Reading Guide Questions

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?
4. Jenna wants to know what happened when DomDaniel climbed the Wizard Tower and "disappeared."  Why do people, even the wizards, think he is gone? Would you have believed his disappearance if you had seen what Alther Mella did from atop the tower?
5. While walking through the marsh, Silas falls and is quickly pulled down into the bog. If you were Silas and knew what was down under the mud yanking on your hair, would you have panicked? What do you think would have happened if the Boggart hadn’t used his unique method to release Silas?
6. When Boy 412 gets lost in the marsh fog, he falls headfirst down a hole and finds a mysterious object at the bottom. Does he share his discovery with anyone else, or even the fact that he has found a secret place? Why do you think he makes the choice he does?
7. If you found a Magyk book, what kinds of things might you find in the pockets? If you made a Magyk book, what types of items would you put in the pockets to imprint your spells?
8. When Simon, the eldest Heap son, disappears, Silas is frantic. Where is Simon and what does the Supreme Custodian offer him? Where you surprised by Simon’s response? How would you have reacted in Simon’s place, considering his role in the Heap family?
9. Silas asks Morwenna, a Wendron Witch, to help him find Simon. Why does Morwenna agree to help? If you were in her place, would you have felt a debt to Silas? Is Sarah rightfully bewildered by Morwenna’s comment about the other three Heap children who are not present? Does Morwenna know something Sarah doesn’t?
10. Boy 412 agrees to become Marcia’s Apprentice and is told that, in return for his consent, he can make a request of her. What does he request of the reinstated ExtraOrdinary Wizard? Do you think the answer will change his life? If you could place a different Magyk character in Boy 412’s place, who would it be and what would you have him or her ask for?

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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.