SuitabookTale of Witchcraft...
Chris Colfer
- Reading
- Check in before and during the sections involving the murdered royal family, corpses, undead soldiers and grotesque transformations. Pause to talk about inclusion, stereotype and whether the humour makes serious events easier or harder to process.
- Themes
- Tolerance and exclusion: Magical people have gained acceptance, but opposition grows and a secretive clan seeks to destroy magical life. Some villainous believers are portrayed as exaggerated religious caricatures. The story supports tolerance and inclusion while presenting particular opponents in a strongly simplified and hostile way.
- Compassion and responsibility: Brystal carries a mantle associated with compassion, while young members of the Fairy Council are described as kind, supportive and effective at teamwork. The book presents this favourably.
- Magic and transformation: Aspiring witches learn that spells alter their physical appearance, often grotesquely; other magic causes havoc and transformations provide comic situations. The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
- Worth knowing
- Consider discussing how a story can support tolerance while depicting an opposing religious group in exaggerated, cartoonish terms. The treatment may invite reflection on the difference between criticising intolerance and stereotyping believers.