Prism Break Trivia Quiz

Answer: Red

Philosopher and writer Cao Zhan's "Dream of the Red Chamber" (sometimes translated "A Dream of Red Mansions"), is deemed by many to be the greatest Chinese novel ever written. With 120 chapters and hundreds of characters, it tells of the rise and fall of a dynastic family. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the work as "a faithful image of upper-class life in the early Qing dynasty."

"Where the Red Fern Grows," by children's author Wilson Rawls, originally a three-part story titled "The Hounds of Youth," is a classic novel about a boy named Billy and his two beloved hunting dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan, and the trio's adventurous times together -- and then the subsequent heartbreak when the canines pass away. This bittersweet story deals with coming-of-age, the bond between boy and dog, faith in God, and acceptance of death as a natural part of the "circle of life."

The famous science-fiction author Robert Heinlein is the author of "Red Planet," one of several works of his that imagine Mars as inhabited by both human beings and various native Martian creatures and races. This story, set largely in a boarding school on colonized Mars, considers such topics as survival, colonialism, and the potential dangers posed by bureaucratic governments. It also wonders whether the process of aging and "growing up" might be experienced differently on other planets.

Answer: Golden

Philip K. Dick, the prolific sci-fi author of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", also penned the story "The Golden Man." In it, the author describes a future in which the government hunts down and kills those it deems mutants -- individuals with powerful psychic abilities -- out of fear that these beings threaten to disrupt the social order of 'normal' humans. But one of them, who has golden skin and an extraordinary physique, has evaded capture. In part, it's a story of people's fears of those who are perceived as "different."

"Golden: A Retelling of Rapunzel," from the "Once Upon a Time" series of novels, is basically what it sounds like: a re-envisioned fairy tale. Cameron Dokey, the author, presents the young woman (and her legendary long tresses) not simply as a tower-bound prisoner of a sorceress, but rather as a more dynamic character -- one who discovers her own inner strength. She and the Prince form a deep emotional bond, and as Rapunzel forms connections with both nature and people, it allows her to magically protect others.

Fantasy and sci-fi author Tad Williams' "City of Golden Shadow" is a novel that later became the first of a four-book series. The stories are, in large part, a reflection on the dangers of misusing -- or over-relying on -- technology, especially as it advances. In "City of Golden Shadow," the premise is that a group of people find themselves trapped in a city -- one of many places that are all part of "Otherland," a vast realm that exists in virtual reality. As the characters try to navigate this simulated world, and learn more about who created it and why, they come to see how the virtual world is affecting people's lives in the real world.

Answer: Purple

Crockett Johnson, a comic-strip artist and writer of several children's books, introduced a small boy with a vivid imagination -- starting with "Harold and the Purple Crayon." The story is a simple one, with no explanation of where the magic crayon came from or how it works; the book simply follows the boy's dreamlike journey as he thinks up, draws, and ventures through new lands as he creates them. He realizes that some of his creations bring trouble, but he also remembers he can escape any predicament with his crayon -- a story to real children about the power of imagination.

"The Color Purple" is the famous, award-winning, and sometimes controversial novel by celebrated author and civil rights activist Alice Walker. Set in the early 20th-century South, the story is about Celie, a black girl, who recounts (in letters she writes) many of the abuses she has endured -- including by her father and, later, by her husband. Amidst her suffering, the friendship of various other ladies helps her survive -- by their comforting her, reaffirming her self-worth, and teaching her to stand up for herself. Notably, Alice Walker created the character as sort of a 'composite' of both some of her own experiences and those of other black women.

The first novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "Purple Hibiscus" takes place in Nigeria -- the same country where the author was born and raised. A coming-of-age story, it introduces us to 15-year-old Kambili and her family. They are all Catholic, but the father's violent religious extremism is tearing the family apart. When Kambili and her brother go to live with their aunt, they see Catholicism practiced with tolerance, kindness and open-mindedness -- which helps the girl to realize that while religion can be wielded destructively, it can also be an instrument of great social change.

