Magyk Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of Magyk.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

About the Book

On the same night that Silas Heap’s seventh son, Septimus, is pronounced dead at birth, Silas comes across an abandoned baby in the Forest. The Heap family takes her in to raise as their own, unaware that she is the Royal Princess. Ten years later, the Supreme Custodian, who has been searching for the baby now named Jenna, and his hired Assassin have discovered her whereabouts. To save Jenna’s life, the Heaps must take the Princess deep into the marshes to hide. Escaping with the Heaps are Marcia, the ousted ExtraOrdinary Wizard, and Boy 412, an unwilling participant from the Young Army. But fate has placed Boy 412 with the fleeing wizards for a reason.


Pre-reading Activity

Discuss how a book’s cover art may predict the story or how it may be misleading. Examine the cover of Magyk and discuss the symbols and other illustrations featured. Have students write a description of what these items may represent.


Discussion Questions

1. Marcia, the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, leaves a baby girl in the Forest for Silas Heap to find. Why do you think Marcia chooses Silas as the wizard to raise this child? Is there something unique about Silas or his family that causes her to make this decision?
2. A hired Assassin discovers what the Princess looks like and where she has been living. If you accidentally discovered Jenna’s true identity, would you tell anyone? If so, which character in Magyk would you confide your knowledge to and why?
3. DomDaniel thinks his inept Apprentice is important in a grandiose plan to regain his position as the ExtraOrdinary Wizard. What does DomDaniel think he knows about the Apprentice that makes this boy valuable to his plans? Do you think DomDaniel is correct in his assumption? If you knew the Apprentice’s identity, would you tell him or his Master?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of HarperTrophy. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.