1. What is parthenogenesis? What animals reproduce by parthenogenesis?

Do any share traits in common with Annie's creatures?

2. What is Chapter 11 bankruptcy? How could it foil Annie's plans to destroy Crutchley Development?

3. The Boxes does not finish the adventure begun by Annie's opening the boxes.

Write a story about what happens to Annie, Henry, Uncle Marco, and the creatures after they slide behind the Lord. For clues about what they may find, review the descriptions of the palace the creatures have built.

4. Compare The Boxes to the story "Sandkings" (1979) by George R. R. Martin. What do the two have in common? Where does The Boxes diverge from "Sandkings"? What does this suggest about Sleator's objectives in The Boxes?

5. The Beasties is another novel by Sleator about nonhuman beings controlling young people. What are the significant differences between the novels in portraying...