1. Eddie Tompke enjoyed making Johnny Dixon's life miserable; yet when Johnny uses the power of the figurine to get back at Eddie, he feels guilty. Have you ever wanted to "get back" at someone and then felt guilty when you saw them suffer? Do you think that feeling of guilt is good or bad?

2. Do you have any real-life "bullies" you have to deal with in school?

Describe them. Why are you afraid of the bullies? How do you imagine you might defeat them?

3. Compare the magical power of the blue figurine with Professor Childermass's personal courage when he tries to save Johnny near the end of the story.

Does the story indicate that real power lies in the supernatural or in a person's own will? What lesson might Johnny himself learn from his experience?

4. Early in the story, Johnny imagines himself as an...