Happenstance Found
By: P.W. Catanese
Publisher: Aladdin
Copyright: 2009
Reading Level: AR Reading Level 4.9, Lexile Level 700 L (Grade 4.5)
Genre: Fantasy
Setting: Kurahaven (a fantasy world)
SUMMARY: Happenstance, a 12 year old, awakens in a dark room with no
memory, he just “happens.” He is discovered by Umber and his associates and
flees with them before a volcanic eruption on the island. They travel to
Kurahaven where Umber is the cherished advisor to the royal family. Umber is
an inventor, scientist, and all-around genius who has immeasurably improved life
for the locals through his inventions and improvement projects. They are
pursued by a mysterious person whose intentions are unknown. Together
Umber and Happenstance search for the truth of who he is and what he is.
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
www.pwcatanese.com
Other books written by the author:
The Brave Apprentice
Dragon Games (The Books of Umber 2)
The End of Time (The Books of Umber 3)
The Eye of the Warlock
The Mirror’s Tale
The Riddle of the Gnome
The Thief and the Beanstalk
SIMILAR BOOKS/BOOKS WITH A SIMILAR THEME:
Maze Runner by James Dashner
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Revised 3/7/08
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (If question is related to a specific chapter, chapter is in
parenthesis following question)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Why is it puzzling to find this quote “Cogito ergo sum” in this story?
What does its presence tell us about the story?
In what way is technology good? Bad? Give examples from the story.
What do you think is the relationship between Umber’s old world and this
new world that he finds himself in? At one point he seems to think the
whole world only exists in his head. Does it?
Who is Thimble and what important part does he play in the story?
What if someone told you, you were the answer to saving the world? How
would you feel?
Umber says that once an idea is out there, it can’t be called back? What
does he mean by this? What situations in history support this idea?
LITERARY LINKS or ACTIVITIES:
http://suzyred.com/2011_Happenstance_Found.html
Language Arts:
Using a graphic organizer, a list or notebook of ideas, write the unauthorized
biography of Occo using Happenstance’s knowledge and point of view.
[Standard Indicators: 7.3.3, 7.3.9, 7.4.1, 7.4.2, 8.3.2, 8.3.6, 8.3.8]
Literary Text: Comprehension and Analysis
Describe the settings in the beginning, middle and end of the story. In what ways
are they the same or different? Do they share the same mood in any way?
[Standard Indicators: 7.3.1 – 7.3.9]
Challenging Words:
1.
Happenstance (Chpt. 1, pg. 7) [ha-pən-stan(t)s] a circumstance especially
that is due to chance
2.
new
Innovations (Chpt. 31, pg. 339) [i-nə-vā-shənz] the introduction of something
3.
Leviathan (Chpt. 4, pg. 41) [li-vī-ə-thən] a large sea animal
Revised 3/7/08
4.
Archivist (Chpt. 19, pg. 228)[är-kī-vist] a person in charge of preserved
records or historical documents
5.
Polyglot (Chpt. 19, pg. 230) [pä-lē-glät] a person who speaks, writes, or reads
a number of languages
6.
Malodorous (Chpt. 20, pg. 231) [mal-ō-də-rəs] having a bad odor
7.
Unkempt (Chpt. 20, pg. 231) [un-kem(p)t] not combed; rough, unpolished
8.
Whelp (Chpt. 24, pg. 271) [hwelp] a young boy or girl
9.
Yawed (Chpt. 25, pg. 275) [yawd] of a ship : to deviate erratically from a
course (as when struck by a heavy sea); especially : to move from side to side
Gauge (Chpt. 28, pg. 300) [gāj] to measure precisely the size
Revised 3/7/08