1. What does it mean to belong? Does belonging to a group or society require conformity? Can youbelong and still maintain your individuality? 

2. Compare the Forbidden Cities of Earth and how humans live there to the Lost Cities and how theelves and the other creatures live there. How are the two places and their inhabitants alike? Howare they different? 

3. Edaline explains to Sophie that the world of Lost Cities is "talent-based." What talents doesSophie have and what can she do with them? What special abilities do her friends have? Findevidence of how important the talents are at Foxfire school. Name some of the other talents, andwhat people with them can do. 

4. Describe Foxfire, Sophie's new school. What does it look like? What are the grade levels? How domentors and students interact? What classes does Sophie take? Compare Foxfire to your school,analyzing how they are similar and different. 

5. Alden says of Grady and Edaline, "They run an animal preserve at Havenfield, so they alwayshave all kinds of exciting things going on." Describe the preserve, some of the animals in it, andexamples of the excitement. What does the preserve tell the reader about Grady and Edaline? Whatdoes it convey about the world of the Lost Cities? 

6. The novel opens with a preface showing a scene later in the book in which Sophie has beenkidnapped. What is the purpose of the preface? How might it affect a reader? How does itforeshadow the kidnapping and other elements of the story? 

7. The first chapter also introduces many of the book's themes and foreshadows plot and character.After finishing the novel, go back and look closely at pages 1 and 2. What do you learn about Sophie,her personality, and how she's treated by those around her? How are these elements developed laterin the book? 

8. Many chapters in this book end with cliff-hangers, that is, paragraphs or sentences that leavethe reader hanging. Find some examples of cliff-hangers and analyze how they create suspense.For each cliff-hanger you consider, find where and how the suspense is resolved, either in the nextchapter or later in the book. Why does the author use cliff-hangers? 

9. Even in the Lost Cities, people feel strong emotions such as jealousy, anger, and grief. Findevidence of these feelings in characters other than Sophie. What role do strong feelings play inmoving the story forward? Give specific examples. 

10. What is Sophie's relationship to her human family? Give examples of how it is revealed in wordsand actions. How have her special abilities affected her family life? What is her relationship withher human family after she moves to the Lost Cities? How does it affect the plot? 

11. Describe Sophie's relationship with Grady and Edaline. Why did Alden suggest she live withthem? Why is Sophie's presence hard for Grady and Edaline? How does their relationship changethroughout the book and what's it like at the end?

12. In chapter 43, Stina tells Sophie something about Biana that hurts Sophie's feelings. What doesStina tell her and why? How does Biana's attitude toward Sophie change during the story? Givespecific examples. Why does Biana's view change? 

13. Compare Fitz and Dex. How are they similar? How are they different? How do the two boys feelabout each other? How does each of them feel about Sophie? Compare their families, too. Giveevidence for your answers. 

14. Describe Bronte and his role in the plot. Why is he so powerful? Why does he oppose Sophie? Dothings get better between them? 

15. Sophie has always felt different, like "a freak." Why did she feel that way when she lived amonghumans? Find places in the story where she struggles with feeling different and lonely. Fitz tellsher that being with the elves is "where you belong." Discuss if she feels at home among the elves,and if so, how that is conveyed in the novel.

16. Secrets are important in this book. What secrets does Sophie have to keep in the human world? Inthe elf world? How do the secrets affect her relationships? What secrets does Alden keep from her,and why? Sophie has secrets she doesn't know herself. Explain how that is true and how it affectsthe plot. 

17. Another theme concerns helping other people. How does Sophie help her new friends and how dothey help her? What is Sophie's attitude toward humans and what steps does she take to helpthem? What are the attitudes of different elves toward helping humans? Find specific examples. 

18. Describe the narrator's point of view in this novel, pointing to specific examples that show it.Besides describing events, does the narrator reveal the characters' emotions and thoughts? If so,which characters? 

19. The author uses imagery about light throughout the book. The name of the lost city, Lumenaria,comes from lumen, the Latin word for "light." Read what Fitz and Sophie say about the schoolname, Foxfire, in chapter 7. Find other examples of light imagery. Why is light so important in thisstory? What does it symbolize? 

20. As you read, make note of examples of alliteration used throughout the book. For example, nearthe end of the fourth chapter, Sophie feels "a whole new world of worries" press down on her.After leaving Atlantis, "Their bubble bobbed on the breeze." Chapter 14 ends with her dreaming of"a life filled with friends and fun and finally belonging." What purpose does the alliteration serve?Do the different sounds evoke different feelings or images?