1.  There can be great protection from exact obedience. How was this principle reinforced for Seth? For Kendra? How does the principle of obedience function in your life?

2. Kendra was generally a rule keeper, Seth a rule breaker. How did their attitudes evolve over the course of the book? What are advantages to both attitudes? Disadvantages?

3. Consequences serve an essential role for maintaining order and justice and harmony. How do laws help to keep order in Fablehaven? How were Kendra and Seth affected by the consequences of their decisions? How have the consequences of past decisions helped or hindered you?

4. Many of the problems in Fablehaven arose as a result of decisions the characters made, often without bad intentions. Sometimes, what we don’t know can hurt us. How was that true for Kendra and Seth? Are there similar examples in the world around you?

5. It can be a challenge to find the courage to do what we fear the most. What enabled Kendra to do something that terrified her? What circumstances do you find most intimidating? How do you find the strength to make it through difficult situations?

6. Circumstances arose where many of the characters in Fablehaven had to risk their lives. Do you think you would risk your life for anything? If so, what?

7. Many of the creatures in Fablehaven have roots in various mythologies, particularly Greek. Can you identify which creatures come from which mythologies? Did you recognize any vocabulary in the book with mythological roots? What are some common words that come from mythologies?

8. Several of the creatures of Fablehaven personified specific attributes. What did the fairies seem to personify? The satyrs? The cliff troll? What are the strengths and weaknesses of those characteristics?

9. Lena spent part of her life as a naiad, in an unchanging state. What aspects of mortality did she like? What did she dislike? How do you think she felt about being returned to the water? Was it fair for the fairies to do that?

10. Fablehaven existed to help protect and conserve vanishing magical species. Why would that be worthwhile? Why do you suppose Grandpa Sorenson even wanted to protect the dangerous creatures? What non-magical plants or animals in our world are in danger of extinction? What are we doing to protect them?

11. There is a promise at the front of the book that none who enter Fablehaven will leave unchanged. How did their experiences at Fablehaven change Seth and Kendra? What do you take from the book?

December's Guest Author is James Swain James Swain is the author of eight best selling novels and has been published in the United States, France, Japan, Russia, and Germany.  His books have been chosen as Mysteries of the Year by Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and have received two Barry Award nominations.  In 2006, he was awarded the Prix Calibre 38 for Best American Crime Fiction.  Mr. Swain will be discussing "Midnight Rambler," the first book in a new suspense series. "Midnight Rambler" is a departure from his bestselling casino-based books. In it we meet the infamous Jack Carpenter, a disgraced ex-cop whose botched last case now looks even worse as it seems clear that the wrong man was busted. His guilt and obsession are beautifully played out in Swain's compelling prose, as Carpenter covers Florida from Ft. Lauderdale to South Tampa on the trail of some really evil villains.  Swain lives in Odessa, Florida with his wife Laura.