Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test

By Christina Soontornvat

Illustrator:  Kevin Hong

Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Christina Soontornvat Website:

https://soontornvat.com/

Illustrator Information:

Kevin Hong Website:

https://www.kevinhong.com/

Activities & Resources:

All About the Author and Illustrator:

How do you pronounce your name? (0:48)

https://youtu.be/r4ThiCuKL1Y

Learn about her heritage:

https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2018/09/12/southern-fried-asian-christina-soontornvat/

Interview with Illustrator Kevin Hong

https://www.thepeoplesprintshop.com/blogs/news/an-interview-with-illustrator-kevin-hong

Gardens:

Tend a garden like Plum does in the book:

https://planner5d.com/use/garden-planner

Family:

Plum wanted to know more about her family. Design a crest for you:

https://www.mytribe101.com/crest/

Make your own necklace like the one Plum was left by her mother (8:33)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRadWNBy9Yg

Meditation:

Practice Meditation just as Plum does in the Academy (5:34)

https://www.yout.ube.com/watch?v=VZ_wdeog5Ek

One Word: Think of one word that would describe you and your special gifts and abilities like Plum

https://litinfocus.com/one-word-project-activities-and-examples-for-students/

Islands:

Plum goes to the Academy on Lotus Island (3:55)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvteDVBqae4

Create a Wild Island Map like Lotus Island with gardens and different landmarks and animals!

https://www.sunnydayfamily.com/2016/11/wild-island-map.html

MakerSpace Activities:

Create a magic wand for your own transformation (2:20)

https://youtu.be/63lZGHzvPlg

Create a Guardian Bird like the story!

https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/rocking-paper-bird-craft/

Sphero Obstacle Course: Using Spheros, create an obstacle course like the challenges Plum and the Guardians must overcome!

https://colleengraves.org/2015/04/24/sphero-obstacle-course-challenge-and-participatory-learning/

Create a Tropical Island Setting to match the story:

https://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/tropical-island-flora--fauna-lesson-plan/

Animal Masks: Transform into your Guardian Animal like the Guardians in the book:

https://know.make.do/products/animal-masks

Discussion Questions:

Who is your favorite character in "Legends of Lotus Island," and why?

Can you describe the setting of the story? How does it contribute to the overall atmosphere of the book?

What do you think the title "Legends of Lotus Island" suggests about the story? What legends might be featured in the book?

Were there any surprising or unexpected events in the story? How did they impact the characters?

What is the main problem or challenge that the characters face in the book?

What do you think the author is trying to teach or convey through the legends in the story?

If you could visit Lotus Island, what would you want to see or experience based on the legends mentioned in the book?

How does the author build suspense in the story? Were there moments that kept you on the edge of your seat?

Can you relate to any of the characters in the book? In what ways are they similar to or different from you?

What emotions did the story evoke for you? How did the author use language to convey these emotions?

How does the book inspire creativity and imagination? Are there any fantastical elements that captured your attention?

Do the characters make good choices in the story? Can you think of alternative choices they could have made?

What lessons about friendship or teamwork can be learned from the characters' experiences?

If you were part of the adventure in Lotus Island, what role would you want to play, and why?

How does the author use descriptive language to help you visualize the scenes and characters in the story?

Were there any parts of the story that reminded you of other books or movies you've experienced? How are they similar or different?

What values or morals do you think the characters learn by the end of the story?

If you could change one thing about the ending of the book, what would it be, and why?

How does the cover of the book reflect the content of "Legends of Lotus Island"? Does it give any hints about the story?

If you could ask the author one question about the book, what would it be?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test  by Christina Soontornvat

Book Trailer (0:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R29UaLCDcvU

Author Book Talk (1:06)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx8jjuqKPBs

Read Alikes: 

Dairman, Tara, The Girl from Earth’s End.  To save her father, 12-year-old Henna, a gifted gardener, attends St. Basil's Conservatory, a botanical boarding school rumored to house a legendary, long-extinct plant with miraculous healing powers, and while searching for the seeds, Henna learns to flourish with a little help from her newfound friends. (NoveList Plus)

Khoury, Jessica, The Mystwick School of Musicraft. Humor and heart shine in this middle-grade fantasy about a girl who attends a boarding school to learn how to use music to create magic. (NoveList Plus)

Lee, Yoon Ha, Dragon Pearl.  Min, a thirteen-year-old girl with fox-magic, stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her older brother in the Thousand World Space Forces. (NoveList Plus)

Steadman, A.F., Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. When a mysterious figure tells him he must save an island where bloodthirsty unicorns roam free, Skandar Smith answers the call and, along with newfound friends and a community of riders, engages in an epic battle that will tear his world apart. (NoveLIst Plus)

Reviews:

Booklist (February 15, 2023 (Vol. 119, No. 12))

Grades 3-6. Though orphaned at a young age, Plum has enjoyed her quiet childhood with loving grandparents on a small island. She spends her days tending their lush garden and communing with local animals; but her quiet existence is interrupted by an unexpected invitation to attend the prestigious Guardian Academy on Lotus Island. The school has long existed to train future Guardians, a select set of magically endowed humans capable of transforming into mystical creatures and charged with protecting the natural world. With her affinity for flora and fauna, it seems only natural that Plum would conjure such a power. However, she has only a month to train for her first exam, and there's no magic to be found—she worries she may not have what it takes to become a Guardian after all. The first installment in the new series is effortlessly entertaining and atmospheric, and the new Thai-adjacent world is teeming with magical life and gentle mystery. Additionally, Hong’s imaginative manga-style illustrations and the book’s shorter length will easily draw in younger readers. An enchanting eco-fable sure to intrigue and delight.