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A sneak peek of Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1: The Brimstone Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 discussion Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Crack the Grey Griffins code!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Want more reAdy SeT AdVeNTure?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Grey Griffins:
The CloCkwork ChroniCles 1:

The Brimstone key

by Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis

LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY New York Boston

the grey
THE GREY GRIFFINS
The Leader: Max Sumner
After his grandfathers mysterious death, Max learned that his wealthy family was a part of the secret Templar society. He became the Guardian of the Codex Spiritus, an enchanted book that holds monsters, evil faeries, and other dangerous creatures captive within its magical pages. The Codex can change shapes, from a book, to a ring, to a gauntlet capable of channeling Maxs family power: Skyre!

The Inventor: Harley Davidson Eisenstein

Built like a linebacker and incredibly smart, Harley is a technological prodigy who designs gadgets critical to any successful monster hunt. Unlike Maxs wealthy family, Harley and his mother are barely getting by. But hes not bothered; he knows that happiness isnt measured by how much money you have in your bank account.

griffins
THE GREY GRIFFINS
The Sleuth: Natalia Romanov
Fearless, ery, and intensely smart, Natalia uses her keen observational skills and her analytical mind to solve any mystery. As a part of her sleuthing kit, Natalia carries a Phantasmoscope that allows her to see into the faerie spectrum. Since a close friend betrayed her, Natalia has had a hard time trusting other girls. She feels more at home with the Grifns than with anyone else.

The Changeling: Ernie Tweeny

Ernie became a changeling after a transfusion of faerie blood, which gave him super speed, rapid healing, and enhanced eyesight. But theres a catch: whenever Ernie uses his powers, he becomes more faerie and less human. Despite that risk, he has vowed to ght evil as his superhero alter ego, Agent Thunderbolt.

The Knights Templar

The Knights Templar is an ancient society that has sworn to protect mankind against unseen dangers like monster invasions and zombie uprisings. In recent months, the Templar were nearly exterminated by an army of werewolves called the Black Wolf Society. They are slowly rebuilding their strength.

THE NIG
THE NIGHTMARE

erried, Max Sumner forced himself to walk down the long corridor. Water dripped from the ceiling, as an eerie light ickered through tattered sheets of plastic strung across the end of the hallway. Max didnt notice the fallen bicycle until it was too late. He tripped, cutting his shin. But he couldnt turn back. Not now. The front wheel spun as he walked toward the light. When he nally reached the ragged sheeting, Max pushed it aside and stepped through. The temperature plummeted and breath rose from his mouth like a ghostly serpent. Crunch . . . Max looked down at a rotted yellow bag half-lled with decaying newspapers and swallowed hard. Then he heard the faint whistle of drills, and Max was certain that the stench in his nostrils was blood. He passed a discarded sneaker, then a baseball cap with the name Johnny Geist written on the lining of the bill. Help me . . . a small voice begged. Max raced through the doorway ahead only to nd an empty room. It was some sort of laboratory with rusty instruments and tools that lined tarnished trays. Glass jars lled with mysterious liquids crowded dilapidated shelves, and a faint red stain ran along the concrete oor

HTMARE
THE NIGHTMARE
toward a drain. A steel table with leather straps for hands and feet stood in the center of the room. Then Max felt a cold hand on his shoulder. Max pulled away and turned to look into the eyes of a young boy. He was dressed in a striped shirt and jeans, with a lone sneaker on his left foot. Did you call me? Max managed to ask. Are you Johnny? The boy said nothing but continued to stare, unblinking. Thats when Max realized that instead of eyes, there were camera lenses in the boys sockets. And worse, the veins in the boys pale arms were pulsing with a silver-blue glow. No matter where Maxs eyes fell, he found machinery in place of humanity. There wasnt much left of the boy, but the single tear running down his silicon cheek was real. Maxs stomach lurched and he tried to look away, but the same cold hand forced him to look back. This time the boy was gone. Ernie Tweeny, one of Maxs best friends, was standing in his place. Help me . . . Ernie moaned through blue lips. Max stumbled back and fell against a tray of rusty instruments, sending them clanging to the oor. As Ernie walked into the light, Max saw that part of his friends skull had been cut away, revealing a mechanized brain of whirling gears ticking like a clock.

