Kendra and Seth are young 'uns in Fablehaven, but their experiences at their grandparents' place are shaped by events that occurred long ago—like when the demon Bahumat was imprisoned on that land (similar deal with Muriel's imprisonment, though that happened less-long-ago). Plus some recent-but-still-past events are also important—like Grandma being transformed into a chicken, and whatever diabolical plans Muriel put into motion to free Bahumat.
And then there's all the important stuff about memory: how our memories define us, and what our memories can teach us. Case in point: Lena. When she's human, she can hang onto and treasure her memories, but as a naiad, she's stuck in a timeless existence where memories don't really matter. Which one's better? We're not sure. You wanna go to the naiad pond and try to find out?
Questions About Memory and the Past
- What are Lena's human memories like? Do you think they compensate for the fact that her body's growing old and decrepit?
- What does Kendra remember about the Sorenson grandparents before going to visit them?
- How does being a chicken affect Grandma's sense of time?
- Do you think knowing about Fablehaven's history/past would've been helpful to the kids going into this adventure?
Chew on This
It is better to be mortal and have memories than to be immortal and not remember anything, like the naiads and fairies of Fablehaven.
Coming to Fablehaven without knowing anything of its history puts the kids at a big disadvantage.