Book Club Discussion Questions
For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of Spirit Walker.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
About the Book
As he lies dying, ravaged by a demon bear, Torak’s
father's last words to him are: "Find—the Mountain—
of the World Spirit. . . . It’s the only hope. . . . Find the
Mountain, or die trying"
(pp. 9–10). Thus begins
Wolf
Brother, the first volume in the series, the story of a
twelve-year-old Stone Age boy’s quest to find a way to
stop the bear from destroying the Forest and its people
and to find out why his father has kept him out of
contact with others.
Torak’s quest leads him to find
Wolf, his wolf-cub companion; Renn, a young Raven
Clan girl; and Fin-Kedinn, the trusted Raven Clan leader.
In
Spirit Walker, a terrible sickness plagues the people
of the Forest, and Torak feels it is his destiny to find the
cure, despite Fin-Kedinn’s warning that the sickness
might be a trick to capture Torak and gain his powers
that he himself is unaware of. Alone in the Deep Forest
and at the Sea, Torak meets Tenris, who seems to be a
kind Mage but who may well not be what he seems.
Torak is a reluctant hero—thrust into the role by powers
he never asked for, powers he does not understand. Part
of his quest is to explore those powers and learn to use
them for good. This is one piece of realizing who he is
and where he fits in, whom he can trust, what his
parents were like, and what their heritage means to him.
Discussion Questions
- The clan society of Wolf Brother and Spirit Walker is
primitive, yet much of what they do and believe can be
found in modern-day cultures. Discuss the similarities and
differences between cultures you are familiar with. Issues to
take into consideration are: societal structure, religion, the
treatment of children and the elderly, human relationships,
and humanity’s relationship to the natural world.
- Clan leaders such as Fin-Kedinn command respect and
obedience from the clan members. Are there people in our
contemporary society who get this kind of respect? If so,
give an example and explain.
- "‘Oslak,’ he said. ‘The clan chose me for Leader to keep it
safe. You know that. . . . And I will. I will keep you safe’"
(p. 16). Fin-Kedinn is filled with guilt after he fails to protect
Oslak from the ravages of the sickness. Is Fin-Kedinn’s
promise an empty one? He hopes that he can save Torak,
but does he truly believe he can? Explain.
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
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.
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