How Fear Came: book club questions by chapter

🦉 How Fear Came · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Drought”; Part Two, “The Peace Rock” (pages 1–7, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 7, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What is the Water Truce?
   The story's answer: A time when no one hunts at the drinking places
2. Why was Shere Khan sent away from the river?
   The story's answer: He had fouled the water with his boasting about a kill
3. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
4. The part we just read is called "The Peace Rock". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 How Fear Came · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “Hathi's Tale” (pages 8–12, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 12, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did all the Jungle People run away from the First of the Tigers after the buck's death?
   The story's answer: Death and fear had come into the Jungle
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "Hathi's Tale". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 How Fear Came · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Tiger's Night” (pages 13–15, about 3 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 15, the end of the story.

1. According to Hathi, how did the First of the Tigers get his stripes?
   The story's answer: The trees and creepers marked him as he ran
2. What does Hathi's story say about what happens when someone is shown mercy and is not merciful in return?
   The story's answer: Harm spreads, and everybody pays for it
3. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
4. The part we just read is called "The Tiger's Night". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.