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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I wanted to like this book so much. But it has broken the spell YA fiction was holding over me for the past few months. It took FOREVER to read, the dialogue was forced and awkward, and the story overall just didn't capture my attention. I was disappointed at the end. The author sets up a magical world that I just never felt absorbed into. Likewise, I felt no connection to any of the characters...they were more caricatures than anything else. The illustrations were okay, I guess. I think the author put great effort into this, but it just missed the mark for me.
The complete summary and review is posted at https://thepageandpassport.com/2019/04/24/wildwood-colin-meloy/
Wildwood the first book in a middle-grade fantasy series with gorgeous illustrations by Carson Ellis. The story’s action begins right off, with Prue’s brother Mac getting kidnapped by a murder of crows. As he is carried away from her, Prue realizes that she must buck up and go into the Impassable Wilderness, known more commonly as Wildwood, to find him and bring him home. While the action might start immediately, it took me a few chapters to get invested in the story and the characters, and while I grew to enjoy them, I can’t say they were my favorite characters in middle-grade fantasy fiction.
Prue wasn't the strong, amazing character I hoped she would be. She had hints of it, but I didn't feel like it was ever fully realized. I couldn't really see what her personality was, except, perhaps for abrasive at times. She can be resourceful, but only when others immediately help her out (get in the hamper, hide her out, etc. etc.). I suppose she can be called courageous, for wanting to get her brother back, but some of that, I felt, came from the lack of concern and inaction on part of her parents.She'd sure show them ...
It is a long book, to be honest. There are some good twists and plots of action, but I feel like there is a lot going on that gets lost with all the talking animals and the back and forth of the events. The entire political situation of Wildwood is interesting (in my adult mind), but it gets lost in some of the action. I can see where kids would read it for the fantasy part without all the political mish-mash. The writing is really heavy, above the simplicity and magic that made Narnia a great read as a child, YA, and adult. However, if you want a child to learn more vocabulary, this could do it, provided they don’t just skip the difficult words and terms without checking them out.
When this book first came out, I remember my students being quite excited with the illustrations, but I don’t recall it flying off the library shelves. I think the unwieldy size has a lot to do with it, and the stalling action probably doesn’t bode well. I’m not sure I’m invested enough to want to read the follow-ups. To me, it seems like it could end well where it did, as most questions were answered just fine.
Wildwood the first book in a middle-grade fantasy series with gorgeous illustrations by Carson Ellis. The story’s action begins right off, with Prue’s brother Mac getting kidnapped by a murder of crows. As he is carried away from her, Prue realizes that she must buck up and go into the Impassable Wilderness, known more commonly as Wildwood, to find him and bring him home. While the action might start immediately, it took me a few chapters to get invested in the story and the characters, and while I grew to enjoy them, I can’t say they were my favorite characters in middle-grade fantasy fiction.
Prue wasn't the strong, amazing character I hoped she would be. She had hints of it, but I didn't feel like it was ever fully realized. I couldn't really see what her personality was, except, perhaps for abrasive at times. She can be resourceful, but only when others immediately help her out (get in the hamper, hide her out, etc. etc.). I suppose she can be called courageous, for wanting to get her brother back, but some of that, I felt, came from the lack of concern and inaction on part of her parents.She'd sure show them ...
It is a long book, to be honest. There are some good twists and plots of action, but I feel like there is a lot going on that gets lost with all the talking animals and the back and forth of the events. The entire political situation of Wildwood is interesting (in my adult mind), but it gets lost in some of the action. I can see where kids would read it for the fantasy part without all the political mish-mash. The writing is really heavy, above the simplicity and magic that made Narnia a great read as a child, YA, and adult. However, if you want a child to learn more vocabulary, this could do it, provided they don’t just skip the difficult words and terms without checking them out.
When this book first came out, I remember my students being quite excited with the illustrations, but I don’t recall it flying off the library shelves. I think the unwieldy size has a lot to do with it, and the stalling action probably doesn’t bode well. I’m not sure I’m invested enough to want to read the follow-ups. To me, it seems like it could end well where it did, as most questions were answered just fine.
Last read in middle school, reread because Laika is making a MOVIE. I can’t express how excited I am to see tiny St. John’s.
