Bronte Mettlestone Family Book Club: Discussion Questions

Hana
Apr 12, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Aug 27, 2019

Bronte is ten years old when she receives the news that her parents have been killed by pirates. Carrying out the wishes of her parents’ will, she must embark on a series of extremely inconvenient adventures.

As you read through the book with your family, we’ve got a list of questions for you to ponder and discuss.

Discussion Questions:

“As much as I was frightened, a tiny part of me, right in the centre of my heart, was also rather excited.”

Have you ever felt like this? A little bit frightened and a little bit excited? Is there anything you do to make sure you let the excited part of you win, rather than the frightened part?

In a family, they explained to me, you get a sort of identity. “Imogen’s the bossy sister, and Esther’s quirky, and I’m the scatty one,” Astrid explained.

Do you think the people in your family each has an identity and is this a good or bad thing?

I played and played - and there it was. The magic. I felt it open up and splash into the twilight. I understood Aunt Alys’ dreamy smile now: it seemed as if the bright blue sky of earlier had slid into my heart, the glowing pinks and oranges of sunset too.”

Is there something that you do that makes you feel a little bit magical? Maybe it’s playing an instrument. Maybe it’s painting. Maybe it’s running. What makes you feel like the bright blue sky has slid into your heart?

Bronte mentions that when she creates the magical potion to defeat the Whispering King, it’s a lot like making a recipe. And later, Aunt Carrie says that the best spellbinding potions are created out of love and sadness.

What sort of recipe would you make to create a magical potion?