TEACHING GUIDE

NOTE TO TEACHERS

The Edge Chronicles tell the story of three generations of heroes—Quint, Twig, and Rook— whose courage and strength of character take them on remarkable quests and journeys throughout the Edge: a land of great beauty and terrifying dangers. From the Deepwoods to the Mire; from the Edgelands to the Twilight Woods; from Undertown to Sanctaphrax, the story’s heroes overcome great odds, experience thrilling adventures, form lifelong friendships, and endure profound loss in this world that, at many times, resembles life on earth. The series touches on many important themes to readers, such as friendship, loyalty,
the environment, technology, and war to make the Edge Chronicles not only a fascinating reading experience, but a relevant one as well.

“The narrative will cast a spell on readers from the beginning.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred, on Beyond the Deepwoods

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Young Twig is different. Raised by a woodtroll family since infancy, he’s never fit in at home, in his village, or at school. As he approaches his 14th birthday, he learns the circumstances of his beginnings: how he was abandoned by his natural parents and taken in and raised as a woodtroll. His loving mother, Spelda, sends Twig out into the Deepwoods to begin his adult life. Against Spelda’s instructions, Twig strays from the path and becomes lost in the Deepwoods, utterly alone and vulnerable. Despite the odds, Twig not only learns to survive on his own, but begins to understand where his true destiny lies.

TEACHING IDEAS

• Banderbears. Prowlgrins. Fighting Fromps. Spindlebugs. Ratbirds. These names don’t belong to the latest pop bands, but to just some of the wondrous creatures that inhabit the Edge. Many of the creatures have multiple physical and behavioral characteristics of real animals. Discuss some of the creatures of the Edge and how Stewart and Riddell created them based on actual animals. Challenge students to create fantasy animals inspired by the ones featured in the Edge Chronicles.
• Stewart and Riddell create their remarkable stories in unconventional ways. Sometimes Stewart’s text will inspire Riddell’s illustrations. Sometimes it’s the opposite, with Riddell presenting an image to Stewart that, in turn, inspires his writing. To experience this process, bring in a passage from a classic fantasy, such as The War of the Worlds or the Chronicles of Narnia. Read the passage aloud once and have students listen without taking notes. Read the passage again, but this time students should takes notes as they listen, jotting down any phrases or ideas that appeal to them. Next, challenge students to create an
illustration to accompany the passage. To turn the process inside-out, select an illustration from a chosen fantasy book and make photocopies of the image for each student. Tell students that the image is from a classic fantasy story, but do not share the title.
Challenge students to write a short story (at least two pages) inspired by the image.

DISCUSSION AND WRITING

• After Twig leaves the woodtroll village and sets out into the Deepwoods, he strays from the path, an action that his mother, Spelda explicitly forbade him to do. Lured by the beauty of the woods, Twig suddenly realizes he is lost and in danger. Do you think Twig should have stayed on the path? If he had, do you think he still might have been able to fulfill his destiny? Why is it important in life to sometimes “stray from the path”?
• Twig survives one close call after another as he journeys through the Deepwoods: the halitoad, the rotsucker, the swamp, the wig-wigs, the bloodoak, etc. Discuss some of these encounters and why Twig was able to survive. What character traits does he possess that allow him to elude death time after time?
• Why, in Twig’s darkest moment, falling into the void of the Edge, does he finally realize his own self-worth?

Themes: Alienation • Abandonment • Self-Identity • Courage • Perseverance • Self-Acceptance

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Work with the school art teacher to make a mural of the Deepwoods, including environments, trees, plants, creatures, and landmarks described in Beyond the Deepwoods.

OTHER TITLES OF INTEREST

EDGE CHRONICLES #2: STORMCHASER
HC: 978-0-385-75070-7 (0-385-75070-6)
GLB: 978-0-385-75071-4 (0-385-75071-4)

THE EDGE CHRONICLES #3:
MIDNIGHT OVER
SANCTAPHRAX
HC: 978-0-385-75072-1 (0-385-75072-2)
GLB: 978-0-385-75073-8 (0-385-75073-0)

THE EDGE CHRONICLES #4:
THE CURSE OF THE
GLOAMGLOZER
HC: 978-0-385-75076-9 (0-385-75076-5)
GLB: 978-0-385-75077-6 (0-385-75077-3

THE EDGE CHRONICLES #5:
THE LAST OF THE
SKY PIRATES
HC: 978-0-385-75078-3 (0-385-75078-1)
GLB: 978-0-385-75079-0 (0-385-75079-X)

THE EDGE CHRONICLES #6:
VOX
HC: 978-0-385-75080-6 (0-385-75080-3)
GLB: 978-0-385-75081-3 (0-385-75081-1)

THE EDGE CHRONICLES #7:
FREEGLADER
HC: 978-0-385-75082-0 (0-385-75082-X)
GLB: 978-0-385-75083-7 (0-385-75083-8)

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Prepared by Colleen Carroll, Education Consultant, Curriculum Writer, and Children’s Book Author, Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Random House Children’s Books • 1745 Broadway, Mail Drop 10-4 • New York, NY 10019 • BN0704 • 01/07