• What does a "good influence" mean?
• How might Jaxon be a good influence on his friends?
• Are you a good influence on others?
• Who do you know that is a good influence on you?

• Jaxon says one of his specialties is geography. What is one of your specialties? What interests you about this topic? How did you learn about it?

• Jaxon thinks, "Squirrels are harmless," while his mother thinks that squirrels are "just rats with bushy tails.” Is there an animal that you like but others don't?
• What gives animals positive and negative "reputations"?
• What makes different people feel differently about the same animal?

• Jaxon is usually very "obedient." What does this mean? Is there ever a time not to be
  obedient?

• Why is Jaxon leaving?

• What emotions is he feeling right now? Is he mad? Scared? Confused?

• "Mama always said I didn't have to respond to anyone who called me out of my name.” Ma calls Jaxon "Boy," which he dislikes. Why?
• Is there significance in her not using his name correctly?

• Jaxon has just learned that Ma is a witch, and he has a lot of questions. If you just realized someone you knew was a witch, what would you want to ask her?
• "Be prepared for potential irregularities." Is this a good motto for life?
• Can you be prepared for every possible irregularity?

• Jaxon describes the guardhouse ride as, "the longest minute of my life.” What does he mean by this?
• How could minutes feel like they last for different amounts of time?
• Has this ever happened to you?

• Jaxon hears loud noises in the jungle, and Ma tries to distract him with conversation. Does this work?
• When you are scared, what are ways that you can distract yourself to ease the panic?

• Jaxon feels guilty that Ma is left behind. Do you think it is his fault?

• How might someone get a nickname like "Trouble"?
• "Sometimes I find trouble… and sometimes trouble finds me." Can trouble really find someone?

• "...But it's really about not letting life get you down." What does Trub mean by this?
• How can a person not let life get him down?

Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment about something you did or didn't do. It's when you look back at a choice and wish you had made a different one. It's an important feeling because it helps us learn from our mistakes and make better choices in the future.

• The characters in this chapter are discussing things they wish they would have made a better choice. Can you think of a time when you would have made a
  different choice?

• Do you have any regrets?

An example: Imagine you and your friend are playing. You get a little too excited and accidentally knock over your friend's tower of blocks. Your friend gets sad, and so do you. You might wish you had been more careful. That feeling of wishing you had acted differently is regret.

• "People fear what they don't know." What does Trub mean by this?
• Have you ever had a fear that faded once you learned more about the topic?

• Having a magical dragon loose in the real world is a big deal. Why is L. Roy so excited about this idea?
• What did Trub mean when he said Jax had a friend with "sticky fingers"?

• Sis doesn't trust Jax very much. Do you think this is justified?

Trust is believing that someone will do what they say they'll do and that they care about you. It's a feeling of safety and confidence you have in someone else.

Think about a time you needed help tying your shoe. You ask a friend, and they help you. Now, you know you can trust them to help you again. Or when your teacher says she'll read you a story after lunch, you believe her. That's trust!

• Do you have someone you can trust?

Trust is important because it helps us feel safe and happy. When we trust people, we can count on them to be there for us and to be honest. It's what makes friendships and our classroom feel like a team.

• Jaxon wants to be Ma's apprentice, but his mother did not want that lifestyle. Do you think Jaxon's mother will allow him to do this? Should parents be able to pick what their children do?
• "Never trust a first impression, Jax. It takes time to really get to know somebody.” Why do you think Jax's mother says this? Do you think this is true?