City of Bones relies on lies and secrets for much of its tension. Choose three lies or secrets (such as Clary’s mom keeping the secret of the Shadow world or Luke lying to Clary to keep her safe from Valentine) and examine how the story might have been different if this lie or secret had been revealed when it first occurred in the book. How would the characters involved in the lie or secret have changed? How might the story’s plot have been different, and what choices might characters have made differently? Why do you think Clare chose for each character to lie or keep the secrets you picked?

Why do you think Clare chose to make Chapter 21 entirely Luke’s dialogue to deliver backstory? Explain how this technique is effective or ineffective. How could have Clare delivered this information in a more engaging way?

Do you think Valentine is actually Jace’s father? Why or why not? Do you think Valentine ever truly cared for Jace? Why or why not? What evidence from the text makes you feel this way?