Serafina and the Black Cloak

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

The setting of Serafina and the Black Cloak is the famous Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Imagine you are taking a trip to see the 250-room Biltmore Estate in person. Spend a few minutes on the site to learn about its size, location, and surroundings, and interiors. Watch the short virtual tour on the Biltmore House page.

• What features would you most want to view in person?
• Now imagine living in such a grand home; what might you most enjoy about residing there? What might you most dislike?
• Finally, suppose you lived at Biltmore…but had to sleep in the basement, and keep your presence a secret from everyone upstairs! What challenges might exist in your daily routine? How would you spend your days—and nights?

Teaching Suggestion: Use this prompt to provide students with some visuals of Biltmore and information about the estate and grounds. Remind students that while the setting of Biltmore in Serafina and the Black Cloak is inspired by the historical estate, the premise and most characters are pure fiction. After students write or discuss their responses, let them know that Serafina had only her father for company in her life at Biltmore—no school, no friends—and suggest that readers watch for potential conflicts in Pa’s and Serafina’s parent-child relationship as a result.

If time permits, these short videos provide additional images of interiors and the surrounding woods, both important to the plot of the novel:

• “Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate” Smithsonian Channel’s Aerial America – a 3-minute aerial footage video with voiceover information
• “Upstairs at the Biltmore House” PBS North Carolina documentary – a 7.5-minute excerpt in which a docent discusses the interesting fourth-floor rooms
• “Haunted Asheville Series: The Biltmore Estate” – a 4-minute overview of ghostly occurrences; includes views of the library, location of a crucial scene in the novel

Post-Reading Analysis

Serafina and the Black Cloak has a historical setting, a mystery plot, and fantasy elements. Some of the strongest elements of fantasy include Serafina’s physical characterization, the story of her birth and upbringing, and her eventual discovery of her mother. How is Serafina’s cat-like side developed throughout the novel, both directly and indirectly? How do Serafina’s feline skills help her to solve the mystery of the Man in the Black Cloak? What does Serafina think about her own identity throughout the story, and with what emotions does she contend on her quest for answers and self-discovery?

Teaching Suggestions: The author rarely uses the words cat or cat-like to describe Serafina, yet her feline skills and tendencies are clearly depicted and inherently connected to her origin, motivations, decisions, and concerns about “being wholly human.” If time permits, students might read the lighthearted poem “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” by T.S. Eliot, then compare certain cat qualities in Macavity to Serafina (e.g., a cat’s ability to slink around relatively unnoticed.)