Author: S Nurser

Activity 1
Look at the cover and read the blurb. Answer the following questions in as much detail as you can.
What is your first impression of the book?
What type of story do you think this might be? Why?
Who do you think the main characters will be?
Look at the map at the beginning of the book. How many different clans are there?
Activity 2
Read to the end of chapter 1.
There are some wonderful descriptions in the opening of this book which build up atmosphere and a clear picture in the readers mind. Here are a few of may favourites; ‘he crouched in the fragile shell of the light’, ‘out of the dark beneath the trees surged a deeper darkness’ and ‘then it was gone, melting into the forest as silently as mist’. In your vocabulary book jot down any phrases you enjoyed so that you can use them in your own writing.
Why did Torak’s father refuse to take the yarrow leaves?
Torak’s father says ‘If they find out-what you can do-’. What do you think Torak can do?
Write down any similies that you find in the first chapter.
Activity 3
Read to the end of chapter 3.
The forest is described as full of eyes, what do you think this means?
Why do you think that Torak now felt differently about being away from the clans and longed for people?
When the children from the clan were teasing Torak 5 summers ago, what reason did they give for Fa leaving his clan?
What do you think the ‘Fast Wet’ is?
What is different about the beginning of the 3rd chapter?
Why was Torak cross with himself for not killing the cub?
Activity 4
Read to the end of chapter 6.
On page 26 Torak thinks that he has made a mess of everything. Explain why he believes this.
Which part of the wood grouse Torak caught did he swallow raw?
Why did Torak not want to head north?
Do you believe that Torak is right about the cub being his guide? Explain your reasons.
From which characters point of view is the beginning of the 6th chapter written in and what word choices let you know this?
Why do you think that the author has chosen to swap between the wolf and Torak’s perspectives?
Activity 5
Read to the end of chapter 9.
The opening of Chaper 7 is ‘Three hunters, Three lethal flint weapons. All aimed at him.’ Why do you think that the author has opened with three short sentences?
Why did Oslak, Hord and Renn take Torak to their Autumn camp?
Write three ajectives to describe Renn, 3 adjectives to describe Oslak and 3 to describe Hord.
Instead of describing the appearance of the clan’s camp, the author has described the activities of the different clan members. Why has the author decided to do this?
What rule did the Raven leader think Torak had broken during the fight? Do you agree?
What is the prophecy that the Clan believe is about Torak?
Activity 6
Read to the end of chapter 12.
Do you believe that Torak is the listener? Give at least two reasons to explain your answer.
In as much detail as you can explain how the bear was created.
Why can Torak talk to wolves?
What is a Mage?
Why did Torak feel that he had to leave wolf behind?
Why did Torak smother himself in wolverine dropping?
Activity 7
Read to the end of chapter 16.
Why was Torak instructed not to touch the bones?
Why do you think Renn came after Torak?
On page 101 it says ‘She nodded and he saw that for the first time she truly believed him.’ Why do you think Renn changed her mind?
When they cross the river, wolf is petrified. What is he afraid of?
Why did Torak swim down to the bottom of the river even though he was running out of breath?
What happened to Torak when he broke the surface of the water?
What is the significance of the Nanack?
What happened when the Nanack was revealed? Why do you think this might have happened?
Activity 8
Read to the end of chapter 20.
Why do you think Renn was embarrassed about making friends with wolf?
How did Renn surprise Torak when they were hunting?
Write a description of the walker who discovers them in the fog. You can use vocabulary and phrases from the book, but is must be detailed and not only describe his physical appearance. Think about his personality, the way he moves and his voice.
Why did the walkers stone claw interest Torak?
Renn did not want to go in the cave, why do you think this was?
Draw a table with 5 columns
Copy sentences and phrase used to describe the cave both from the inside and outside. Think carefully about which sense it is describing and put it in the correct part of the table.
Activity 9
Read to the end of chapter 24.
Write 5 questions on the chapters that you have just read. Give them to someone on your table to answer.
Activity 10
Read to the end of the book.
Write a book review.

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