What do you think it would be like to be an animal, like a hawk?

This is a discussion prompt for The Encounter by Katherine Applegate. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

How do you think Tobias felt when he realized he might be trapped forever?

This is a discussion prompt for The Encounter by Katherine Applegate. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

What would you do if you had to help a friend in danger, even if it meant risking something important?

This is a discussion prompt for The Encounter by Katherine Applegate. Use it to spark conversation with your child after reading.

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The Encounter

Name: The Encounter
ISBN: 9780606090049

by Katherine Applegate

After staying in hawk form past the two-hour limit, Tobias faces the terrifying reality of being trapped as an animal forever in this high-stakes adventure.

About This Book

Warned never to stay in his animal shape for more than two hours, Tobias forgets when he becomes involved in a rescue campaign and faces being trapped in a hawk's body forever.

Concepts

Fear & Bravery Resilience & Perseverance Self-Confidence & Identity Empathy & Kindness Being Different Animals Birds Survival & Wilderness

Heads up, parents

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Wonderlit Review

This chapter book plunges readers into the high-stakes predicament of Tobias, a character who finds himself permanently trapped in the body of a hawk. The narrative skillfully explores the fear and challenge of this transformation, focusing on his struggle for survival and identity in a new form. It handles the sensitive topic of losing one's human self with a sense of urgency and adventure, rather than deep philosophical introspection. The emotional arc is suspenseful and challenging, ultimately highlighting themes of bravery and resilience. This book is ideal for readers who enjoy fast-paced animal adventure stories and can grapple with the idea of a significant, irreversible change. Parents should be prepared to discuss the concept of transformation and its consequences. Younger readers (ages 7-8) will likely focus on the action and animal aspects, while older ones (9-11) might engage more with Tobias's internal struggle and the implications of his new existence.