Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan
By John Flanagan
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 @ Tuesday, June 15, 2021
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As long as he can remember, 15-year-old Will has been ready for his choosing ceremony – he is going to be a knight and attend Battleschool! However, when Will and the other castle wards stand before the school masters, Will’s dreams are quickly shattered. Believing there is no place for him, Will prepares to be cast out of the kingdom…but suddenly, the mysterious Ranger Halt steps forward and whispers in the Baron’s ear. Rangers have always been shrouded in secrets, and most people in the kingdom fear them—but Will soon learns that he may actually become one of them! As a ranger’s apprentice, Will enters a whole new world— shooting arrows, disappearing into shadows, and exploring the unknown as the eyes and ears of the kingdom. Will he pass his training to become a full-fledged ranger, or is he not meant for this, either?
Each meeting, we will discuss the details that help to create the world of story and make the book’s characters great. We’ll explore how the author weaves all of the elements of storytelling together—and students will use what we learn to search for potential foreshadowing, to predict what happens next.
What Makes This Special
Ms. Conley, who is a professional writer and educator with a terminal degree in Creative Writing, will help your student explore reading on a deeper level through the understanding of how books are written. At the end of each class, we’ll discuss “challenge words” (vocabulary) found in the text, and students will get a chance to predict what they think will happen next, based on what has been read so far. By the end of the club, your student should have a better understanding of how to put together small details to create a larger story; have a stronger understanding of how story and characters work; and add new, upper-level words to his or her every day vocabulary.
Your Guide
Robin Conley was born and raised in Michigan, USA, and earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and World Literature from Western Michigan University and a double Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Screenwriting and Genre Fiction from Western Colorado University. She has over ten years’ experience working as a professional writer — including as a technical editor and content creator for businesses on the ground and on the web; as a publications editor for books, curriculum, websites, and more; and as a transcriptionist for film and television, including work for the Food Network, HBO, FX, and A&E.
Ms. Conley has also served as a writing contest judge, and her professional book editing includes ghostwriting for mystery, romance, and fantasy novels. As a writing coach, consultant, and editor for published novelists, short story writers, and award-winning screenwriters, her students and clients have gone on to win awards and become accomplished in their niches.
After spending a few years in Hollywood working as a writing consultant and editor, she’s now traveling the world teaching, editing, and coaching writers while continuing to develop her own projects for publishing.
About the Book
- ISBN-10 : 0142406635
- ISBN-13 : 978-0142406632
- Buy from Bookshop.org
(From Amazon) They have always scared him in the past—the Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . .
Here is the fantasy adventure that launched the Ranger’s Apprentice series, an epic story of heroes and villains that has become an international phenomenon. Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series, and George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Parental Guidance
The Ranger’s Apprentice is an exciting fantasy novel set in a medieval world where knights and kings prevail. Throughout the story, the hero goes on adventures and often has to use his wits to outsmart the enemy. There is some violence through training and combat with the use of swords, axes, and arrows; a monster is set on fire; and there is a boar hunt with a description of the boar being killed. There is also a case of intense bullying that includes a child knocking another child unconscious, but the situation is resolved by the end of the story and teaches kids to speak to an adult and not suffer in silence. For language, there is a single use of the word “damn” and the word “hellish.” Parents will be able to find the exact places where the words reside in the story and either discuss the words or mark the text ahead of time. Throughout each story, the importance of honor, loyalty, patience, discipline, and finding your individual purpose are emphasized as each character discovers where he or she fits in.
Reading Schedule
- June 15 – Discussion – Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5
- June 22 – Discussion – Chapters 6 through 11
- June 29 – Discussion – Chapters 12 through 16
- July 6 – Discussion – Chapters 17 through 22
- July 13 – Discussion – Chapters 23 through 27
- July 20 – Discussion – Chapters 28 to end
How To Begin
It’s easy! Follow these steps to get started…
- Sign up and get in (before it’s full!) — Use the blue button at the bottom of this page to save your spot.
- Receive your information — Within 48 hours of signing up, you’ll get an email with your Club’s details. Save this email, bookmark the zoom link, and add the club dates to your calendar.
- Prepare for your first meeting — Get the book from your own favorite source, or buy your book(s) directly from your Book Club pages. Read the assigned chapters ahead of time, and download and print the supplies list for crafts (young readers), activity pages for during the Club time (older readers), or the handout to guide the discussion (older students).
For more information, visit the How It Works page.
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