo going to remember if she is only a toddler?  Do you think Kira will enjoy Jo or will it be time-consuming?
2) Why do they don't let Jo sing freely?  Is it because she is young and the guardians don't want her to disturb anyone?  Is because they want her to sing special songs to create the future?  Explain your thinking.
3) Discuss Kira's kindness for others.  Why does she want to help others all the time? 

Chapter 15 Summary/Discussion ?s

At midday on the day of Annabella's death, Kira notices the men constructing a new dyeing place for her near the Edifice.  It looks to be a much grander facility than Annabella ever had, and Kira mourns the lost of her friend and teacher.  The men also bring all of Annabella's materials, and Jamison tells Kira that Annabella's cott still remains standing.  Since Annabella died in her sleep, there is no need to burn her home.

Kira asks Jamison if she may watch over Annabella's spirit in the Field of Leaving, but he says that her work on the robe is more important and the time is short.  Someone else will watch over the old woman's spirit so that Kira can finish her task before the time of the ceremony arrives.  Kira the goes and talks to Thomas to ask about what it was like coming to live in the Edifice as a tyke.  They also explore the possibility of them becoming artists.  They then decide to visit Jo that night.

Discussion ?s
1) What do you think Kira thinks about Annabella's death and her new place?  Does she think she will enjoy it or not.  Why or why not?
2) What do you think Kira should do to finish learning all of the colors?  If she has learnde them already, how will she complete her assigned task in time?
3) Why would Kira ask Jamison to watch over Annabella's spirit?  Why would Kira be interested in doing that?  Explain your thinking.
4) Do you think that Kira enjoys making the Singer's robe or does she do it to save herself from going to the Fields?  Debate this with the other group members.

Chapter 14 Summary/Discussion ?s

     Hoping to make up the day lost to the storm, Kira wakes early and prepares to visit Annabella for a dyeing lesson.  Just as she is about to enter the forest, one of her friends from the weaving shed, Marlena tells Kira that she is missed around the shed, and Matt has been doing a poor job as her replacement.

Kira asks Marlena, who lives in the Fen, if she knew Jo, the singing girl.  Marlena informs Kira that she knew of her voice, but she didn't know Jo personally.  Marlena whispers that people said that Jo's songs were not only beautiful, but also prophetic.  They conclude their chat, and Kira sets off for Annabella's house.

Before Kira can enter the woods, Matt arrives and informs Kira that Annabella in dead and she begins to look for Jamison.  Kira then speaks to Jo through the key hole of her chamber and promises that she will return soon.

Discussion ?s
1) Are the guardians soon going to "adopt" Jo like they did with Kira and Thomas?  Explain your thinking.
2) Why do you think Marlena whispered to Kira that Jo's songs were not only beautiful but prophetic?  Is that a secret?  Why would Marlena think Jo's songs are prophetic?
3) Discuss Jo's singing abilities.  Was she born with this talent?  How did she receive the singing skills she has?  Explain your thinking.


    

Chapter 13 Summary/Discussion ?s

Kira, Matt, Thomas, and Branch decided to explore the level below their quarters because Thomas had heard crying the night before. It turned out to be a very small tyke who was known as “the little singing girl.” Also, Matt apparently knows her and they see Jamison helping her. She is an orphan who is either wishing for her mom or singing.
 
Discussion ?s
1) What defines a beast from a wild animal?  Are there even such things as "beasts" but the people don't know about it yet?
2) If Kira was caught going to visit the singing tyke by Jamison, would that change their relationship fo good?  How do you think Kira feels about Jamison?  How does she show her feelings for him?
3) Discuss Jamison's personality.  How does his personality affect Kira's work on the Singer's robe?
4) Describe Annabella.  When she announces,"There be no beasts," do you think she was right or wrong.  Explain your thinking.

Chapter 22 Summary/Discussion ?s

Kira's father who just returned, Christopher, before going to sleep, told Kira his story.  Christopher tells Kira that he wasn't taken by beasts, but by men, though Christopher didn't know who it was.  He says that when they were hunting, someone comes and attacks him, almost killing him.  The men had found him in the Fields, very injured, and dragged him to safety.  Christopher asks Kira about her leg, and she informs him that she was born that way.  Kira also explains Jamison and Christopher concludes that Jamison was the one that tried to kill Christopher.

Discussion ?s
1) Why does Jamison try to kill Christopher if he defends Kira?  Was it because she could be held captive and create the future?
2) Do you think that the men that dragged Christopher to safety wre stangers that helped him out of kindness or maybe it was people that Christopher knew?
3) Discuss the conversation between Kira and Christopher.  Do you think that this helped Kira find a strong relationship with her father?

Chapter 18 Summary/Discussion ?s

The Gathering is approaching, and everyone is preparing for it.  Matt has still not returned, and Kira is worried about him.  Kira is occasionally visiting Jo, the singing tyke in the room below.  Kira asks Jamison about the Ruin, and he recites,"Burn, scourged world, Furious furnace, Inferro impure..."  Jamison finally tells Kira,"We have been waiting a long time for you."

Discussion ?s
1) Did Jamison stage Katrina, Kira's mother's death?
2) Do you think they didn't kill Kira when she was a baby because they wanted her to create the future with her weaving talent?
3) Why do you think Jamison's relationship with Kira seems to be close?  Does he want her to create the future as well?  How does he show this throughout the book?
4) Why do you think Jamison said,"We have waited a long time for you?"  Wa she trying to tell Kira the whole reason why the guardians took her in?

Discussion Questions

We still have to complete some of the discussion questions for some chapters and they're due on Monday. I would suggest spending a fraction of the weekend posting your assigned discussion questions so that we are up to date next week.
Have a good weekend! :)