The Youth Library Group are delighted to be part of Teri Terry’s Black Night Falling blog tour.  This high energy, high action title marks the conclusion to circle trilogy, begun with Dark Blue Rising and continued with Red Sky Burning.  In Black Night Falling, Tabby has been captured by the Circle and is finding out more about the ancient sisterhood and Hayden become a figurehead for activists that are determined to see through change at almost any cost.  The questions below are intended to open up discussion around the third book in the trilogy.

How important do you think it is that people act to save and protect the environment?

What dangers does Black Night Falling suggest might exist if this doesn’t happen?

Does the book suggest any barriers that might make it difficult to act?  If you were involved, how might you overcome these barriers?

‘Now they face the anguish of impossible choices with the climate crisis.’  (p283)
Choice is very important in the novel can you think of difficult choices that exist for characters in the book?  Is it always clear whether there is a right or a wrong choice?

Do you think technological and scientific advances are always a good thing?
When thinking about your answer it might be useful to consider
          - the way The Circle use DNA
          - the use of chemicals to try to combat climate change

‘How can you even begin to justify the things The Circle have done?’ (p29)
Do you think the actions and decisions The Circle have made can be justified?  Sometimes people use the phrase the ends justify the means.  Do you think this could apply to The Circle?

Hayden wonders ‘Would telling her have been worth the risk of losing her friendship?’ (p47)
Do you think Hayden should have told Eva how he felt about her?  What are the reasons for your answer?

What benefits do you think there are to being part dolphin?  If you could chose an animal whose features you could have which would it be and why?  Would this help you achieve a particular goal?

‘If all of these environmental groups want to stop climate change, stop pollution, stop the sixth mass extinction what is there to argue about?’ (p73)
Why do you think the groups do argue and what benefits might there be if they could come together more?

If you had the opportunity would you ever be tempted to become part of a group like The Circle? 
When thinking about your answer it might be useful to consider:
          - What it feels like to be part of or outside a group?
          - The work and the knowledge that The Circle has.
  - Whether being part of a group can affect the feelings and decisions we make individually?

If you have enjoyed reading The Circle trilogy, you might like to read another trilogy by Teri Terry, you could try The Dark Matter Trilogy which is all about an epidemic and its aftermath, or The Slated trilogy, a dystopia where those accused of crimes have their memories wiped to give a clean start…