13 Little Blue Envelopes - Discussion Questions

1. What is the 4^th Noodle?  Why does Ginny go there?
2. If you was Ginny, what would you do after you receive the packet from Aunt Peg?
3. How does Ginny get the PIN to her ATM card?
4. What is “mysterious benefactor day?” Who does Ginny finally choose to donate money to?
5. Why do Keith and Ginny fight?
6. How does Ginny meet Beppe? What happens between Beppe and Ginny?
7. What does Ginny visit first in Paris?
8. How does Ginny find the café her aunt worked in?
9. How do Keith and Ginny meet in Paris? How do they spend their time in Paris?
10. What does Ginny decide to do in Amsterdam and who does she spend time with there?
11. What secret does Olivia share with Ginny?
12. Why had Aunt Peg visited Copenhagen?
13. What does Ginny find out about her Aunt Peg in this letter?
14. What happens to Ginny and her friends on the beach in Greece?
15. What secret does Richard finally tell Ginny?
16. What does Ginny find behind Aunt Peg’s Manet picture?
17. Why did Aunt Peg delay selling her paintings?
18. What do you think of Aunt Peg? Would you want to have an Aunt like her?
19. What does Ginny feel Aunt Peg wanted her to do in the last letter?
20. What do you think Ginny learned from her adventure?

The Lie Tree - Discussion Questions

1. Why does Faith’s family move to the island of Vane?
2. At the beginning of The Lie Tree, what is the first detail to show that Faith has a very curiosity character?
3. How do you think the setting of the island of Vane adds to the atmosphere of the story?
4. Who are the members of Faith’s family?
5. Why do you think Faith feels a connection with her father’s snake?
6. What happened to Faith’s father?
7. What makes Faith think her father is murdered?   
8. How does Faith know about the lie tree?
9. What is Faith’s first lie? How does Faith spread it?
10. Discuss the ripple effect of the lies that Faith tells. Which do you think has the biggest impact?
11. In what ways do you think Faith is similar to her father? In what ways is she different?
12. Discuss the conflict between religion and science in The Lie Tree.
13. ‘A girl cannot be brave, or clever, or skilled as a boy can. If she is not good, she is nothing. Do you understand?’ (Erasmus) Discuss the ways in which Faith and other female characters face prejudice because of their gender.
14. Were you surprised by the identity of the murderers?
15. Do you like the ending of the book? If you were the author, how would you end the story?
16. If you had a Lie Tree in your possession, what would you do?
17. Are there mysteries that remain unexplained at the end of the novel?
18. How does this novel differ from other fantasy books you have read?