Answer: Pink

Actress and comedienne Rita Rudner has written a few books -- some memoirs, some fictional humor. But "Tickled Pink" is a little of each, telling of Mindy, a woman who envisions herself becoming a Broadway star -- but life has other ideas. Eventually deciding to give up such lofty ambitions, she finds herself in the realm of stand-up comedy instead. She finds that while it brings success, showbiz also has a lot of letdowns -- including people who aren't what they seem. Rita Rudner is not the fictional Mindy, but she does represent some of Rudner's real-life experiences -- the ups and downs of being a comedienne.

"When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" is the first book in the "Out of the Hitler Time" trilogy by German author Judith Kerr. They're a semi-autobiographical series based on Kerr and her Jewish family's real-life experiences -- this first story set in Germany during Hitler's rise to power. In the story, the family decides to flee the country to live as refugees, but the father is a well-known critic of the Nazi regime, and they offer a sizable reward for his capture. Judith Kerr wrote the stories as children's novels, recalling what it was like to experience such fearful times while just a girl.

Shavante Royster, a designer, artist and author, wrote "The Day It Rained Pink Lemonade," one of several whimsical books she creates for kids. It's a short, sweet story of two friends -- Alto, a young black girl, and Tok, a creature who looks sort of like a cat with blue fur (his species is not mentioned). The two live happily together on Jupiter, but when the sky fills with vibrant pink clouds and a thunderstorm ensues, Tok is excited that it really HAS rained pink lemonade. Alto, however, worries about how this has happened and what might happen next. Inspired by Royster's real-life favorite drink, the story models for kids how good friends look out for each other.

Answer: Silver

"Spinning Silver," by author Naomi Novik, could be described as the fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin" re-envisioned into a much longer, far more complex fantasy novel, set in medieval Europe. In the story, when a young woman named Miryem helps her family business turn debt into profit, she remarks about being able to "turn silver into gold." But when the king of fairy-like creatures hears this, he interprets it literally, and he commands the girl to do so -- with marriage to him as the reward. When Miryem sees the magical kingdom is in trouble, she uses a clever deal to outwit the demon responsible for the fairies' plight.

"The Silver Chair" belongs to famed author C. S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia" seven-book series, regarded by many as among the greatest works in the fantasy genre. It deals with two characters: Eustace, a cousin of the Pevensie children, and his friend Jill. Eustace, who has previously been to the magical land, tells Jill of it and travels there with her; Aslan the Lion asks them to save a prince, who is bound to the Silver Chair by a witch who wants to conquer Narnia. Under its power, he has forgotten his true identity and been tricked into believing that he will kill people if he is freed from the chair. As the "Narnia" series is allegorical Christian fiction, the usual interpretation of "The Silver Chair" is that it represents bondage to sin.

Maggie Osborne, a prolific author of dozens of historical romance stories, penned the award-winning novel "Silver Lining," set in the mid-19th-century American West. In the story, a woman who is introduced as "Low Down" (it's actually Louise Downe), who lives in Colorado. She knows how to be gritty and tough, but in spite of herself, she helps a group of gold miners survive a smallpox outbreak. When they ask if there's a way they can repay her, she eventually admits that the one thing she wants is a baby. But a husband? -- not so much. She marries a man anyway, and while they start out with a sort of mutual distrust, they find love as they confide in each other about their flaws, secrets and old wounds.

Answer: Green

Anya Seton, who was a popular author of historical novels, wrote "Green Darkness," which was a New York Times bestseller. Set in the mid 20th century, we are introduced to Celia, an American. After wedding Richard Marsdon, an English aristocrat, she moves to his old family estate in Sussex, but the two are tormented. Past-life regression reveals that the two were tragic lovers in 16th-century England. As Celia revisits her earlier life as Lady Celia de Bohun, she learns the truth about her husband, Stephen Marsdon. He was a Protestant, and thus was executed for heresy. Finally having found some answers, Celia and Richard are no longer tormented by memories from their past life.

"Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" is a novel by popular author, actress and comedienne Fannie Flagg. The novel takes place in two time periods. In the "present" (the 1980s), Ninny Threadgood lives in a nursing home; the stories she tells to her friend Evelyn are set in the 1920s, in Whistle Stop, Alabama. Ruth and Idgie, her friend and sister-in-law, respectively, once co-owned a cafe there. It's a reflection on a time of very-real societal changes in real-life Alabama, and perhaps more than anything else, all the various anecdotes and memories shed light on how such topics as gender, sexuality and race were often tumultuous, as some people embraced new norms while others refused to. The elderly lady's stories and companionship help Evelyn learn to face, and start to overcome, some of her own fears and self-doubt.

As a woman of myriad talents, including music, acting, producing, directing and writing, Sandra Boynton expresses a simple but vibrantly imagined story in "Blue Hat, Green Hat," a children's book populated with goofy animals. Having written dozens of books, she makes clear that part of the inspiration was anger at seeing kids talked down to, so she believed in engaging with them through a fun but also a clever style of writing, not unlike Dr. Seuss. However, "Blue Hat, Green Hat" doesn't so much tell a story per se; rather, it introduces colors and animals by means of simple, catchy rhymes and amusing, playful images.

Answer: White

"White Oleander" is a bestselling novel by author and teacher Janet Fitch. It tells the story of Astrid, whose mother Ingrid commits murder and is sentenced to spend the rest of her life behind bars. Parentless, the girl is repeatedly placed in one foster home after another. Astrid, who has a lot of emotional trauma, finds it very difficult to try to adjust to any given new environment or to connect with the various families. Actually, other than finding expression through art and writing, emotional detachment is the only way Astrid has to cope with being bounced around by the foster-care system. When she's older, she has a choice: stay with a man who loves her or reunite with her mother.

Indian journalist and author Aravind Adiga penned "The White Tiger," a novel that (as he has explained in interviews) takes the Western perception of India -- which romanticizes it as simply a place of beauty and spirituality -- and shows that in fact, life in his country is also full of great social and economic difficulty -- poverty, social injustice, and more. In the story, Balram tells his story of going from a young man in a poor family to finding success as an entrepreneur. His narrative style, brings some humor and irony to a decidedly bleak story, allowing him to call attention to the corruption that he has come to realize is so widespread, including in politics and business.

Along with "The Call of the Wild," "White Fang" is one of Jack London's most famous works. This novel, in large part, shows his grasp of the natural world, including the contrast between human behavior and wild animals, who rely on natural instinct. Through the story's progression, London also considers how 'relationships' with humans can cause even a fierce, wild animal like White Fang to gradually become tame, loyal and domesticated creatures. Simply put, animals adapt to, and are greatly influenced by, the people around them. Treat an animal with kindness and love, and it will learn to trust you and love you; likewise, an unloving or cruel owner will reap what he sows.

Answer: Blue

Though her "Anne of Green Gables" book series is much more widely known, author Lucy Maud Montgomery's "The Blue Castle" is another noteworthy novel. It takes place in Canada in the 1920s, and it focuses on 29-year-old Valancy, who feels unhappy and trapped -- largely because her family belittles and tries to control her. Their austere, Victorian views are oppressive to Valancy, who is uninterested in social conventions. Her desire to be free to live life 'her own way' comes when she learns she has "Blue Heart" disease. Knowing she will die in about a year, she no longer cares what her family thinks. She'll go on adventures and marry who *she* wants to.

The legendary English writer Agatha Christie, beloved for her detective stories and murder mysteries, saw her popular character Hercule Poirot reappear in "The Mystery of the Blue Train," about the suspicious death of a young heiress and the disappearance of a fabulous ruby she owned. Poirot, when asked, agrees to take on the case, as he is highly regarded for his meticulous approach, eye for small details, powers of deduction, and psychological insight. When he realizes that some people on the train are not who they appear to be, it casts motives and alibis in a new light. After the case is closed, Poirot reflects on human greed and its power to make people do terrible things in the pursuit of money.

