Quiz Any Way the Wind Blows Rainbow Rowell

Any Way the Wind Blows: Full Book Quiz

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quiz: 20 Questions

Plot and Sequence (Questions 1–8)

  1. What does Dr. Wellbelove reveal to Simon about the Mage’s estate?

    • A) It goes to Penelope.
    • B) It is left to Simon.
    • C) It is seized by the Coven.
    • D) It is donated to Watford.

  2. Where do Simon and Baz first find Jamie Salisbury?

    • A) At Lady Salisbury’s house.
    • B) At Smith-Richards’s meeting.
    • C) In the basement of the Home for Waifs.
    • D) At Watford’s library.

  3. What spell does Smith-Richards cast on Alan during the public meeting?

    • A) “Let it all out”
    • B) “Death by chocolate”
    • C) “Stone the crows”
    • D) “Abandon hope”

  4. What spell does Penelope use to track the duffel bag that holds Pippa’s magic? (Short answer)

  5. How does Agatha’s first kiss with Niamh occur?

    • A) After delivering a stillborn goat kid.
    • B) After successfully delivering a live goat kid.
    • C) At a pub after herding goats.
    • D) In the Wavering Wood.

  6. What does Simon learn about his parentage in Chapter 86? (Short answer)

  7. What happens to Jamie Salisbury’s magic after Smith-Richards “heals” him?

    • A) Jamie gains permanent strong magic.
    • B) Jamie’s magic fades completely after a short time.
    • C) Jamie becomes immune to magic.
    • D) Jamie’s magic is doubled.

  8. What does Baz do when he realizes he stole Philippa Stainton’s voice years ago? (Short answer)

Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)

  1. Why does Simon initially refuse the Mage’s inheritance?

    • A) He doesn’t need money.
    • B) He feels guilty for killing the Mage.
    • C) He wants the estate to go to Watford.
    • D) He is too proud.

  2. Why does Penelope decide not to wipe Shepard’s memory in Chapter 23?

    • A) She is too busy.
    • B) She wants to help him understand his curse.
    • C) Her mother forbids it.
    • D) She is afraid of the demon.

  3. Why does Baz flee the pub in Chapter 56?

    • A) He is angry at Simon.
    • B) He sees Philippa Stainton and realizes he stole her voice.
    • C) He receives a text from his father.
    • D) Smith-Richards threatens him.

  4. Why does Agatha initially avoid helping at Watford? (Short answer)

  5. Why does Simon agree to let Baz move in with him in Chapter 39?

    • A) Simon is certain about their relationship.
    • B) Baz insists and Simon, though uncertain, allows it.
    • C) Fiona kicks Baz out.
    • D) Simon needs company.

Theme and Symbol (Questions 14–17)

  1. What do Simon’s dragon wings symbolize? (Short answer)

  2. The candle spell in Lady Salisbury’s room symbolizes what?

    • A) Hope for her missing son.
    • B) Grief for her daughter.
    • C) Protection magic.
    • D) Both A and B.

  3. The goats of Watford represent what?

    • A) The loss of Ebb and the fading magic of Watford.
    • B) The stubbornness of mages.
    • C) The Humdrum’s influence.
    • D) The power of the Mage.

  4. What does the Excalibur sword symbolize for Simon? (Short answer)

Synthesis (Questions 18–20)

  1. How does the novel challenge the idea of a “Chosen One”? (Short answer)

  2. Compare Simon’s and Baz’s approaches to guilt and forgiveness. (Short answer)

  3. What is the significance of the final epilogue where Agatha abandons magic?

    • A) It shows that magic is corrupting.
    • B) It suggests that true peace comes from rejecting expectations and finding simple purpose.
    • C) It indicates Agatha will return to magic later.
    • D) It criticizes the Normals.

Answer Key

1. B – Dr. Wellbelove tells Simon that the Mage’s estate has been left to him. Simon refuses, insisting he killed the Mage. (Chapter 2)

2. C – Simon and Baz find Jamie in the basement of the Home for Waifs, where he has been voluntarily hiding. (Chapters 66–68)

3. A – Smith-Richards casts “Let it all out” on Alan, temporarily boosting his magic so Alan can conjure a giant Toblerone. (Chapter 33)

4. “Find your way home” – Penelope uses this tracking spell on Baz’s duffel bag to locate Pippa. (Chapter 66)

5. B – After Agatha successfully delivers a live goat kid, Niamh kisses her in the barn. (Chapter 76)

6. Simon is the son of Lucy Salisbury and the Mage (Davy). – Lady Ruth recognizes Simon’s resemblance to her daughter Lucy and to Davy, confirming he is their child. (Chapter 86)

7. B – Jamie admits his magic faded completely after Smith’s cure, proving the spell is temporary. (Chapter 75 evidence)

8. He retrieves the tape recorder from Fiona and goes to return it to Philippa. – Baz confesses and sets out to restore her voice. (Chapter 63–64)

9. B – Simon feels overwhelming guilt for killing the Mage and believes he does not deserve the inheritance. (Chapter 2)

10. B – Penelope decides to keep Shepard’s memory intact so she can help him understand and break his demonic curse. (Chapter 23)

11. B – Baz sees Philippa at Smith-Richards’s meeting and is flooded with guilt over having stolen her voice. (Chapter 56)

12. Agatha is traumatized by past kidnappings and wants to isolate herself from the magical world. – She practices destructive magic and avoids responsibilities. (Chapter 14, 31)

13. B – Baz decides to move in despite Simon’s uncertainty; Simon does not stop him. (Chapter 39)

14. Simon’s wings symbolize his transformation, his loss of magic, and the burden of his past as the Chosen One. – They also represent his non-human heritage and the physical mark of his identity crisis.

15. D – The candle for Jamie represents hope he is alive; the candle for Lucy (which goes out) represents Lady Ruth’s grief for her lost daughter. (Chapter 84, 88)

16. A – The goats are sacred protectors of Watford; their departure signals the school’s waning magic and the legacy of Ebb Petty’s death. (Chapter 31)

17. The Excalibur sword symbolizes Simon’s true heritage as a member of the Salisbury family and his identity as the Mage’s biological heir. – It confirms his connection to Lucy and Davy. (Chapter 84–86)

18. The novel deconstructs the Chosen One trope by revealing Smith-Richards as a fraud and having Simon reject the label entirely, choosing a normal life over destiny. – It shows that prophecies can be manipulated and that true heroism lies in personal choices.

19. Simon internalizes guilt for killing the Mage and pushes people away, while Baz feels guilt over stealing Philippa’s voice and actively seeks to make amends. – Both characters learn to accept forgiveness from themselves and their loved ones.

20. B – Agatha finds peace in a simple life caring for goats, rejecting both magical expectations and her family’s ambitions. The epilogue emphasizes that fulfillment comes from following one’s own path.