Stuck in Khusali, the planet’s last surviving village, Niolai longs for something she can’t quite grasp. So when the chief asks for a volunteer to explore a newly discovered jungle, she takes the rare opportunity to escape.

It’s not long before Niolai realizes—the jungle is no ordinary place. The towering trees are home to magical creatures and secrets that threaten to unravel history as she knows it. Cataloging mysterious new species and navigating the jungle’s magical rules, Niolai must learn to decipher between destiny and decision, and how much weight is held in a name.

FICTION | Paperback | 2024 | ISBN: 979-8-9877055-9-9

Discussion Questions:

• Discussing Ni and Esoya’s friendship, what do you notice about their dynamic? What characteristics do we see of Ni through her relationships with Esoya that we don't see otherwise?

• Are home and homeland places that are assigned to us when we’re born? Can we choose our homes and the places we belong to?

• What is Ni’s reaction to realizing that she might be a stranger to her village after all? What would your reaction be in this situation? Reflect on a time when you had to make a hard decision. Did you rely on others in your life, or trust yourself completely to make the right call?

Writing Prompts:

• Find an ordinary object nearby and give it three extraordinary powers. Write a backstory to it—what's special about it? How did it end up here? What is it used for?

Activity:

Kusali and all the places Ni visits throughout the story are described in great detail. How did you see those places in your head? Draw a map of the places you see! (You can also choose to focus on one location and draw it in detail.)