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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSFar in the future, a computer intelligence called the Thunderhead runs the world, and no one dies of old age, disease or accidents anymore. To keep the population in check, only scythes may end lives. These robed officials glean, or permanently kill, a set number of people every year, and the ring each one wears can grant a year of immunity to anyone who kisses it. Sixteen-year-old Citra Terranova first meets the ivory-robed Scythe Faraday when he stays for her mother's baked ziti before gleaning a neighbor, and Rowan Damisch meets him by refusing to leave a classmate's side during a gleaning at school. Neither teen wants anything to do with killing, which is exactly why Faraday chooses them both as apprentices, even though only one can earn the ring. Living in his plain little house, the rivals study history, poisons and weapons, train in a deadly martial art called Black Widow Bokator, and watch their mentor take lives with care and sorrow. Not every scythe works the way Faraday does, though. A flashy group led by Scythe Goddard, whose royal blue robe glitters with diamonds, seems to enjoy killing, and at the apprentices' first conclave one of Goddard's followers proposes a cruel new rule, which the High Blade makes law, that whoever wins the ring must glean the loser.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Scythe
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 Scythe. 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 do two strangers discover they got identical unsigned invitations to the same opera box?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Citra and Rowan meet for the first time in a private box at the Grand Civic Opera, each puzzling over who sent the mysterious invitation. At intermission Scythe Faraday steps into the box, and it becomes clear he brought them together on purpose.
- First half
In what book does an executive in the turncorner industry lose his mansion and become the new pool boy?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Goddard and his three junior scythes show up at Maxim Easley's estate, and Goddard demands the mansion in exchange for immunity for Easley's family and staff. He then orders Easley to resign from Regenesis, saying he can't let him leave because 'I need a new pool boy.'
- First half
In what book does a woman in lavender live in a house with a river running beneath it?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Citra's new mentor, Scythe Curie, lives at Falling Water, an old house near the EastMerica border with a waterfall spilling from beneath it. Curie says she lives there because only a scythe's presence could bring in the donations needed to preserve it.
- Second half
In what book does a little brother's dream make his sister choose turquoise for her future robe?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
On a family walk, Ben tells Citra he dreamed she came to his school and gleaned all the jerks, and she asks what color her robes were. When he guesses turquoise, she promises that will be the color she chooses, and Ben beams.
- Second half
In what book do two apprentices in a Bokator match each try to lose to the other?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
At the Harvest Conclave test, Rowan tries to throw the match so Citra can win the ring, but she sees through his plan from his very first kick and keeps moving into his weak blows to make him look good. As the book puts it, she can beat him at everything, even at losing.
- Near the end
In what book do robed officials slipping on icy marble steps delight spectators hoping for photos?
✓ Answer
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
On the blistering cold morning of Winter Conclave, ice coats the marble steps of the Capitol in Fulcrum City, and more than one scythe slips and gets hurt. The crowd is thrilled by anything that slows the scythes down, because it means more chances for pictures.
