Candlewick Press Discussion Guide

MAGGOT MOON by Sally Gardner

A Costa Childrens Book Award Winner

About the Book

 azzling,chilling,breathtaking. D Maggot Moonis,quitesimply,a perfectbook.
egRosoff,PrintzAwardwinningauthorof M How I Live Now

Thereisadarksecretontheothersideofthewall nearStandishshouse,buttheMotherlandwants ZoneSevenandalloftheworldtolookupatthe moon.Thatiswherebravespacetravelerswill soonbeplantingtheirnationsred-and-blackflag. Butwhy,Standishwonders,isamoonmanhiding inhisbasement?Andwhathappenedtohisfriend Hectorwhenhefollowedaballoverthewall?In alandfilledwithtrain-trackthinkers,Standish thinksdifferently.Andthatjustmightbewhyhes thebesthopeforhisterrorizedpeople.
HC: 978-0-7636-6553-1 E-book: 978-0-7636-6573-9 Also available in audio

Discussion Questions
1. tthebeginningofthenovel,Standishobservesthatwhatifsareasboundlessasthe A stars(p.1).WhatisthehistoricalwhatifthatputstheplotofMaggot Mooninto motion?Whenisthisnovelset?Whereisitset? 2. Therearetrain-trackthinkers,saysHector,thentheresyou,Standish,abreezeinthe parkofimagination(p.4).WhatdoesHectormean?Whataretheadvantagesofbeing atrain-trackthinker?Whataretherisksofthinkingdifferently? 3. Grampswastheonlypersonthatstillpulledatthegravityinme,saysStandish (p.23).Whyisthissuchanaptdescriptionoftheirrelationship? 4. tandishisanawfulreader,anevenworsewriter,andanall-aroundterriblestudent. S Whyaretheseadvantagesforhim,notdisadvantages?

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MAGGOT MOON by Sally Gardner

5. eathanddisappearancearecommoneventsinZoneSeven.Howdomostofitsinhabitants D respondtotheirlosses?HowdoGrampsandStandishrespondtotheirs? 6. heMotherlandsmoonprojectisanaudaciousandexpensivehoax.Whoaretheleaders T tryingtofool?Why?WithoutStandishsintervention,doyouthinktheycouldhave succeeded? 7. hywasthemoonmansilencedbygovernmentagents?HowandwhywasStandishs W motherpunished?WhatothermeansdoestheMotherlandusetosilencedissent?Howdoes itrewardcompliance? 8. tandishseemstotravelfreelybetweenrealityandfantasy.Atwhatpointsinthestorydid S yourealizethatwhatyouthoughtwasimaginedwasactuallytrue?Inwhatotherwaysdoes thenovelcontinuallykeepreadersoffbalance? 9. owdidStandishandHectordiscovertheplanetJuniper?Whoinhabitsit?Doyouknow H anyJuniparians?Areyouone? 10. hoaretheleather-coatmenandtheGreenflies?Wheredotheygettheirauthority?What W havetheygivenupforthatpower? 11. Terrorisanoddthing,saysStandish.Ithasmademepanic,ithadmademespew,but thistime,Ifeltacalmfury(p.170).HowdoyouexplainStandishsreactiontothearmed intruderinhishome?Howwouldyoureact? 12. lthoughhecantrecallhowhelearnedthestoryanddoesntknowthenamesofits A characters,StandishknowsthebiblicaltaleofDavidandGoliath.Whatisthepointofthat ancientstory?WhyisStandishmodelinghimselfafterDavid? 13. rampssometimeswondersifthereisanysuchthingasatruth.Hardtotellwhensomuch G isalie(p.167).Inalandfulloflies,howdoyourecognizetruth?Whymustyoutry? 14. owdoesHectorsaveStandishslife?Howdoeshealsoputitatrisk?Howmuchiseach H willingtosacrificefortheother? 15. Ibelievethebestthingwehaveisourimagination,HectorsaystoStandish(p.142).Do youagree?Whyorwhynot? 16. eunitedwithhiswoundedfriend,Hector,Standishwonderswhymankindissocruel.How R wouldyourespondtohisquestion? 17. wostoriesunfoldinthisbook.Oneistoldinwordsandtheotherinpictures.Whydoyou T thinkthebookendswithadrawing?Whatdoesitmean?Whatdoyoubelievehappensto Standish?

About the Author

SallyGardnerisanaward-winningauthorwhosenovelshavebeentranslatedintotwenty-two languages.Sheisdyslexicandisanavidspokespersonfordyslexia,advocatingthatitsnota disability,butagift.SallyGardnerlivesinLondon.
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