The Land of Make-Believe Trivia Quiz

Answer: Panem

Panem was the name of a nation that featured in "The Hunger Games" trilogy of books. The author who wrote the books was called Suzanne Collins, and she took us on a journey to a dystopian world; a world where bad things happened after mass destruction. Panem had thirteen Districts which surrounded a city called the Capitol. Each year, the government inside the Capitol chose a person from each District to fight to the death in the Hunger Games. The main character we saw throughout the series of books was Katniss Everdeen, who along with her mother and younger sister lived in District 12.

The Glade was the setting for "The Maze Runner", Forks the setting for the "Twilight" series, and Hogsmeade the setting for "Harry Potter".

Answer: Over the bridge

Ten year old Jess was lonely and he befriended fellow student Leslie. Together they created an imaginary forest called Terabithia, and the only way initially to visit the forest was by using a rope swing across a narrow creek. When Leslie was accidentally killed crossing the creek, Jess was riddled with guilt and he built a bridge across using planks. He placed flowers on his younger sister's hair and they crossed the bridge together at the end of the book.

"Shhh," he said. "Look."
"Where?"
"Can't you see 'em?" he whispered. "All the Terabithians standing on tiptoe to see you.
"Me?"
"Shhh, yes. There's a rumor going around that the beautiful girl arriving today might be the queen they've been waiting for."

Katherine Paterson wrote "Bridge to Terabithia" in 1977 and it was made into a film starring Josh Hutcherson in 2007.

Answer: The Magic Faraway Tree

"The Faraway Tree" was a series of books written by Enid Blyton between 1939 and 1951. The story took place in a magical forest where three siblings, Jo, Beth and Franny, found the tree where lots of different characters lived. Dame Washalot washed clothes all day and if she had no clothes to wash then she would start to wash the leaves on the tree. Mr Watzisname slept most of the time and never remembered anything. He once found out that his real name was "Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo", but then he forgot it! The Saucepan Man lived with Mr Watzisname, but he couldn't hear much because he was covered with pots and pans clanging and making a racket.

Enid Blyton also wrote other wonderful children's stories, including "The Famous Five", "Secret Seven" and "Noddy".

Answer: Fantastica

"The Neverending Story" was a book written by a German author called Michael Ende, and was first published in 1979.

Lonely young Bastian was running away from school bullies when he came across a bookshop and stole "The Neverending Story". In his attic, he "settled himself down, picked up the book, opened it to the first page, and began to read...". The book took him to the land of Fantastica which was being overrun by the Nothing. The Childlike Empress was ill and it was up to a young hero called Atreyu and his luck-dragon to find a solution. Only Bastian could help, as every time he stopped believing in the story, a part of his memory would disappear and Fantastica would get darker and darker as the Nothing took over. Fantastica is the land of human dreams and fantasy, so don't forget to keep believing if you want to keep it alive in your own heart and soul.

Answer: Camp Half-Blood

Rick Riordan brought us several stories about the demigod, Percy Jackson. In the first book, "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" (2008), we were introduced to 12 year old Percy, who at the time was unaware that he was the son of a human and the Greek god, Poseidon.

It was only when strange things started happening that he joined other demigods at Camp Half-Blood to learn skills which would equip him with fighting monsters and beasts. His father was God of the Sea, and because of this, Percy was able to use special powers in or around water.

He could breath underwater, generate rain and make hurricanes. This power is called hydrokinesis. Camp Half-Blood is on the shoreline of Long Island, with log cabins and a protective border so that no monster or human can enter.

Answer: Books

Once we have boarded the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station, we can enter the magical realm of Hogwart's School of Magic and Wizardry. Before we start our new school year, it may be a good idea to shop for new equipment at Diagon Alley in London.

It is at this shopping district that we can purchase a new wand in Ollivanders, new cape in Madam Malkin's, broomstick in Quality Quidditch Supplies and potion ingredients in Slug and Jiggers Apothecary. Most importantly, we had better stock up on new wizarding books in Flourish and Blotts. We were first introduced to this amazing shopping experience in J. K. Rowling's book, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" (1997).

Answer: Second to the right, and straight on till morning

"So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!" The Scottish writer, J. M. Barrie, brought us "Peter Pan", the flying boy who never wanted to grow up. He flew Wendy Darling and her brothers across the skies until they reached Neverland. It was a magical island with a lagoon and a pirate ship where Peter fought against his enemy, Captain Hook. It was here that we learnt all about the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily, Tinkerbell and the crocodile which went "tick-tock". With its mischievous characters, fun adventures and magical location, "Peter Pan" is suitable for all age groups, from young dreamers, to those who grow old and never want to forget their youth.

N.B. The 1953 Disney film "Peter Pan" quoted "Second star to the right..." but the actual book quote is "Second to the right...and straight on 'til morning."

Answer: Misselthwaite Manor

Mary Lennox was one of the main characters in the Frances Hodgson Burnett book, "The Secret Garden". After being orphaned, the spoilt Mary went to live with her uncle in his rambling house, Misselthwaite Manor. She was forbidden from entering certain places within the house and grounds, but this did not stop her from making friends with her shy disabled cousin, Colin, and local boy Dicken. It did not take magic for Mary to enter through a locked gate, but a hidden key to open up a new world inside the secret walled garden. Both Mary and Colin visited the garden and, as it grew back to life, its magical properties brought about a psychological and physical change to both children. It was a truly inspirational book!

Frances Hodgson Burnett was a very special and imaginative author. She brought us many children's classics, including "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1886), "A Little Princess" (1905) and "The Lost Prince" (1915).

Answer: 17 Cherry Tree Lane

17 Cherry Tree Lane was home to Mr and Mrs Banks, with their five children, Jane, Michael, John, Barbara and Annabel. P. L. Travers wrote eight stories about the magical nanny, but it was in the 1934 book "Mary Poppins" that we were first transported back to Victorian England, with a street of pretty townhouses on one side and wrought-iron fenced park on the other, with cherry trees lined in the middle. Number 17 was the smallest house, and was a little dilapidated and in need of a coat of paint.

It had Mrs Brill the cook, Ellen the housemaid and Robertson Ay who cut the grass. Katie Nanna upped and left without giving a reason, and so entered Mary Poppins, with her carpet bag and magical adventures.

Answer: Bag End

We entered the home of Bilbo Baggins for the first time in the 1937 book, "The Hobbit", written by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was in the same place that we also met the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves before they all ventured on a long journey to recover lost treasure inside the lair of dragon, Smaug. Bilbo lived in a small hillside dwelling (smial) called Bag End.

The book described it as, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that meant comfort".

It had several rooms including kitchen, pantry, bedroom and dining-room, with small round windows that looked out into the garden and green meadows in the distance.