The Newbery Medal-winning novel "Island of the Blue Dolphins," by Scott O'Dell, is arguably his best-known work. The main character and the basic premise of her story are effectively a fictionalized retelling of a very real woman -- who in the mid-19th century was discovered on San Nicolas Island, its sole inhabitant for nearly two decades after the rest of her people were taken away. In the novel, some of Karana's tribe flees to escape hostile animal hunters, but when a missionary ship comes to resettle the remaining natives, she is accidentally left behind. Many years later, she is discovered and taken to a mission -- and learns that the original missionary ship was lost at sea.

Answer: Indigo

Singer and metaphysics teacher Jan Tober, with her audio-engineer husband Lee Carroll, co-authored "The Indigo Children." They talk about Nancy Ann Tappe, a parapsychologist who claimed to see people's colored "auras." Tober and Carroll expand on this with a focus on what they call "indigo children" -- the idea being, basically, that some children possess special traits, even supernatural, and are intuitive, highly sensitive and have an innate, profound connection to the spiritual. In general, most researchers have largely dismissed this whole concept as New Age pseudoscience. Still, the authors do encourage parents to share with their kids the importance of such traits as individuality and creativity.

A quintet of children's novels, the "Casson Family series," begins with "Saffy's Angel" and continues with "Indigo's Star." This family and their stories, created by English writer Hilary McKay, tell about the ordinary yet often remarkable experiences of five free-spirited siblings and their parents. In "Indigo's Star," 13-year-old Indigo -- the only boy of the five -- is seeing a lot of things change, including his oldest sister going to study abroad, and finding it hard to fit in or make friends at school. But he meets a kindred spirit in Tom, a new student and fellow 'misfit,' and forms a close bond. One day, Indigo receives a gift from Tom -- a small toy star -- because both like to stargaze, and more meaningfully, as a symbol of their friendship.

"The Indigo Sky" is a novel by Australian author Alison Booth, and it's the second book in her "Jingera Trilogy." In New South Wales in the 1960s, Jingera is a peaceful town surrounded by calm waters, but some of the characters are facing turbulent times. Young Lorna hasn't gotten to see her parents in years; George, the town butcher, sees external forces that threaten his family; and Philip, a gifted young musician at college, is tormented by bullies. Families try to survive, but as the story reminds us, the "Stolen Generations" -- those countless Aboriginal children who were forcibly separated from their parents -- suffered tragically.

Answer: Orange

Samantha Shannon, a fairly young English author known for her fantasy novels, wrote "The Priory of the Orange Tree," a very complex tale with myriad characters. It's set in various kingdoms in an undefined time. More or less, the overarching plot is that humans and dragons have always existed together. The "Nameless One," the most powerful dragon of all, was long ago imprisoned in a magical realm, but there's a prophecy that he will escape -- and he aims to destroy everyone, even the other dragons, to be the absolute ruler.

"Orange Rhymes With Everything" is a novella by Adrian McKinty, a popular Northern Irish author who writes in crime and mystery genres. In this story, set in both New York and Northern Ireland in the 1980s, there are two main characters, both not named. One is a dangerous, unstable man who escapes being institutionalized to try to get back to a town near Belfast to reunite with his daughter -- who doesn't know of her father's violent deeds. Both of them seem decidedly unsatisfied, cynical, and disillusioned with their surroundings, and according to the way they both see things, there's a certain alienation that comes with being a Protestant, especially in a country that's already filled with violent clashes and turmoil.

"A Clockwork Orange" is the famous dystopian novel by Anthony Burgess, prolific in writing both stories and music. Set in a futuristic version of London at an unspecified future time, it sees Alex, a teenage gang leader, living in a time when a totalitarian government actually prefers chaos and violence, as that gives the state even more power -- but punishing Alex and others for their crimes lets the state 'keep up the facade' of being moral. The bizarre treatment he is subjected to -- which causes him great pain at seeing or even thinking of violence -- sort of reforms him, but it's also a violation of his free will.