"Heartless"(March)

Book Title & Author: 
Heartless, by: Marissa Meyer 

Summary: 
This fractured fairy tale takes place in the land of Hearts, but instead of Alice being the main character of this story (as she is in the Looking Glass)  we have the daughter of the Marquess, Catherine, who is expected to make a marriage alliance with the king. But she doesn't want to. She wants to open a bakery with her best friend Mary Anne, and date the mysterious Jest....who is on a quest to steal her heart (both figuratively & so that he can resolve issues in the land of Chess, where he is a Rook.) Cath finds untapped courage as she defies her parents & goes on to defeat the awful Jabberwock monster. 

Discussion questions: 
*Why doesn't Cath (Lady Pinkerton) get to make choices for herself? Why is her mother so dead-set on an alliance with the king? 
*What are Catherine's feelings towards Jest? Can she control how she feels about him?
*Is Cath ambitious? Courageous? (Think of her plans to start a bakery with her friend & maid, Mary Anne.) 
*How does Cath stand up to the Jabberwock at the theater? What does this reveal about her? 
*How can Cath become Queen of Hearts, without marrying the King? Does Jest have her best interests at heart?
*Does Cath ultimately  

Favorite quotes:  
"It is a dangerous thing to unbelieve something only because it frightens you." 

"If I am not to have happiness, let me at least have a purpose. Let me give you the heart of a queen." 


​My Rating: 4 stars ****