The 'Orion Lost' Baker's Dozen

Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm has to be one of the most fast - paced and vivid SF novels for children that I have ever read. I've just finished reading it to my class of Year 6 and it was, without a doubt, hugely popular with them too. 

I've written a set of 'Reading Group'-style questions here. [SPOILER alert: don't read them if you haven't read the book yet!]. I hope they will prove useful to promote the great discussion and thinking that this book completely deserves. 

Just start by saying 'Tell me...'

The Questions 

1.  ‘You are master of your own ship.’

Beth remembers these words over and over again in the story. Why is the phrase so important to Beth and to the story as a whole?  

2.  Who are the 'goodies' and who are the 'baddies' in Orion Lost?Did any of the characters seem to change in the story? Which ones? How did they change? 

Ship	Beth	Vihaan
Arnold	Lauryn (Limit)	Lucille
Mikkel	Captain Kier	Captain Murdoch

3.  Is what happens to Kier an appropriate outcome after his crimes? What do you think happens to him next? 

4.  Think about the Videshi: how did you feel about the Videshi at the start of the book? What about at the end? When did your feelings change in the course of the story, if at all?

5. Many chapters end with an exciting cliffhanger. Which was your favourite one and why? 

6. The five children each bring their own strengths together to triumph over Kier and Murdoch. What is each child's crucial skill? Was any skill not needed? 

7. How would the book have been different had Captain Joshi and Lieutenant McKay not been in Sleep after the Event? How does having children in charge of the ship change the feel of the story?

8.  Ship doesn't really 'think'; it 'follows protocols'. How does following the rules without thinking protect the crew? How does following the rules without thinking also cause trouble in the book? 

9.  What lasting friendships do you think emerge after the children's adventures? Do you think Beth and Vihaan become friends or is their relationship - although positive in the end -  different in some way to friendship?

10.  What other books, films, music or games do you know which remind you of Orion Lost? What connections did you make?

11. Look at the fantastic front cover by Dan Mumford. Which are the children in the picture do you think? Why did the artist choose these children to draw? Where are they? What are they looking at? What would you draw if you could design a cover for the book?

12. Go back to the Prologue and read it through again. How does it prepare us for the story? What clues does it have with what happens later in the book? 

The 'Baker's Dozen'th question (and most important one of all!): 

13. What questions do you have, now the book is finished? Find a friend who has read the book too and talk about it with them.