Characters
Who is the main character?
BONUS 200: Describe this character.
The main character is Helen.
BONUS:
Helen is a 15-year-old girl with dark, wavy hair (page 10). Helen has big blue eyes (page 12).
What did Julia buy and where did she buy it?
Julia bought a painting at an antique shop (page 10).
What do Will and Helen decide to do in Chapter 3?
BONUS 100: Why do they decide to do this?
Will and Helen decide to go to the antique shop (page 24).
BONUS: Because they want to find out more about the painting Julia bought from that shop.
What did Julia find out about Aunt Charlotte?
BONUS 200: Who told her?
Aunt Charlotte was her dad's aunt. Apparently she died in an accident about 30 years ago (Page 43).
BONUS: Will told her.
Why did Helen use the word "Yule" when she was talking to her mother?
Helen used the word Yule to see her mother's reaction (page 57).
Who is Helen's cousin and what does he help her do?
Her cousin is Will. He helps her to find out more information on the painting at the antique shop (page 24).
Describe the painting Julia's mom bought.
The painting has a girl that looked very similar to Helen, with curly hair and big, blue eyes (page 10 & 12). The girl in the painting was wearing a long white dress and a gold necklace (page 10). She was holding a branch of holly (page 43).
Describe the antique shop from the outside and the inside.
The antique shop looked like a junk shop from the outside (page 24). Inside the shop was cold, dark and silent (page 25).
When Julia was looking through photographs, what were the two photographs she saw?
BONUS 200: Who was in the second photograph and what was different about it?
The first photograph was a picture of the eight sisters, including her grandmother and Aunt Charlotte. The second photograph was a photo of a blonde man (page 44).
BONUS:
It was the owner of the antique shop. His face then was exactly the same, even 100 years later.
Did Julia's mom go to the meeting? Why or why not?
BONUS 200: Where was the meeting?
Julia's mom decided to not go to the meeting because she is not from Hollybrook and didn't want to get involved (page 58).
BONUS: The meeting is at Brook House, an old house at the edge of the village.
Who was the girl in the painting?
The girl in the painting was Aunt Charlotte, Helen's great aunt.
What did Helen receive for her birthday and from who?
BONUS 100: Name 2 things Helen received and from who.
Helen received a phone from her mum and Bob (page 16).
Helen received a parcel with a necklace and a note from Aunt Charlotte (pages 17-18).
True or False: The older man recognised Helen.
True: "We were expecting you" (page 26).
What do Will and Helen discover in the book from the antique shop?
They discovered the Hollybrook curse (page 50).
What did Helen do when she approached the circle of women?
BONUS 100: What happened after?
Helen ran towards the centre of the circle and threw the necklace in the fire (page 66).
BONUS:
There was a hiss and a large flame shot up, but then nothing.
How many people worked at the antique shop?
BONUS 200: What were these people doing at the end of the story?
Two men (page 26) and one young woman (page 50)
What happened when Helen tried the necklace on?
Helen's face became white, her head started spinning and she fainted (page 18).
What did Helen think of her mother's Christmas decorations?
BONUS 200: What were the decorations?
Helen thought they were very unusual.
BONUS: The decorations were holly garlands (page 32).
What did the book say about Helen's village, Hollybrook?
"Baby girls born in Hollybrook during the Yule month are born with witches' blood. They grow to be part of the circle and from the age of fifteen must follow the others into the ceremony" (page 52).
In 5 sentences, describe what happened at the end of the book.
1. Helen went to the meeting at Brook House (page 61).
2. Helen tried to break the curse by throwing her necklace into the fire (page 66).
3. Helen broke the curse by throwing holly berries into the fire (page 66).
4. Everybody at the meeting forgot everything after the curse was broken, so they went home (page 68).
5. Aunt Charlotte explains the necklace and the painting. Julia invites Aunt Charlotte to stay for Christmas (page 69).
What happened to Helen's dad?
BONUS 100: Who told Helen?
The death of Helen's father was no accident, it was a curse he tried to stop (page 60).
BONUS: Uncle Jo told Helen.
What did Julia realize at the end of Chapter 2?
Julia realized that the necklace from Aunt Charlotte was the same as the one that the girl in the portrait was wearing (page 18).
What did Mrs Milstead say to Helen?
BONUS 100: Who is Mrs Milstead?
Mrs Milstead invited Helen and Julia to a meeting (page 35).
BONUS: Mrs Milstead is Helen's next door neighbor (page 25).
Why was Will freaking out about Helen at the end of chapter 6?
Will realized that Helen was born in the village during the Yule month (December) and her 15th birthday was coming on the winter solstice. Because of this, Helen would be included in the Hollybrook curse (page 53).
Who did Helen stop and how did she stop them?
Helen stopped the Holly King and the Oak king by throwing berries into the flames and breaking the curse.