Discussion Guide - Book 10
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
Including a
- STORY
-
KNOTS
ctivities:
The Per
fect Re
cipe
Discussion+
Q
& Journal uestions
Ideas
!
SamanthaGreenMysteries.com
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books —
FROM THE DESK OF
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
Christy Lynn Allen
AUTHOR, SAMANTHA GREEN MYSTERIES
Dear Serious Reader,
Discover the ingredients of a delicious story and join me in our next read ,
A Tangle of Knots ,
by the Talented author, Lisa Graff.
You’ll love how each character’s story is tangled up with the others.
Each has “lost the thing they treasure most in the world.,” and must rely on
one another (and a little thing called Fate) to find what they’ve lost.
Like the anticipation of your favorite treat being prepared,
this story magically develops, one suspenseful bite at a time!
Finished
reading?
Rate
the
book !
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7Y5G2PN
See what other Serious Readers are saying!
GEC
1) Visit the SRC Website: http://samanthagreenmysteries.com/src
2) Click a book cover on the SRC Bookshelf
3) Click “Discussion” link
SamanthaGreenMysteries.com/SRC
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 2
Q
QQ
STORY KNOTS
G
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
The paths of the characters in A Tangle of Knots twist and tangle like knots.
Choices they make, things they discover, plus a few coincidences (or perhaps
twists of fate), lead them to exactly the right place at the right time!
INSTRUCTIONS
As you read, watch how characters get tangled up in each other’s lives.
Use the STORY
KNOTS
below to help you find patterns and connections.
STORY KNOT 1 - The St. Anthony’s Suitcase
“Well that’s the thing about
knots, isn’t it? If you don’t
know the trick, it’s a muddled
When in the book does a St. Anthony’s suitcase first appear?
predicament.
Write down different places St. Anthony’s suitcases show up in the story:
But in fact each loop is
carefully placed, one end
In Chapter 10, who visits on a bicycle with a suitcase on his back?
twisting right into the other in
a way you might not have
When/where have we seen this character before?
expected.”
STORY KNOT 2
The Lost Luggage
STORY KNOT 3 - “V”
Emporium
How do the characters below
In the story, several characters are all reading the same book.
end up at the Emporium?
Cady:
What is its title?
Who was it written by?
The Asher Family:
What is inscribed on the woman’s locket in Chapter 4?
V:
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 3
STORY KNOTS
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
(continued)
STORY KNOT 4 - The hairpin
In Chapter 7, Mrs. Asher’s hairpin drops to the floor. How does the narrator say Will
describes this object?
“In just one short
week every last
one of them
In Chapter 26, what’s hanging on the wall in Toby’s room?
would have lost
In Chapter 33, what do Mrs. Asher and Marigold see on the museum exhibit banner?
the thing they
treasured most in
the world.”
STORY KNOT 5
Peanut Butter
In Chapter 11, why does V’s mouth
water when she sees the Lost Luggage
STORY KNOT 6
Talents
How does Will’s talent for getting lost help bring
everyone together at the Sunshine Bakeoff ?
Emporium property?
Recall the young man at the bus station
(Prologue). What did the narrator say
How do both Zane and Marigold’s use of the talent
for spitting affect what happens in the story?
was hidden inside his suitcase’s lining?
How does the man in the gray suit’s talent for “tying
knots” influence what happens in the story?
What has the Owner been looking for all
(Hint: He doesn’t tie any physical knots, does he?)
these years? (See Chapter 18)
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 4
The Perfect
RECIPE
U
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
In A Tangle of Knots, Cady has a Talent for baking the perfect cake for
absolutely any person. The ingredients for her cakes seem to match the
personality of the people she makes them for. No wonder they love them!
Create your own perfect recipe for someone special in your life
!
* Who is your recipe for?
* What makes this person special and unique?
* MY INGREDIENTS
BASICS
+
Pick from below or think up your own
f
Z
b lh
L
Xf
K
M
NG
A T j RST c
D
LM
W SQ F H Xf
m
O
I QL
LO
b
w
* Ingredients
Y
FLAVOR
FA B E
* Directions
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 5
Discussion Questions
Get more from your reading experience.
pick a few questions, then dazzle your
friends with your deep thoughts!
1.
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
G C
E
Cady’s cakes are always the perfect recipe ! Pick one of her recipes and
compare it to the person it was made for. How do the ingredients
compare to the person’s personality?
Create your own perfect recipe for someone special in your life !
Check out “The Perfect Recipe” activity on Page 5
2. What does each character below lose in A Tangle of Knots?
“In just one short week, every last one of them
would have lost the thing they treasured most in the world.”
V:
Miss Mallory:
Mrs. Asher:
Zane:
Marigold:
Will:
The Owner:
Cady:
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 6
Discussion Questions
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
3. Why do you think the exact same talent has such different
outcomes when used by different people?
(Hint: Think about the Owner vs. Cady using baking talent; Marigold vs. Zane using spitting talent.)
4. Write about how the Owner has dealt with what Fate handed him in life.
Has he had an enjoyable, fulfilling life? Now think of a character who
handles life’s challenges in a positive way. How is this a better choice?
“It’s the way we deal with what Fate hands us
that defines who we are.”
5. A fist-sized photograph of a woman, a man, and a baby girl reveals truths
that had been buried for too long. Who are each of these characters really,
as it relates to Cady?
V:
Toby:
The Owner:
Mrs. Asher:
Bonus question! Who was Cady’s mother?
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 7
Journal Ideas
A Tangle of Knots
By Lisa Graff
Now it’s your turn to write!
Pick an idea and grab your journal.
u
JOURNAL IDEA 1
Like so many of us, Marigold is on the hunt for her one true Talent, the thing
that sets her apart from everyone else. But once Marigold finally has a Talent
to call her own, we realize she already has several wonderful qualities that
make a difference in the world.
Write about your Talents and qualities. Is there something you’re especially
good at? How do you use your strengths to make the world a better place?
u
Hint: Sometimes talents that may seem small to us can achieve the greatest of things.
Remember what Marigold achieved with just one perfectly aimed spitball!
D
JOURNAL IDEA 2
This book is full of rewards for readers who pay attention. Did you
happen to notice what newspaper article is mentioned on the very first
page? How about the reason Toby takes a different driving route in
Chapter 9, resulting in his unplanned stop at Miss Mallory’s Home for
Lost Girls?
Keep a log in your journal of these fun coincidences as you read.
Even better, read the book a second time, and you’ll notice all kinds of
interesting connections you missed the first time around!
STORY KNOTS
Follow how characters get tangled up. Unravel the story on Page 3 !
— Cover images and excerpts from A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, Puffin Books — 8
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