Do you think that Matilda changed as a character throughout the book? If yes, in which ways?
- -(me ) - Definitely. In the beginning, she was a lot like me – very lazy and not willing to get involved with any work unless it was necessary. I believe through the series of tragedies that she had to live through she matured as well as grew as an individual. In the end, she was a very pragmatic character making sensible decisions as well as risking her health and wellbeing in the interest of others. She stopped caring for herself altogether when she was looking after the twins and Nell, thinking over their welfare over hers, skipping her sleep and eating so that they could survive the fever. She went throw a series of big life changes which helped her mature as a character throughout the book.
- -Yes because she starts liking Nathaniel, and because she becomes more responsible, and she wants to be treated as an adult. She knows what she wants at the end of the book.
- -Yes, because at first she is a brat and she thinks highly of herself, and later she takes responsibility of a lot of things, and she helps.
- -Yes, I think she is growing, she starting to develop more complex ideas and she becomes more responsible, especially over others. “She was stupid before”
Do you believe that Matilda and Nathaniel could ever have a future? Why or why not?
- - (me) I honestly don't believe that in their current situation, there would be any chance of them marrying, or being even allowed to do so. If Mattie's mother still has any hold over Mattie’s opinions or choices into her future, Mattie and Nathaniel will not be allowed to marry unless Nathaniel finds himself in a much higher position in society. For him to be allowed to marry Mattie, I think that he must definitely work toward getting a better job and becoming a stronger person. Mattie has shown that she can be brave and resilient, and if he is just lazy casually sitting around, then I don't believe Mattie and him make a good couple. I didn’t think that Nathaniel really needed to be introduced into the plot at all, but it was okay.
- - Yes, because the mom accepted it first, she was shipping it and she asked quite a lot of questions. I ship them right now. Ship all the way. She always thinks about him and I SHIP IT.
- - Yes they could because they like each other and they have approval and everything is happy.
- I guess they could if they still like each other.
Would you risk yourself for the welfare for another if they were unwell?
- - (me) - I am not completely sure. I suppose in theory of course I would say that I would sacrifice myself, but in practice I am not sure. It depends on what the situation was. If there was anyone who depended on me, say if I had a family or children to look after, who didn’t have any guardian, I probably wouldn’t risk my life if it would leave them alone. If I was alone like Mattie is, then I definitely would have volunteered to save someone’s life if it meant I disadvantage myself. I definitely believe that Mattie did the right thing at all instances at the end of the book.
- - Depends on who it was I was risking myself for. If it was my family maybe, but strangers possibly not.
- -To be honest, no. I would just go and try and get external help from somewhere.
- -Well I would risk myself for someone else, but not in cases of illness because nowadays we have the appropriate technology to solve these illnesses. I would try and save someone’s life, but I wouldn’t risk further injuring someone to try in an attempt to save them when there is a medicine which can do the job better.
After the book, what did you think about it?
- -(me)- I think that it was an okay book, nothing spectacular. I believe that the author should have stuck to having a stronger message about strength and bravery and empowerment in the eyes of Mattie instead of mixing up romance and Nathaniel into the plot. I believe that adding Nathaniel to the story makes a childish addition to the plot and makes the end just a bit less interesting. I found the plot itself quite dull and not very fast-paced, but I did think it had a few intriguing plot twists, and I thank the author for that.
- - I was waiting to find out about Nathaniel and Matilda, but unfortunately they didn’t reveal about the future of the relationship. I cried a lot and I enjoyed it a lot, especially when the grandfather died. I also didn’t really like the mother as I thought she was quite mean especially when she came back. I hate Mr. Ludington. My favorite part of the book was when Nathaniel and Matilda kissed when the king walked past as it was cute and romantic and amazing and fabulous.
- - I didn’t really enjoy the book, and it didn’t really have any deep meaning or understand that I extracted. I think that it was mainly about surviving and happiness and shipping.
- - I think it was really boring. It was cool, but it isn’t really the type of book that I like. It was OK, but I would have preferred to read something else.
Who was your favorite character?
- -(me)- Eliza by far. I believe she was the most compassionate character. From the beginning she was willing to work hard in the interest of others, and this helping attitude stayed with her throughout the book – from the beginning where she started as a helping hand in the café, to the end, where she survives throughout the fever, aiding others, and to the end where she becomes co- benefactor of the new coffeehouse. I think she was the only character who was completely decent throughout, as well being deep and pragmatic.
- -GRANDFATHER! He was just so nice and caring and I wish I could be like him, especially as he is the captain. He almost shot the thieves trying to protect Mattie and he died trying to protect her. He would do anything to protect Mattie. Eliza was cute as well.
- -The cat because he wasn’t involved in most of the plot and he wasn’t really a main or central character.
- - In a way, the mother, because she reminds me a lot of my mother – same ways, same behavior, same relationship, so yeh. Her.
