𝑲𝑶𝑻𝑳𝑪 𝑨𝒍𝒍

Discussion and Trivia Questions about 'Unlocked'

1. Throughout the book, including just before the novella begins, the author includes notes in whichshe speaks directly to readers. Why do you think the notes are included? What do they add?Describe her tone and how it makes you feel as a reader.

2. Design features in the book sections outside the novella signal to the reader that they aren'treading a novel. What are the design features? How do the fonts vary? What makes some sectionslook like official documents? What are some of the lists, and why are they in that format?

3. Unlocked includes much more artwork than the other books in the series. How are black-and-whitepictures used to add information? Discuss the two inserts with colour pictures. What do theyconvey? Do they match how you imagined the characters to look? Explain your answers.

4. What kind of information is contained in the Registry entries? Who is the information for? Why dosome characters have longer entries than others? What is notable about Keefe's entry? Did youlearn anything about the characters that you didn't already know? What information might youwant to particularly keep in mind when reading future books or rereading past ones?

 5. Find some of the final notes about the main characters and compare them. Whose are the mostextensive? Do you agree with the assessments of the characters' strengths? What do the notesforeshadow about the future?

6. One section describes "Life in the Lost Cities." Explain what is included in this long section. Whydoes the author say that the Lost Cities are "luminous, and vibrant"? Why does she also say theyare a "Crumbling Utopia"? How can something be two seemingly contradictory things?

7. Look closely at the lists of gadgets, alchemy and elixirs, and medicines. Choose the two itemsfrom each list that you would most like to have for yourself. Explain why you chose them and howyou would use them.

8. Review the author's note that comes before the novella, and then discuss how viewpointsalternate between Sophie and Keefe. What does having two main characters and theirperspectives add to the story? How could the author have conveyed similar information just fromSophie's point of view? What might have been left out? 

9. Keefe is facing a host of problems in the novella. Describe his new powers and why they have himso worried. In what way do they seem to be combined abilities? What role does he think his motherhas in his new powers, and how might she misuse them? 

10. What are some of the emotions that Keefe senses from Elwin in the Healing Center? Why doesKeefe go to stay at Elwin's house? Describe the house and how it reflects Elwin's character andneeds. How else does Elwin try to help Keefe besides giving him a place to stay? 

11. Dex and his family pitch in to help Keefe too. What experiments do they conduct? Describe the roleof the triplets in the experiments. What medicines and devices are tried that might help Keefe?How successful are they? Dex gives Keefe an Imparter. What does it allow Keefe to do, and why?

12. How does the preface foreshadow the problems Keefe will face? At various points, he thinks it'simportant that he stop talking, hard as that is for him. Why does he believe that? What is it like for him to listen and feel instead of speaking up and making jokes? What kinds of words does hesuppress during the experiments?  

13. Describe Ro's interactions with Keefe. What emotions does she feel for him that he can sense morethan before? What does she do to protect him? What does he do to keep her from following him atthe end, and why?

14. In chapter five, Edaline and Sophie have a long talk in which Sophie comes to a deeperappreciation for Edaline as a mother. Why does she feel she can't tell Edaline more? What doesshe see about "the contrast between her different mothers," meaning her human mother, Oralie,and Edaline?

15. What is Glimmer's role in the novella? Why don't the others trust her? Discuss what she says toSophie in the storehouse about choices, including her comment, "'You're the moonlark, aren't you?The one who's supposed to lead everyone to victory. So lead!'" How does that influence Sophie?

16. What does Mr. Forkle think about Sophie's choices at the storehouse? How do his comments makeher feel both better and worse? Describe the symbol she draws in the storehouse. What is hisreaction to it, and why?

17. Discuss Mr. Forkle's advice to Sophie, "'You must never let yourself forget that winning won'tmatter if you sink fully to the Neverseen's level.'" What does he mean? How can she fight theNeverseen without sinking to their level? 

18. In a metaphor that occurs several times, Sophie's heart is compared to a wound with shrapnel init. Early on, she feels her heart turn "sharp and heavy...like a lump of shrapnel slowly shreddingthe inside of her chest." What is shrapnel? Explain the comparison and discuss whether you findit effective.