Stunning fantasy world-building with revolutionary representation
Nothing is more important than loyalty.
But what if you’ve sworn to protect the one you were born to destroy?
Tarisai has always longed for the warmth of a family. She was raised in isolation by a mysterious, often absent mother known only as The Lady. The Lady sends her to the capital of the global empire of Aritsar to compete with other children to be chosen as one of the Crown Prince’s Council of 11. If she’s picked, she’ll be joined with the other Council members through the Ray, a bond deeper than blood. That closeness is irresistible to Tarisai, who has always wanted to belong somewhere. But The Lady has other ideas, including a magical wish that Tarisai is compelled to obey: Kill the Crown Prince once she gains his trust. Tarisai won’t stand by and become someone’s pawn—but is she strong enough to choose a different path for herself? (Author website)
Raybearer is an acclaimed book in a duology that deconstructs and challenges the concept of empire, who is fit to rule, and the meaning of power, all through an Afro-centric world filled with diversity and vibrant characters.
How Live Book Club Classes Work
Participation in the live book club includes access to a set of resources and activities as well as interactive components.
Participants receive
- A suggested reading schedule
- PDF reading guides with comprehension questions
- Vocabulary/reading activities
- Discussion board posts in our online classroom
- Writing/multimodal project prompts related to the reading
- An invitation to a live discussion
- A recording of the summary of the live discussion
- An optional feedback add-on for the final paper/project
- Rubrics for at-home feedback
Families are welcome to use as much or as little of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.
Ages:
13-18
Content Note:
Intense themes like manipulation of child by parent, abandonment by parent, murder plots, violence (age-appropriate), injuries (described in appropriate but not gratuitous detail), literary description of sexual activity (not graphic detail), consensual interest in sexual activity, potentially nonconsensual romantic interactions. Consensual romance (not focus of story), discussions of procreation for continuing monarchy, relationship diversity. Characters who challenge gender norms, disability representation, asexuality representation, ethnic/geographic representation. Supernatural powers.
Dates:
May 1-31, 2023
Live Meeting:
June 2, 2023 (avoiding Memorial Day holiday weekend)
1:00 PM Eastern Time / 12:00 PM Central Time / 11:00 AM Mountain Time / 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Those who cannot attend the live session will receive a recorded summary.
Supplies:
A copy of the book Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (ISBN: 9781419739828). Borrowed, used, and audio formats will work. See here for more edition information.
- Zoom account for live session
- Microphone and camera for live session
- PDF reader
- Access to printer recommended