BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSJack lives in the village of Giant's Hand, where every boy is expected to grow up, rescue a princess, and become a hero — something Jack wants nothing to do with. After failing his princess-rescue test at school, he walks home with his grandfather and makes a sarcastic wish out loud. A circle of blue fire opens in the sky and drops a girl named May right at his feet. May is from another world entirely, she is wearing a shirt that says "Punk Princess," and she is terrified: a giant man in green just kidnapped her grandmother and she has no idea where she is. Jack recognizes the man in green as the Huntsman from the old stories, and he starts to suspect that May's grandmother might be someone very famous. The two of them set off for the Black Forest in search of help, but a hungry mob of village boys, a man-eating witch's candy house, a giant who swallows Jack whole, and the Huntsman himself all stand in their way before they even reach the forest's edge.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Half Upon a Time
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Half Upon a Time. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy kiss an unconscious girl and she wakes up and headbutts him?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
Jack tries to wake the sleeping girl with a kiss, since that's how sleeping princesses are supposed to be woken up. May's eyes fly open and she sits up so fast that her head smacks right into his, making a hollow bonk sound. Jack's grandfather almost falls out of his chair laughing.
- First half
In what book does a knight's glowing sword turn out to be pierced through the corner of a giant's mouth?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
Deep inside the giant, a mysterious knight produces light from a long, thin piece of glass that is stabbed into the corner of the giant's mouth. Inside the glass, a white liquid swirls and glows. It turns out to be the knight's sword, and he offers it to Jack. The sword's hilt has a dark blue scabbard hanging from it.
- First half
In what book does an enormous wolf transform into a hairy man wearing a cloak of his own black fur?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
The Wolf King shimmers and changes shape in front of Jack and Phillip. His legs stretch, his paws become hands, his snout shrinks into a face, and the black fur recedes into a cloak that falls to the ground. Underneath he wears all black clothing, and his human eyes are the same fiery red as in wolf form.
- Second half
In what book does a fairy queen wrap a giant smoke creature in sky-sized blue cloth?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
During her battle with the Ifrit, Merriweather disappears and then drops an enormous piece of blue cloth from above, completely covering the genie's head and body. She then begins shrinking both herself and the genie until they can be pulled back into the Mirror.
- Second half
In what book does a girl threaten to reveal an imp's family name to force it to cooperate?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
After the imp frees May but leaves Jack locked up, May threatens to tell everyone the imp's family name. She knows about its famous cousin, and family names run in the family. The imp turns white with horror and releases Jack rather than face the humiliation.
- Near the end
In what book does a palace have walls of snow and doors made of twin tornadoes?
✓ Answer
Half Upon a Time by James Riley
The Palace of the Snow Queen is an enormous structure sculpted entirely from snow, with glowing walls carved to resemble stone. Its entrance is formed by two swirling tornadoes that serve as doors. The group sees it through a tunnel of green light that the dragon creates.
