Unraveled

"Unraveled is thoroughly researched,  expertly crafted, and it will sweep you off your feet with its beauty." -Utah Children's Writers 

When sickness swept through Bronwen’s family, it took the life of her father, brother, and sister, and left her permanently crippled. On the stormy eve of her sixteenth birthday, a faerie-witch gifts her a pair of enchanted shoes. Bronwen slips them on and is healed--but only when the shoes are on her feet. Her grace and beauty catches the eye of the king’s son--Urien, a handsome young man who prides himself on having everything perfect. 

When Rhys, an old acquaintance and Captain of the Guard, recognizes Bronwen, he threatens to tell Urien her secret. Desperate to keep her deformity hidden and not to lose the love of handsome Urien, Bronwen quickly finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit. After all, she can't wear the shoes forever.

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Discussion Questions for Readers Groups:

1. What is it that Bronwen wants most at the beginning of the story? Why is it so important to her? Does that desire change during the course of events? At the end, is her desire fulfilled?

2. What do you imagine Bronwen’s mother looks like? No physical description of Bronwen’s mother appears in the book—nor does the mother have a name. Why do you think the author did that?

3. How do you feel about the mother and her approach to raising Bronwen? In what areas do you think Bronwen is most like her mother? In what ways is she different? How important is a mother’s influence on her daughters?

4. What do you think is the roll of the Gwyllion in this story?

5. What was your first impression of Lord Urien? How did you feel about him in the end? Do you know people who have become more or less beautiful the longer you know them? What accounts for the change?

6. How do you feel about Bronwen’s lies? Do you think they were justified? What would have happened if Bronwen had told Urien her secret right from the beginning?

7. How do you feel about Rhys? Was he too hard on Bronwen? Why do you think Rhys was so bothered by Bronwen’s lies and her relationship with Lord Urien?

8. How do Gwenna’s and Gwil’s personalities contrast with Bronwen’s?

9. Why did Bronwen refuse the Gwyllion’s final offer of the shoes? Do you believe she made the right choice? Why?

10.  Society (then and now) places unreasonable expectations on girls and women to look, act, and be a certain way. What are some of those expectations? What effects do these unrealistic expectations have on women? What can be done to lessen the detrimental effects of societal pressures in our day? Are some pressures self imposed?

Playlist:

Wonderful (radio edit) -Gary Go

How Do You Love -Collective Soul

Open Arms -Gary Go

Breathing Underwater (Acoustic) -Metric

You Will Leave a Mark -A Silent Film

Down -Jason Walker

Mercy -OneRepublic