Max cried out as strong hands took hold of him from behind, lifting him into the air. He struggled against the invisible grip as his arms and legs were strapped to the table. A convex mirror hung over the table, and strangely, it wasnt his own face looking back at him. Somehow Ernie had taken his place. Max fought to break free from the straps as a man in a stained lab coat walked into view. He was tall, with neatly combed silver hair, and as he turned to face the table Maxs blood froze. He would never forget those eyes. They were intelligent, cold, and as sharp as the scalpel he held in his gloved hand. The man raised the gleaming instrument. Max screamed. Then he woke up.

part one

iron bridge academy

The Unmarked Package

Max Sumner pedaled his bike through the quiet streets of Avalon, Minnesota, trying to shake the nightmare from his head. He had been awake all night, too frightened to go back to sleep. The only thing keeping him from taking a nap was the last summer meeting of the Secret Order of the Grey Grifns. Max didnt want to be late. With school starting on Monday, the four friends had decided to spend their last day of summer vacation reading comic books and watching movies in their secret headquarters a tree fort that Max decided to call the Grifns Aerie. Over the last year, Max, Harley Eisenstein, Natalia Romanov, and Ernie Tweeny had faced everything

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from leprechauns to six-armed ogres, and just about every monster in between. Their adventures had brought them closer than ever, but they were about to embark on their most intriguing quest yet the Grey Grifns were transferring to a new school. Iron Bridge Academy was a private military school run by the Knights Templar. The curriculum was designed to train students to combat unseen forces from the darkest of nightmares. The academy had been shut down for nearly a century, following an explosion that destroyed most of the buildings. Now the doors were opening again. There were only two ways to be admitted into a Templar academy. The rst was through birthright, which Max possessed. The Templar also chose individuals from the general populace who had extraordinary talent, intellect, and ingenuity, so Harley, Natalia, and Ernie were extended invitations as well. By the time Max reached the Old Woods, Harley was already waiting for him. What are you doing? Max asked as he set his bike down. Harley had a screwdriver in one hand. In the other, he held a palm-sized device with its electrical guts exposed. Just making a couple of adjustments, Harley replied as he replaced the casing and screwed it back together. Its a tracking device. Harley handed Max a metal chip and told him to put it in his pocket. Harley then twisted a dial on his invention, 4

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and the dark screen ickered to life. Two ashing green dots instantly appeared. Thats us. What about Natalia and Ernie? I gave them ID chips this morning, Harley replied. According to this little gizmo, they should be here right about . . . now. Max turned to nd the other two members of the Grey Grifns coasting down the gravel road on their bikes. Natalias red hair was woven into braids that ew behind her. Ernies vintage World War I Army helmet bounced on his head. I thought you were excited about transferring to Iron Bridge, Max heard Natalia say. I was, but Kings Elementary is the last normal thing in our lives, Ernie explained. Once we leave that behind, itll be nothing but a bunch of rigid rules. Come on, Ernie, you know thats not true, Max said. Were going to accomplish things that we never dreamed we could do. And what about all the other changelings at the academy? Harley added. Youll nally be able to put together your own team of superpowered humans. Itll be like a real-life comic book. I never t in anywhere I go, Ernie complained. Trust me, Iron Bridge isnt going to be any different changelings or not. Natalia sighed. Look, Ernie. According to Brooke, were kind of famous. 5

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Yeah,r ight. Im serious. Everyone at Iron Bridge thinks were heroes because we helped defeat the Black Wolf Society. Ernie smiled. Dont get ahead of yourself, Max warned. Brooke may be exaggerating. Brooke Lundgren was the only honorary member of the Grey Grifns. The boys wanted to make her membership ofcial, but Natalia wasnt quite ready to share the spotlight with another girl. Brooke knew that Natalia didnt mean anything by it. A close friend had betrayed Natalia, so it wasnt easy for her to trust other girls. Besides, Brooke had her own troubles. Her dad, Baron Cain Lundgren, had been given the directorship of Iron Bridge Academy. He had a reputation for being strict, and Brooke hoped that the other students wouldnt hold it against her. I knew it was too good to be true, Ernie sulked. What if I told you that my mom stocked the fridge with tons of junk food last night? Would that get your mind off school for a little while? Max asked. The Aerie was constructed of three separate buildings linked by suspension bridges and rope swings. It boasted air-conditioning, a cobblestone replace, a working kitchen, and hidden rooms with trick entrances. When the four friends reached the central building, Ernie scaled the ladder and pressed his thumb against a hidden sensor pad on the rafter. It had been installed as a safety precaution against prowling monsters. The lock on the door released with a 6

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click, and Ernie rushed straight to the refrigerator. In a matter of moments, his arms were overowing with snacks. Hey, Harley, clear the table, will you? Ernie asked as he tried to balance all the food. Clear it yourself, Harley replied, sitting down to read through a stack of comic books. Thats when he saw the strange box wrapped in brown paper. It was unmarked, except for a faded Templar cross stamped on the top. Whats in the package? Maybe its our next assignment, Max said. I overheard someone talking about an infestation of Vampire Pixies. Natalia looked skeptical. Since when do we get assignments in unmarked packages? Max shrugged as Ernie dumped the pile of food on top of the box. Ernest! Natalia reprimanded. She began clearing away the snacks. What? Ernie sat down and opened a bag of chips. Did you expect me to hold that stuff forever? I have super speed, not super strength. With that, he shoved a handful of chips into his mouth and started smacking away. Max broke the seal and pulled out a simple wooden box. Curious, he ipped the latch and opened the lid. Inside was a red velvet sack tied with a length of golden rope. He started to untie it, but Natalia grabbed his arm. Wait. She reached inside the box and pulled out a piece of paper. Written in looping script were the words wind stem to nd him. 7

