Six of Crows

Six of Crows

• Genre: Fiction; young adult fantasy
• Originally Published: 2015
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL790L; grades 7-12
• Structure/Length: 46 chapters; approximately 496 pages; approximately 15 hours, 4 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is set in the Grishaverse (the author’s created universe) and follows a group of six diverse characters who are brought together for a daring heist. Led by Kaz Brekker, a cunning and ruthless thief, the group sets out to infiltrate the most secure prison in their world. The central conflict involves the challenges the protagonists face during this perilous mission, their individual pasts, and their complex relationships. The story explores friendship, trust, and redemption in a world filled with magic and danger.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence; death; bloodshed and gore; animal death; sexual content; occasional profanity; drug addiction; alcohol use; crime; complex moral dilemmas

Leigh Bardugo, Author

• Bio: American author known for her fantasy novels and world building; celebrated for her ability to create rich and immersive fantasy worlds; developed the Grishaverse, a fictional universe across multiple series; known for her diverse characters and intricate plots; works often explore themes of power, identity, and the human condition
• Other Works: Shadow and Bone (2012); Siege and Storm (2013); Ruin and Rising (2014); Crooked Kingdom (2016); King of Scars (2019); Rule of Wolves (2021)
• Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2015)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Search for Home
• Vengeance
• What Makes a Monster

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and philosophical contexts regarding vengeance and class stratification that drive Kaz and the group’s heist.
• Read and analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s ideas of vengeance, home, and figurative monsters.
• Plan and create three “wanted posters” for the main protagonists of the novel that demonstrate in-depth understanding of characterization, narrative plot points, and primary themes based on text details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot, motifs, and key themes to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding vengeance, morality, and other topics.