The+Shifter


 * The Shifter**


 * Discussion Questions**

Janice Hardy dedicates The Shifter to two people: Thomas Hardy, her husband, and Harlan Ellison, a science fiction writer. Research Harlan Ellison’s career and read some of his writing. Can you find examples of how Harlan Ellison’s work may have influenced Janice Hardy’s in The Shifter? Explain.

Why do the Baseeri occupy Geveg? What alternatives to occupation might the Baseeri have had to achieve their goals? Consider similar real-world occupations. Under what circumstances are such occupations justified, and when are they unjust?

When an Elder grabs Nya, she observes, “No one moved to help. . . . I’d bet a week’s lunches that if my hair was Baseeri black, someone would have stepped forward” (p. 23). Why might Nya’s opinion be right, and why might it be wrong?

Why does Nya initially choose to trust Danello? If you were in her situation, would you have made the same choice? Why or why not?

Why does Nya find the Sanctuary and its statues to be creepy? What does she feel about the saints represented there? How do you know?

What are the differences between Nya’s abilities and those of other Takers? Provide a similar reallife example of people with unusual abilities. Are the unusual abilities beneficial, harmful, or both? Explain.

After Nya shifts pain into a fisherman, she asks herself, “Is having no choice the same as choosing?” (p. 129). What does this question mean? How might it apply to your life? How would you answer this question?

Why does Nya think that shifting pain is wrong? Do you agree or disagree? If you had the authority to create new rules or laws for shifting, what would they be and why?

Which characters in the novel, if any, do you consider to be traitors and why? What is the difference between someone doing what she or he must do to survive and being a traitor? Explain.

Would you describe Nya as someone who formulates plans or as someone who behaves impulsively? Drawing from your own experience, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of formulating plans. Also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of impulsive decision making.

Why do characters riot at the end of The Shifter? Does rioting solve their problems? Why or why not? Under what circumstances do people tend to riot? One of Grannyma’s sayings is: “Doing what’s right is seldom easy” (p. 279). Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Using examples from your life, explain your answer.

What social and psychological factors hinder Nya from understanding her abilities and how best to use them? What does she need to learn to fully comprehend and accept her abilities? How might her journey to acceptance be a metaphor for the emotional journeys that young people take?

What do you think might happen next in the Healing Wars series? What hopes do you have for Nya, and what worries do you have for her?