PATRICK CARMAN.

Matthew McKern.

Question: The themes in The House of Power range from the corruption of authority to the destruction of the environment. Can you talk about why you chose to direct these ideas at young readers? What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

Answer: I've visited 475 schools in the past three years and spoken to tens of thousands of kids. My sense from meeting students in their own environment is that most of them really want to be challenged with new ideas when they read a book. The adventure, the characters, the strange new worlds-all of these things are foundational for a lot of my readers-but they've also come to expect themes they can explore and think about on their own. With The House of Power, I hope young readers will be challenged to think about cla.s.s struggle, the meaning of friendship, and the danger of too much power in the hands of a few.

Q: How can kids relate The House of Power to their own lives?.

A:The House of Power, at its simplest, is a story about the haves and the have-nots. There's a great responsibility for those of us who have everything we need-a roof over our heads, plenty of food to eat, all the clothes we could want, and so much more. What we choose to do with our privileged lives says a lot about who we are and who we will become as adults. Whew, heavy!

Q: Edgar is a small boy who is eager to do great things-he is literally taking on the world. Do you see yourself in Edgar at all? Who is your favorite character from the book?

A: Edgar is probably the character I relate to most out of all the characters I've created. He is a loner, and authors (whether we like it or not) spend an awful lot of time alone. At the same time, Edgar is a thrill-seeker. He loves to experience the rush of climbing to ever more dangerous heights. Whether it was skateboarding in my youth or paragliding and motocross riding in my adult years, I've always been the same way. There's something about the thrill of riding the wind, a dirt trail, or a piece of concrete that puts a big smile on my face.

Q: You've said before that encouraging kids to read is your most important focus, and there are references to cla.s.sics like Frankenstein and Paradise Lost in the Atherton books. What were some of your favorite books growing up? Do you think that all the new technology and media makes books less appealing to kids? How do you help stimulate your own children's interest in reading?

A: As Walt Whitman asked... do I contradict myself ? For me, the answer is a resounding yes! I love cla.s.sic stories like Frankenstein and I spend a great deal of my reading time immersed in old novels, and yet I can't get enough of technology. It seems that I like everything old and everything new all at the same time. And I see a real convergence of technology and books on the horizon. I think the time is coming when it will sometimes be hard to separate the two. For me that's an exciting idea, because I'm interested in telling great stories and finding new ways to do it.

Visiting the library is one of the best ways to get excited about books (my family and I do it all the time). My first favorite book was Where the Wild Things Are.

Q: What inspires you? Do you generally start to build your stories around characters, plot, or themes first? What advice would you give readers who want to begin writing, but don't know where to start?

A: I always begin with a little big idea. What I mean is that I can say the idea very quickly, but it's a big enough idea that it could fill a thousand pages. Right on the heels of the idea comes the place-I'm very big on place-and after that comes the people who inhabit the place. I tend to get lost in worlds of my own making (places like Atherton), and after exploring them for a while I start inviting characters to join me.

Q: You've had a lot of different types of jobs in your life, from starting your own business to creating board games. Have you finally found your calling with writing, or are there other things you'd like to try your hand at?

A: Everything else I've done in my life has pointed toward storytelling. It's very challenging and satisfying work, so I can't imagine wanting to do anything else.

Q: What are you working on now?.

A: The second book of Atherton is finished and I'm hard at work on the third!.

DISCUSSION GUIDE.

1. What do you think are the major themes in The House of Power? How do those themes relate to our world today? Do they have an effect on your own life? How?

2. Authority and the fight for power and control is a central theme in the novel. How do different characters in the book exercise their authority? Why do you think power often corrupts people? If you were in a position of authority, how do you think you would handle it? What would you do to ensure success and fairness?

3. Dr. Harding is considered a mad scientist. Do you agree with Dr. Kincaid's a.s.sessment of Dr. Harding? Can you think of other mad scientists or geniuses-either from other fictional stories or throughout history?

