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Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > Dealing with Dragons

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede

Summary

Cimorene should have been a proper princess. After all, she is the youngest daughter of a proper king and queen, and their first six daughters are all perfectly proper as well. But Cimorene is not. After she is forbidden lessons in fencing, cooking, magic, and ecomnomics, she takes her one remaining option: she runs away to become the princess of a very powerful dragon, Kazul.

212 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Describe Cimorene. What is she like?
  2. How does Cimorene find the dragons?
  3. What happens to the Knights who try to rescue Cimorene?
  4. How do Cimorene and Alianora get to be friends?
  5. What happens when Cimorene unintentionally releases a jinn?
  6. What is the power of Colin's stone?
  7. What are Woraug's crimes? In the end, does he get what he deserved?
  8. Cimorene's great aunt's name is Rose, who slept for years under a fairy's curse - a take off on Sleeping Beauty. What other fairy tales are fractured in this book?
  9. Are you a fan of fantasy books? How does this book compare to other dragon books you have read?
  10. There is a lot of humor in this book. Find a place that made you laugh and share it with the group.
  11. What would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10?
  12. Compare the hardcover and paperback cover of the books. Which one do you prefer?

Snacks: chocolate mousse

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