The League of Seven (40 page)

5.
   “Square cogs” and “clinker” are just two of the many slang expressions specific to the world of
The League of Seven
. Make a set of at least a dozen flash cards featuring unusual terms from the novel. Test the “League” vocabulary of friends or classmates by quizzing them with the flash cards.

6.
   Create a PowerPoint or other multimedia presentation describing the origins of the League of Seven; the specific roles its members fill; the various individuals who filled these roles in the past; and the responsibilities of the Septemberists to the League.

7.
   Read a biography of Thomas Edison and/or Nicola Tesla. Then, prepare a brief oral report about their lives, relationship, and contributions to science, followed by an explanation of how these legendary thinkers of our history were changed in the alternate world of the League of Seven.

8.
   Imagine you are Mr. or Mrs. Dent (Archie's dad or mom) before the attack of the Manglespawn bugs, working on propaganda to keep the public safe. Create a colorful, annotated poster to help ordinary people remember why “lektricity” is dangerous.

9.
   Imagine you are one of a handful of Septemberists who has not fallen victim to the Swarm Queen's mind-controlling neck bugs. Write a letter to “Any Healthy Septemberist Out There,” describing your understanding of what the bugs are doing and how they might be stopped. Include at least two black-and-white sketches with your letter.

10.
 If you could travel to the world of the League of Seven, what place would you most like to see or which invention would you most like to use? Would you stop in New Rome or Brasil? Would you ship yourself somewhere via pneumatic post? Create an outline-style travel itinerary for a visit to this alternate world. Share and compare your itinerary with those of friends or classmates.

11.
 In the character of Fergus or Hachi, write at least four journal entries, including one recounting your first meeting with Archie; one discussing your life before joining the battle against Edison; one in which you consider whether Archie's revelations about the Septemberists and the League of Seven are true; and one in which you ponder what will happen to you and your new friends after the final scene of the novel.

12.
 In the character of Archie, write a journal entry reflecting on your recent adventures and describing your struggles with your newly discovered identities as an adopted child, as a possible Manglespawn and, perhaps worst of all, as the “shadow” member of a new League of Seven.

13.
 Using information from the novel, create a logo and slogan for the new League of Seven of which Archie, Hachi, and Fergus are all a part. And/or write a HELP WANTED advertisement describing the “open positions” in the new League and the abilities these jobs will require.

14.
 Author Alan Gratz commented that he began writing
The League of Seven
by “listing all the things that ten-year-old Alan would have thought were awesome.” What do you think is awesome? Make a list of at least a dozen objects, images, place names, and phrases that pique your interest. Inspired by this list, write a 1-3 paragraph story idea, and a suggested title and genre (such as steampunk, fantasy, picture book, or graphic novel) you feel would best suit your concept.

 

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SEPTEMBERIST SOCIETY!

www.septemberistsociety.com

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alan Gratz is the author of
Samurai Shortstop
, an ALA 2007 Top Ten Book for Young Adults. He began writing
The League of Seven
by listing all the things that ten-year-old Alan would have thought were awesome, including brass goggles, airships, tentacle monsters, brains in jars, windup robots, secret societies, and superpowers. (In fact, he still thinks all those things are awesome.) When he's not writing books like
The League of Seven
,
Samurai Shortstop
,
The Brooklyn Nine
, and
Prisoner B-3087
, he's usually reading other people's books or creating an awesome new costume for science fiction/fantasy conventions. Visit his awesome website at
www.alangratz.com
.

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE LEAGUE OF SEVEN

Copyright © 2014 by Alan Gratz

Reader's Guide copyright © 2014 by Tor Books

The Dragon Lantern
excerpt copyright © 2014 by Alan Gratz

All rights reserved.

Cover art by Brett Helquist

Interior illustrations by Brett Helquist

Map by Jennifer Hanover

A Starscape Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

The Library of Congress-Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-7653-3822-8 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-3850-5 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466838505

First Edition: August 2014