Author Description

The Deltora series is an exciting, well-written, carefully planned series of fantasy novels. As well as being an adventure quest, the tales have incorporated into their storyline a number of puzzles, both verbal and mathematical. Once introduced to the series, a reader is sure to want to continue through to the end. Emily Rodda, the author, deliberately set out to create books that would entice the more reluctant reader in order to both develop their interest in reading and to extend their reading stamina. These notes apply to the first series, which tells of the attempts to gain the seven missing gems which the Shadow Lord has stolen from the Belt of Deltora. When the Belt is complete, the ruler of Deltora has great power within the land of Deltora. The teacher's notes can be used in several ways. For the first book in the series, 'The Forests of Silence', the notes are teacher-directed as a whole class activity, with teacher read/teacher directed sets of activities. The remaining books in the series could be used in the same way, or they could be used by students individually, in pairs, or in groups. Note that throughout each series the books form a continuous story and it is better to read them in order.