1. Examine Charnas's depiction of city life. In what ways does she exploit fears of the city? How is she sympathetic or realistic in her descriptions? Is the city an apt background for such a fantasy? Why?

2. Examine Joel Wechsler's character.

How does he serve as a foil for Valentine? What conflicts does he face and how does he come to resolve them?

3. Valentine contrasts her fantastic adventures with those described by Tolkien. Read The Hobbit (1937) by Tolkien, or another book categorized as "high fantasy." What elements are present in a novel of high fantasy? How is The Bronze King similar to or different from that genre?

4. Choose one of the issues presented in this novel and show how it is defined and developed through characters, images, or plot. Examples of such issues include gender stereotypes, pollution, adolescence, and aging grandparents...