The Sapling Cage
by Margaret Killjoy
In the gripping first novel in the Daughters of the Empty Throne trilogy, author Margaret Killjoy spins a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
How Self-Paced Book Club Classes Work
Participation in the self-paced book club includes immediate access to a set of resources and activities to be completed at your own pace.
Families are welcome to use as many or as few of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.
Book Club Materials
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Suggested Reading Schedule
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Reading Guides with Comprehension Questions (PDF)
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Vocabulary and Reading Activities
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Writing/Multimodal Project Prompts
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Video Discussion of the Book
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Final Project Feedback Rubrics
Ages:
13-18
Awards:
Otherwise Award Nominee (2024)
Ursula K. Le Guin Prize Nominee (2025)
Content Note:
This book is generally appropriate for teen readers.
Content Notes: violence, transphobia, magic, scary situations, interpersonal conflict, death.
Representation: transgender representation (trans girl/woman), rejecting gender norms, complex friendships, light asexual/aromantic representation, positive representation of witches (non gender essentialist).
Supplies:
- A copy of the book The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy (ISBN: 9781558613317 ).
Used and borrowed copies will work just fine! If your learner is going to participate in final projects and reading guides, I recommend having a physical copy even if they primarily read the ebook or audiobook. (Dayla Learning Bookshop Link) - PDF reader
- Access to printer recommended
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