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Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward

Summary

Halcyon Blithe is a newly minted Midshipwizard Fifth Class in the Arcanian Navy aboard the dragonship Sanguine. He knows the Articles of War backwards and forwards but has much to learn about being on a ship and on how to properly use his magic.

Booktalk

It wasn't until the group of midshipwizards was practicing summoning spells that others discovered how strong Halcyon's magic was. He tried to summon a telescope from his sea chest, but instead of appearing in his hand, a burning pain shot through his head. The commander in charge reached out and healed Halcyon of the pain, but as he did so the smile left the commander's face. As the commander moved his hands around Halcyon, he saw that a thick blue thread was wrapped around Halcyon's body and one end flowed into the sky. Halcyon began to explain what he had done and realized his grave mistake. Everyone's faces paled when they realized what was to come. The sea dragon screamed a warning and the order was given to sound out the storm warning and rig for heavy weather. Halcyon's fair weather was about to become a hurricane.

288 pages, 9th grade and up

Discussion questions

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

  1. Life on board a fighting ship is determined by strict adherence to rules. How did the way they were incorporated into the story work or not work for you? Which ones made sense or seemed unfair? How would you change them?
  2. Halcyon seems to be able to do anything. What do you think his shortcomings are?
  3. What role does superstition play in the story? How does it differ from magic?
  4. If you could have any magical abilities, what would they be?
  5. How does the pacing of the story work for you?
  6. When sabotage is discovered, who did you think might have done it?

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