4. Horace is surprised to learn of the plan to poison those in Tabletop; he'd thought it was the villagers attacking first. Rumors in the Highlands had been mounting as well. How can fear turn a gentle people to violent thoughts? Can you think of other instances in the book or in the real world when this has happened?

5. Maude thinks that the best chance at survival is to try and turn the cleaners against one another, but Horace, Charles, Briney, and Wallace agree that a united force against the Flatlands is their best defense. What argument would you make?

6. How do you think the quotations from Mary Sh.e.l.ley's Frankenstein that precede each part of the novel are significant in relation to Atherton?

7. Besides being the hiding place of the key to the water source, do you think Mead's Head holds great significance in the story? What do you think Mead's Head is modeled after?

8. Dr. Harding cut the connection between the Dark Planet and Dr. Kincaid in Atherton. Where do you think Dr. Harding is? Do you think he is alive or dead? Why do you think he left or disappeared?

9. Lord Phineus ponders what kind of man he was before reaching Atherton. How would you answer that? Do you think he was hand-selected by Dr. Harding? What sort of person would you choose for the job?

10. Edgar goes to the Flatlands as a result of being tricked by Sir Emerik. Edgar doesn't trust many people, yet he believed Sir Emerik. Why do you think it never occurred to Edgar that he might have been lied to?

11. Dr. Kincaid discusses how Atherton was populated and the notion of readiness training (here). If you were presented with that scenario, would you go? Do you think you'd still be you without certain memories? Do you think you'd be selected? Why or why not? What purpose would you have served in Atherton and which level would you be regulated to?.

About the Author.

Matthew Mc Kern.

PATRICK CARMAN, bestselling author of The Land of Elyon series; The Black Circle, the fifth t.i.tle in the 39 Clues series; and the ground-breaking Skeleton Creek series grew up in Salem, Oregon, and now lives in Walla Walla, Washington. When he's not writing or speaking at schools, he can be found fly-fishing, playing basketball, s...o...b..arding, making videos, cheering for his kids at soccer games, strumming his guitar, surfing the Web, getting involved in local and international charities, and teaching tricks to his dog, Taffy. He also has been spotted in town reading Frankenstein by Mary Sh.e.l.ley and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, two of the inspirations for the story of Atherton. His website is www.patrickcarman.com.

PRAISE FOR.

ATHERTON:.

THE HOUSE OF POWER.

A Junior Library Premier Selection.

"Will keep many a reader up nights for 'just one more chapter.' "

-VOYA.

"With subtlety, Carman delivers a strong message. A fluid and compelling fantasy and mystery."

-Publishers Weekly "A humdinger of a cliff-hanger will leave even reluctant readers demanding more, and soon."

-Kirkus "Readers will be caught up in the accessible, sci-fi premise, extended with evocative ill.u.s.trations. Meaty points about privilege and ecological responsibility will provoke thought."

-Booklist.

"This is a lively and absorbing adventure.... There is plenty of danger and mystery, too, for young adventurers who will eagerly follow Edgar in his quest to save his world."

-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A fast-paced novel with a unique setting, fascinating plot, and a cliff-hanger ending. It shines... vivid and believable."

-School Library Journal.

"Full of twists and trails, this is a book that readers will be hard-pressed to put down."

-Winston-Salem Journal "Atherton has themes of cla.s.s struggles and caring for the earth and includes plenty of interactive features for readers to check out online."

-Tri-City Herald.

"A gripping adventure-and this is just the beginning!"

-Discovery Girls magazine "A gripping start to what promises to be a wonderful sci-fi series that should enthrall the whole family."

-Bookloons.com.

"Carman has given us an exciting story with an unforgettable and frightening picture of the possibilities of man's future. Readers will be eager for part two of this sure-to-be highly popular series."

-KidsReads.com.

"Children will be able to find multiple parallels to our own world. The mysterious nature of Atherton's past and future will keep readers' interest until the last pages."

-GreenOptions.com "The environmental theme is subtle-letting readers absorb the message while enjoying the story."

-Kiwi.

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