The Unwanteds

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The bond between twins is portrayed as immensely powerful in the novel.

• What similarities exist between the bond between Alex and Aaron and the bond between Mr. Today and Justine? (topic sentence)
• Explain how the bond between Alex and Aaron is similar to that between Mr. Today and Justine; then describe how the twins differ in the way they think about things and react to situations, despite their having grown up together.
• In your concluding sentences, explain how the bonds between twins motivated Mr. Today’s decision-making about Alex.

2. Mr. Today fights a war against his sister to protect his magical kingdom.

• What were Mr. Today’s successes in the battle and what are his mistakes? (topic sentence)
• Describe how Mr. Today was successful in protecting his magical kingdom and in defeating his sister. Then explain the mistakes Mr. Today made in protecting his kingdom.
• In your concluding sentences, explain whether you believe Mr. Today will face other challenges with Quill in the future.

3. The novel’s central premise concerns the Wanted and Unwanted children and their behavior in an authoritarian society.

• What does it mean in Alex’s world to be Unwanted? (topic sentence)
• Explain why Quill differentiates between Wanted and Unwanted children, what they plan to do with Unwanted children, and why Quill is opposed to children who behave in the way the Unwanted do.
• In your concluding sentences, explain the connection between the Unwanted and creativity and describe whether you believe there are people/places that stifle creativity in favor of order.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Quill is a world with strict moral guidelines that must be adhered to by children and adults. Describe the clues the novel provides that hint at Quill’s Authoritarianism. What behaviors by the leaders in Quill are authoritarian? What punishments reflect the state’s harsh standards? What is the behavior of the people who buy into Quill’s societal standards? Why does Quill’s government create conflict instead of unity?  

2. Will and Samheed plot to bring down Artimé and kill Aaron. The two meet vastly different ends. How does Samheed find redemption where Will does not? Do you think Will could have been redeemed if given the chance? Why does the author give the impression that Will is more at fault than Samheed is? What role do the differences between punishment in Quill and punishment in Artimé play in Will’s death?

3. The animals of Artimé have agency and personalities. Are they considered equal citizens of Artimé? What tasks are the animals given that are shared by the humans in the novel? Do the animals have choices in the decisions that are made? What is the relationship between the people of Artimé and the animals?