The Tail of Emily Windsnap

In Chapter 12, Mr. Beeston claims he isn’t a bad guy because, and that though he’s been spying on Emily’s family and wiping her mom’s memories, he’s also looked out for them. Using Mr. Beeston’s actions and character, refute or support his statement. Is Mr. Beeston a true antagonist? Why or why not?

Compare Emily’s experience of human society to Shona’s among the merfolk. How are the two girls’ lives similar and different? How have these similarities and differences led them to become who they are? What messages does the rapid development of Emily’s and Shona’s relationship offer about bridging cultural divides and bringing groups together? How can these lessons be applied to the real world?

Based on Neptune’s character, as well as the stories told about him, define what makes a ruler “good” or “bad.” Discuss which category, if either, Neptune belongs to.

Though Emily and Mr. Beeston are both part-merfolk, their backgrounds and families have made a huge difference to how they view themselves and others. Compare and contrast how the characters view the world, paying specific attention to the effects acceptance or intolerance have had on who they are. How have these forces shaped Emily and Mr. Beeston?

Discuss how The Tail of Emily Windsnap is a story about what happens when the characters are allowed to pursue their individual truths. Choose three characters who have had change forced upon them and show how each becomes their real self when those changes are removed. How do the arcs of the characters you chose move the story forward and contribute to the book’s ending? How would the story have ended differently if these characters did not break free of their forced changes?

Analyze Emily’s innate fear of human actions once she learns of her mermaid nature. What does Emily having these fears so soon after realizing she’s a mermaid say about humans, particularly about how humans historically treat anything they deem to be different? What messages about differences does the book offer, and how does Emily’s journey support the idea of accepting differences, rather than fearing or hating them?

Throughout the book, Emily uses her human experiences to comprehend concepts and structures within merfolk society. Choose three aspects of the merfolk world present in The Tail of Emily Windsnap and detail how you would explain each to a human who’s never encountered them before. Why did you choose these elements, and why did you describe them as you did? What did this exercise teach you about the similarities and differences between cultures and groups, as well as about how everyone views the world in a unique way?

Discuss the effects of the memory-wiping drug on Emily’s mom. How does the drug work, and why is it not completely successful? Based on how Emily’s mom remembers emotions before events, what does this suggest about the strength of emotions? Support your answer with evidence from the text.