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Wind the stem? Harley read aloud. What does that mean? Max opened the little sack and turned it upside down. Lets nd out. An object fell into the palm of his hand. It was a brass beetle, no more than two inches long. A perfect symphony of etched brass and silver ligree, the mechanical creature sat unmoving. Thats so supersonic! Ernie said, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. As the self-proclaimed worlds rst real superhero, Ernie had decided he needed a catchphrase. So instead of describing things as awesome or amazing, he called everything supersonic. Overwhelmed by curiosity, Ernie grabbed the beetle. With his greasy ngers, he wound the stem several revolutions. Inside, a series of gears engaged, and the beetle started tick as if it were a pocket watch. When Ernie set the beetle on the table, small brass legs unfolded. Then the mechanism spread its wings and lifted into the air. Whoa! Harley stepped back as it zipped by his head while circling the room. What is that thing? Quick! Close the windows! Max called. Unfortunately, the mechanical creature had already spotted an open window and own into the forest. Max jumped over a stack of comic books and ran toward the escape slide. Dont let it get away, Ernie! Well be right behind you.

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ReadingGroupGuide
Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1: The Brimstone Key by Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis

About the book

A year ago, Max, Natalia, Ernie, and Harley banded together to help the Templar Knights stop evil fairies, werewolves, and other monsters from taking over the world. Now theyre up for their biggest challenge yeta new school!

9. When the Grey Griffins arrive at Iron Bridge Academy, who are the Toad brothers? What do they do to help the Grey Griffins adjust to their new environment? 10. Why are the changelings and the humans kept separate at Iron Bridge Academy? What atmosphere does the separation create? What evidence is there to support that the humans and the changelings are not treated the same? 11. Why does Natalia seek out Raven to make friends? Why is Raven so hesitant to respond to Natalia? 12. Who is Maxs father? What did he do that was so heinous? Why does Angus McCutcheon want to punish Max for his fathers deeds?

1. Who are the members of the Secret Order of the Grey Griffins? What special characteristics do each of the Grey Griffins possess? What is the purpose of the Grey Griffins? 2. Why are the Grey Griffins attending Iron Bridge Academy? What makes Iron Bridge Academy different from any other school the Grey Griffins have attended? 3. Where does the robotic scarab beetle lead the Grey Griffins? What do they find that motivates them to go on a quest? 4. Who is Ivers? What roles has he played in the lives of the Grey Griffins, especially Max? What evidence does Max have that makes him think Ivers is still alive? 5. Why does Natalia hesitate to let Brooke into the Grey Griffins? What special power does Brooke possess? 6. Who is assigned a Bounder Faerie? What is the purpose of a Bounder Faerie? 7. What is the history of the Zephyr? What makes the Zephyr unique? What is the purpose of the Zephyr? 8. What is MERLIN Tech? How is it used?

13. What is the Codex? Why is Max the guardian? Who helps him learn how to use the powers of the Codex? 14. How do the Grey Griffins discover the truth behind Otto Von Strifes clockworks? How does this information aide them in the fight against Von Strife? 15. Why is Logan so committed to protecting Max? What do they have in common that allows them to form such a strong bond? 16. The Templar Secret Society is a force to be reckoned with. How do the members of the Templar recognize one another? What do they all have in common?

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Reading Group Guide written by xxx Guide written using the ARC, please check against finished book.

Think YOUVE gOT whaT iT TakEs TO EnrOll in irOnbridgE acadEmY?

Crack these word jumbles to reveal the entry codeword! (All the answers are in the preview you just read!)
Ernies Superhero name is Agent ??

UBlnhTDoTer

nseTenisei
Harleys last name is?

soMTrne
The Grey Griffins fight these. This gadget allows Natalia to see in the faerie spectrum. The new director of Iron Bridge Academy is Baron Cain The town where the Grey Griffins live

CPeThPMnAsosAo

nrDUlneG

l AV n A o

yeDAr
, Set, Adventure!

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These adventures dont end here!

Where will reading take you next?

on a trip back in time aboard a famous cruise ship?

on an epic battle with evil forces?

on a fight with deadly ninjas?

to a mysticaland dangerous land full of fairies?