Welcome to the penultimate day of our book club readalong for OwlCrate's December book, The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford!
Just a reminder that this will be a SPOILER discussion for Chapters 32-40 of The Poison Season, so make sure you read are finished this section before continuing.
Discussion questions are listed below, and anyone who participates in the comments will be entered to win a free OwlCrate box! Don't forget, you can also post about the readalong on Instagram with the hashtag #OCThePoisonSeason for another chance to win!
The story continues...
Chapter 41:
Jaren decides to get back in shape, and starts exploring the island a little more. When Leelo gets the rare chance to visit he asks her to come with him when he goes back to the mainland.
Chapter 42:
While heading home Leelo finds Isola and Sage talking in the forest - Leelo purposely leading Sage away from the cottage. Sage had been looking for Leelo, trying to figure out where she sneaks off to. Once Sage leaves Leelo catches up to Isola, who tells her that nine months before her brother was born she thinks her mother hid an outsider in the cottage. She thinks she should ask her mom for help.
Chapter 43:
Jaren goes to bathe, and sees a girl watching him.
Chapter 44:
At home Leelo’s mother takes her to her room, showing her a small wooden box carved with swans containing her wedding rings. Leelo tells her she knows about the outsider she loved, and her mother tells her the story of finding him injured, and then falling in love in the time he stayed on the island. Leelo tells her she is in love with Jaren.
Chapter 45:
Sage pulls Leelo outside so their mothers can’t hear, telling her that her brother never belonged on Endlan as the child of an outsider, revealing just how incredibly prejudiced she is. Sage says she regrets not telling Leelo earlier as then she would have known to be careful of men from the outside. She definitely suspects something.
Chapter 46:
Jaren and Leelo meet her mom and Isola at the grotto. He needs to leave, that night, as the girl he saw watching him was Sage, and Leelo has no doubt she’ll reveal his presence. At the grotto they manage to leverage the now fixed boat onto the beach, and when Fiona looks in Jaren's eyes she tells him he seems familiar. As Leelo and Jaren are saying their goodbyes, a woman charges onto the beach.
Chapter 47:
Ketty and Sage arrive to stop Jaren from leaving, followed closely by the council. Leelo and Jaren both try to flee in the boat, but they are ripped back to shore.
Chapter 48:
Jaren is taken to the pine grove where the council decides his fate. The next night there is to be a Hunt - they will let Jaren free on the far side of the island and the sing their hunting song. The first Endlan to draw blood will get the honor of sacrificing him to the Forest.
Chapter 49:
Leelo and her mother stay in the same room, guarded by Sage. The Hunt begins.
Questions:
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What do you think Leelo’s mom recognized in Jaren on the beach?
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What do you think will take place during the Hunt?
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Do you have any predications for the last section of the book?
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