Seer of Shadows (Avi)

Discussion Questions
1. Before reading the book, take a look at the cover. What do you think the book is about? What do you think its title means?

2. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you think there are people who can see ghosts? Horace’s initial disbelief in ghosts comes from his parents. Explain where your beliefs come from.

3. Horace and his father consider photography to be a science. They see photographs as factual. Do you agree? Why or why not?

4. What is the difference between science and religion? Can a person believe in both?

5. Horace decides he has to take the secret pictures Mr. Middleditch asks him to take. Why? How do you think you would handle a situation like this one?

6. Horace has a very different relationship with Pegg than the Von Machts or Mr. Middleditch do. Why? What makes people think differently about the same person?

7. What happens to Mr. Von Macht? How do you know?

8. Consider the idea of revenge. Do you think what happens to the Von Machts is just? Explain.

9. Throughout the novel the author uses foreshadowing—he suggests that something is going to happen before it happens. How did this make you feel as you read?

10. What do you imagine happens to Eleanora after the end of the story?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

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