Artemis Fowl is the first book of eight in Irish author Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series. This young adult fantasy features Artemis Fowl, a twelve-year-old prodigy and criminal who gets into the trouble he never signed up for as the consequence of kidnapping a fairy named Captain Holly Short.

Artemis is, without doubt, a criminal who steals and kidnaps. However, is he evil? How is your impression of him similar to or different from the way he views himself? On the other hand, are the fairies truly good? How did your impression of these characters alter as the story progressed? How can one draw the fine line between good and evil, hero and villain, if it is ever possible to do so?

How would you characterise Artemis and Root’s personality and abilities? How do they differ in terms of traits and leadership styles? In your opinion, who makes a better leader?

How does Artemis and Holly’s goals conflict, and how does this drive the plot’s advancement? What are some of the other important events that further escalated the story?