Thornhill
What’s inside...
As she unpacks in her new bedroom, Ella is irresistibly drawn to the big old house that she can see out of her window. Surrounded by overgrown gardens, barbed wire fences and 'keep out' signs, it looks derelict. But that night, a light goes on in one of the windows. The next day, she sees a girl in the grounds. Ella is hooked, the house has a story to tell. Enter Thornhill, Institute for Children, and discover the dark secrets that lie within. But once inside, will you ever leave? From her window, Ella sees the old abandoned, dilapidated girls' home and soon realizes that the house has a story to tell, a frightening and sad story. Here we read two stories: one in words and one in pictures. The written story is text from a diary that gives us a glimpse into a dark past. The pictures tell Ella's story today and together with the diary text, a web of two girls' fates is formed. A dark and Gothic tale that impacts the reader with its message and its unique combination of text and image.
Age
10-14
Length
544 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mary
Ella
The Bully
Discussion points
How do you think Mary felt when she was alone at Thornhill Institute, and how might you feel in a similar situation?
What are some ways Ella tried to understand and connect with Mary's story? Can you think of a time you tried to understand someone else's feelings?
Thornhill touches on themes of loneliness and friendship. How important do you think friendship is in overcoming challenges?
The book uses both illustrations and text to tell the story. How do you think the illustrations help to convey emotions and events in the book?
If you could give advice to Mary or Ella, what would you say to them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the characters and events. This helps them connect more deeply with the book's themes.
Ask open-ended questions to promote critical thinking and personal reflection, relating the story's situations to your child's experiences.
Discuss the dual narrative structure and how the diary entries and illustrations complement each other. This enhances their understanding and appreciation of different storytelling methods.
Create a comfortable, distraction-free environment for reading and discussion, which can help your child focus and engage more effectively with the book.
Highlight the resilience of characters and relate it to real-life scenarios, which can be empowering and reassure your child about facing their own challenges.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: Thornhill conveys the importance of empathy through the story of two lonely girls from different times, highlighting how understanding others' emotions can bridge gaps.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to recognize and respect the feelings of others, helping them build stronger, more empathetic relationships.
Example Lesson: Impact of Bullying
Explanation: The narrative illustrates the deep emotional scars left by bullying through the experiences of the main characters, teaching the detrimental long-term effects.
Real-World Application: This lesson teaches children the importance of kindness and the consequences of bullying, encouraging them to stand up against it in their schools and communities.
Example Lesson: Courage to Face Fears
Explanation: As the characters confront their personal ghosts and fears, the book inspires bravery in the face of adversity and the unknown.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face their own fears, whether it's trying something new or standing up for what is right, thus fostering resilience and personal growth.
Example Lesson: Consequences of Actions
Explanation: Thornhill shows how the characters' actions, good and bad, have lasting impacts on themselves and others, emphasizing accountability.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think about how their actions affect others and to make thoughtful decisions in their daily interactions.