The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 4

Chapters 5-10

Chapters 11-16

Chapters 17-21

Chapters 22-26

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Background

Authorial Context: Jessica Townsend

Jessica Townsend was born and raised in Queensland, Australia. She started writing as a child, with a local library publishing her first story in their newsletter when she was seven. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a copyeditor for the wildlife magazine published through Steve Irwin’s Zoo. As a child and young adult, Townsend read various literature which influenced her novels—including the works of J. K. Rowling, Gregory Macguire, Phillip Pullman, and Ann M. Martin. Readers frequently compare her magic to the magic system of the Harry Potter series, while recognizing its unique spin.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is Townsend’s debut novel, the sales of which allowed her to quit working as a copyeditor and start her career as a full-time author. Her Nevermoor series quickly received critical acclaim, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in the Younger Fiction category and the Book of the Year award at the Australian Book Industry Awards. She initially sold the rights for the Nevermoor series to Hatchette in 2016. Townsend has since published two more novels in the series and planned at least nine. Since its publication, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is now available in 39 languages—including Spanish, Swedish, German, and Croatian.

Genre Context: The Chosen One Trope

The “Chosen One” is a common trope and character archetype in fantasy and science fiction media. The concept comprises a character fated to fulfill a higher calling. The character often serves as a story’s protagonist, though this is not always the case. Through the story’s events, the “Chosen One” not only fulfills their destiny but grows as a person—creating a connection between the Chosen One and the bildungsroman (or coming-of-age) genre. What makes the Chosen One special is often their lack of special traits beyond the role that destiny assigns them. For example, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, the titular protagonists of their respective series, are not necessarily unique in terms of personal flaws or strengths. However, their respective histories grant them unique abilities and duties to fulfill. Still, their core conflicts remain grounded, such as their seeking belonging and friendship.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow puts a new spin on the “Chosen One” trope by featuring a protagonist who breaks conventions. Though Morrigan Crow is chosen, her coming of age challenges the trope. What makes her unique is not that she is destined to save the world—but rather, she is destined to die when she turns 12. Her core conflict is not about making the world a better place—but rather, being accepted by the Wundrous Society.