Thirteenth Child (2009) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• Eff (Francine): Eff is a thirteenth child and the twin of a seventh son of a seventh son. Much of her extended family believes that a thirteenth child is destined to go bad or turn evil, some even think she should've been drowned at birth. She is the main character and tells the story.
• Lan: Lan is a seventh son of a seventh son and Eff's twin. Because he is a double seven he has a massive amount of magic and everyone tries to push him to learn more and more.
• William Graham: Eff and Lan's childhood friend. The son of Professor Graham.
• Washington "Wash" Morris: Miss Ochiba's friend. An explorer, magician and independent circuit-rider to the border settlements.
• Papa: Daniel Rothmer, Eff's father who is a professor of magic at the North Plains Territory College. A seventh son.
• Professor Graham: William's father and the college's other professor of magic.
• Rennie: Eff's bossy, older sister.
• Miss Ochiba: The magic teacher at the day school.
• Brant Wilson: A Rationalist. A young man who wants to study at the college to learn what the magicians use magic to protect themselves from.
• Mr. Harrison: The head of the North Plains Territory Homestead Claim and Settlement Office.
• Robbie: Eff's older, girl-crazy brother. Also a trouble-maker and prankster.
• Diane: Eff's older sister. A musician.
• Jack: One of Eff's older brothers. Interested in the frontier and working with his hands.
• Mr. Lewis: A leader in the Rationalist community. Brant Wilson's uncle.
• Dr. McNeil: Naturalist who goes on an expedition to study the magical wildlife beyond the Great Barrier
• Allie: One of Eff's older sisters.
• Hugh: One of Eff's older brothers.
• Julie: One of Eff's older, married sisters.
• Nan: One of Eff's older sisters.
• Mr. Farley: The dean of the college.
• Aunt Tilly: One of Eff's aunts
• Henry Masters: One of Papa's students.
• Aunt Janna: Eff's aunt who is married to Uncle Earn and hates Eff for being a 13th child
• Frank: Eff's oldest brother
• Alexei: One of the students who does extra classes with Miss Ochiba and surprised others by showing up in the first place due to his laziness
• Mari: An aunt.
• Rindy: One of Eff's friends from upper school.
• Charlie: One of Eff's older brothers
• Susan: One of Eff's friends who is a boarder whose family is affected by the grubs
• Mrs. Callahan: The Rothmer's housekeeper
• John Brearsly: Diane's husband who is also a musician
• Mrs. Stewart: The wife of Mr. Stewart one of the Rationalist leaders in their settlement
• Marna: One of the cousins who picks on Eff

Quotes edit see section history

• “Earn Rothmer is still your uncle, and you should be polite when you speak of him.” “Is there a polite way to tell someone to go jump in a lake?”

  Mamma and Robbie (page 144-145)

• “'A natural-you mean you're a seventh son?'" Papa nodded. '"And he's a seveth son?'" Papa nodded again.”

  Professor Graham (page 61)

• “That's what they saw, but Lan was my twin, and I saw something else.”

  narrator (page 59)

• “'It's just old William,'" i said softly, not like i was talking to anyone, especially not looking at Lan. '"He doesn't mean half he says, and the other half, he doesn't know any better. It's just old William. I bet he's learned enough of a lesson.'”

  Eff (page 60)

• “i'm sorry, Uncle Stephen, but that won't do. Eff and i are twins; we stay together.”

  Lan (page 141)

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “It’s a hard thing to risk what you know and are sure of, just for the possibility of something better. Even when it’s a pretty strong possibility, and something that’s a whole lot better.”

  Highlighted by 20 Kindle customers

• “Earn Rothmer is still your uncle, and you should be polite when you speak of him.” “Is there a polite way to tell someone to go jump in a lake?”

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

• “There are many ways of seeing. Each has an element of truth, but none is the whole truth. If you limit yourselves to one way of seeing, one truth, you will limit your power. You will also place limits on the kinds of spells you can cast, as well as their strength. To be a good magician, you must see in many ways. You must be flexible. You must be willing to learn from different sources. And you must always remember that the truths you see are incomplete.”

  Highlighted by 12 Kindle customers

• “There are always people in any group who will go along with authority only so long as authority agrees with their opinions,”

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• “The day Harrison does anything useful will be the day ice dragons turn vegetarian and start hunting for coconuts in the Arctic Circle.”

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• “Brant’s an idealist, and he’s competent. There are few more dangerous combinations in this world.”

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• “Humility is as good for the soul as it is for the memory”

  Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers

• “We will begin the year by taking a general look at the three great theoretical systems of magic: the Avrupan, the Hijero—Cathayan, and the Aphrikan.

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• You can’t ward things off if you don’t know what they are or when they’re coming.”

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• “Sure,” Kristen said. “You can mess up.”

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Mill City
• Hijero
• Helvan Shores
• Mammoth River
• Oak River: A Rationalist settlement beyond the Great Barrier that does not use magic.

Organizations edit see section history

• Rationalist: A group of people who don't use magic because they believe it is a crutch.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Coming Of Age: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by Across the Great Barrier.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Patricia C. Wrede (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PZ7.W915Thi 2009
• Dewey: Add the Dewey Classification.

Notes for Parents edit see section history

May also be suitable for younger children

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Science Fiction
• Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Science Fiction › Alternate History
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy
• Books › Children's Books › People & Places › Family Life › Siblings › Fiction

More Books Like This edit see section history