- Fern made the front page of both the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register because the pictures of her were “the stuff that photo editors dream of – a frightened little girl holding on for dear life above the surreal backdrop of the Magic Kingdom.” Consider what’s appealing about the image, then write news copy or TV coverage for one of the events in The Otherworldlies.
- This story has its own vocabulary – not only are there Rollens and Blouts, but there are also Poseidons, Hermes, and other kinds of vampires, as well as allusions to Titanomachy, Cronus’s Curse, and other mythologically-inspired people and events. Devise your own classification system for Otherworlies. What can you add to the world created by Jennifer Anne Kogler?
- Choose one of the references to Greek mythology or vampire lore that interests you. Write a short essay describing your findings in a way that would catch your classmates’ interest, or let your findings inspire a short story about someone who, like Fern, finds herself confronting myths in the modern world. Who has the powers you’ve envisioned, and how do the powers change your character’s life?
- Sam and Fern visit a preserve where “indigenous creatures” are kept sheltered from the humans’ above-ground world where they would be exterminated. Draw one of the creatures in the preserve, design its enclosure, and write a short blurb explaining what visitors would find if they visited your part of the preserve.
- The story is set in California – Fern does visit famous landmarks like Disneyland, but the setting also informs the story in a more subtle way. Research some of the real places or creatures described in the story. Once you’ve found out a bit more about San Juan Capistrano, the migration of the swallows, and the looks of a jacaranda tree, is it harder or easier to visualize the events of the story? Try writing another scene where setting influences the story.