Battle of the Books 2026: The Blackthorn Key

These flashcards cover key points, characters, and events from The Blackthorn Key to help prepare for the Battle of the Books competition.

What is the title of the formula that the main character calls 'The Stupidest Idea in the Universe' in The Blackthorn Key?

The Stupidest Idea in the Universe.

In which book do the main character and his friend attempt to build a cannon?

The Blackthorn Key.

What does the main character use to encode his recipes in The Blackthorn Key?

He puts all of his recipes in code.

Which book features a main character explaining that the sun is the center of the universe?

The Blackthorn Key.

In which book are citizens punished with fruit and mud if they lack a sprig of oak on OakAppleDay?

The Blackthorn Key.

What rule is enforced regarding lanterns after 9 p.m. in The Blackthorn Key?

Lanterns are forbidden to be lit after 9 p.m.

What does the main character use to solve a code in The Blackthorn Key?

The Latin alphabet.

In which book is an orphan forced to live in a house ruined by fire?

The Blackthorn Key.

Which book includes an apprentice accused of killing his master?

The Blackthorn Key.

What does the main character learn about his master in The Blackthorn Key?

His master was actually an alchemist, not just an apothecary.

What recipe does the main character learn in The Blackthorn Key?

The recipe for the Archangel’s Fire.

Who is the character nicknamed 'the Elephant' in The Blackthorn Key?

A character in The Blackthorn Key.

What is the name of the seed used to treat asthma in The Blackthorn Key?

Madapple.

What is the name of the pigeon that Christopher befriends in The Blackthorn Key?

Bridget.

Which holiday does Christopher share his birthday with in The Blackthorn Key?

OakAppleDay, the King’s birthday.

What is the first half of the present that Master Benedict gives to Christopher?

A cube.

What does Christopher say is the real name of quicksilver in The Blackthorn Key?

Mercury.

What do Christopher and Tom spend their shillings on first in The Blackthorn Key?

Ice cream.

What is the name of the cult suspected of killing apothecaries in The Blackthorn Key?

The Cult of the Archangel.

What kind of weapon is Christopher obsessed with building in The Blackthorn Key?

A catapult.

What does Master Benedict use to hide a code in The Blackthorn Key?

Lemon juice.

Which Greek God symbolizes the Society of Apothecaries in The Blackthorn Key?

Apollo.

What do Christopher and Tom find beneath the sarcophagus of Saint Jerome in The Blackthorn Key?

A hole dug into the floor.

What is the reward for capturing Christopher in The Blackthorn Key?

20 pounds.