Half Upon a Time [Paperback]

In this hilarious fractured fairy tale series fromNew York Timesbestselling author James Riley, Jack, and “punk princess” May must navigate twists and turns unlike anything you’ve seen before!

Jack lives in a fantasy world. Really. He's the son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans from the giant, and he's working hard to restore his family's reputation. He finds the perfect opportunity when a “princess” lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess sweatshirt implies. May is from our world, and she’s utterly confused to find herself in the midst of the fairy tale characters she has read about. But Jack and May have more in common than they realize—and together, they embark on a hilarious and wild adventre in this highly accessible, modern middle grade fantasy novel.A Reading Group Guide to

Half Upon a Time

By James Riley

 

Discussion Questions

1.Half Upon a Timeis full of references to fairy tales and classic stories. How many traditional characters and elements can you identify and name? In what ways do they add humor to the story? In what ways do they influence your expectations of the plot, conflict, and characters?

2. How does the symbolism in the story affect what you’re reading it? For example, if the Wolf King were the Sheep King, how would you expect his character and motives to be different? If the Black Forest were the Orange Forest, would it still be as threatening?

3. At one point when things aren’t going well, May tells Jack, “This isn’t how fairy tales work.” Howdofairy tales work? Is it fair to always expect there to be a “happily ever after?” How do you feel when you read or watch a story without a happy ending? Can you name a satisfying story that has an unhappy ending?

4. From the beginning of Chapter 3l3,