To me this book is part of pnw mythology, I love all the little local references and how the whole book is essentially a joke about how people don’t cross the west hills. I think there’s a reason fantasy doesn’t usually have guns and the fact that this book not only has lots of guns but also shows the tween protagonists grappling with shooting people is crazy. they completely did not have to do that. I love it though
To me this book is part of pnw mythology, I love all the little local references and how the whole book is essentially a joke about how people don’t cross the west hills. I think there’s a reason fantasy doesn’t usually have guns and the fact that this book not only has lots of guns but also shows the tween protagonists grappling with shooting people is crazy. they completely did not have to do that. I love it though
Fantasy serves a purpose. [a:Neil Gaiman|1221698|Neil Gaiman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234150163p2/1221698.jpg]'s [b:Coraline|17061|Coraline|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493497435l/17061._SY75_.jpg|2834844] wisely notes, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten." In fantasy, animals talk to teach us humanity. Impenetrable patches of forest shelter enclaves of forgotten societies to remind us to always question our expectations. And ivy craves the blood of newborns because the dark side of globalization threatens to consume us all.
These aberrations from the reality the majority of us occupy are useful, and the majority of the errant fantastical details throughout Wildwood are clever and entertaining. Some themes of the book tend towards a simplistic view of the world, and preach rather than inspire, but I'm willing to overlook a middle-schooler's fantasy distilling good and evil into a binary instead of the murky spectrum adults occupy.
And yet. What purpose does it serve to pretend that a one-year-old eats taquitos?! Why would you pretend that it's normal for a one-year-old's entire vocabulary to consist of "pooo?" What do we learn from the fantasy of a parent submitting their child to a pre-teen who flings said one-year-old into a wagon for mad capers around town and then subsequently loses said child to crows?!? Each page of the first chapter careens across pointlessly unrealistic vignettes of the main character's day while demanding I believe in the reality of this "Port-land" with details of coffeeshops, street names, and vintage shops.
Instead of a wagon, would it have killed the author to strap poor Mac into a bike trailer?
We're not going to touch the pacing of this story, the tortured dialogue, or the bizarre sociopathic disregard Prue's parents have for their second born. A little harsh editing could have vastly improved this book, while maintaining the beautiful fantasy and masterful illustrations that provide joyful whimsy.
These aberrations from the reality the majority of us occupy are useful, and the majority of the errant fantastical details throughout Wildwood are clever and entertaining. Some themes of the book tend towards a simplistic view of the world, and preach rather than inspire, but I'm willing to overlook a middle-schooler's fantasy distilling good and evil into a binary instead of the murky spectrum adults occupy.
And yet. What purpose does it serve to pretend that a one-year-old eats taquitos?! Why would you pretend that it's normal for a one-year-old's entire vocabulary to consist of "pooo?" What do we learn from the fantasy of a parent submitting their child to a pre-teen who flings said one-year-old into a wagon for mad capers around town and then subsequently loses said child to crows?!? Each page of the first chapter careens across pointlessly unrealistic vignettes of the main character's day while demanding I believe in the reality of this "Port-land" with details of coffeeshops, street names, and vintage shops.
Instead of a wagon, would it have killed the author to strap poor Mac into a bike trailer?
We're not going to touch the pacing of this story, the tortured dialogue, or the bizarre sociopathic disregard Prue's parents have for their second born. A little harsh editing could have vastly improved this book, while maintaining the beautiful fantasy and masterful illustrations that provide joyful whimsy.
If you are a Narnia fan, this has a similar feel. Add in a little Labyrinth and you are good to go. Fantasy land, not all can enter, kidnapping, difficult to tell good from bad…heroes, queens, talking animals and a ragtag army. Solid juvenile fantasy.
I really enjoyed this story. I needed some fantasy. I'm excited to read the rest of the series.
This one was really good! It was an age appropriate display of the cruelties of war while tying in meaningful relationships, an action filled plot, and some cute quips.
My one bone to pick with this book is the pacing. It was incredibly slow, not horrible, but enough to be annoying. I can’t imagine being a child and trying to make it through this!
My one bone to pick with this book is the pacing. It was incredibly slow, not horrible, but enough to be annoying. I can’t imagine being a child and trying to make it through this!
4.5 stars! It was a bit slow for me to care about the characters even though I really liked them from the beginning, but once I was deeper into the story, I fell into an autumnal, magical world! I thoroughly enjoyed this read and will definitely read the next in the trilogy.
I really enjoyed this middle grade read! If The Chronicles of Narnia took place in the woods of Portland, Oregon that would be this one! I’m excited to see how the story and the characters develop in the subsequent books.