Impossible Creatures

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child death, and animal death.

As Mal and Christopher meet and find new companions to join their cause, Rundell makes it clear that friendship and love are powerful sources of strength, and it is only with the support of their allies that the two protagonists find a way to navigate the dangers of the Archipelago and overcome challenges that would be impossible to confront alone. Mal and Christopher’s unlikely friendship also emphasizes the idea that deep bonds have the power to transcend worlds. Whereas Mal is an orphan who was born in a fantastical world and has a great deal of freedom, Christopher was raised in the real-world setting of Scotland and finds himself deeply restricted by his father’s overprotectiveness. The friendship therefore provides both children with crucial elements that were missing from their lives; Christopher discovers a world of adventure that tests him and remakes him into someone who can competently face dramatic challenges. On the other hand, Mal is a solitary girl whose differences from others tend to isolate her, and in Christopher, she finds a friend who refuses to allow her to pursue her quest alone and unsupported.