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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I had very mixed feelings about this. At nearly 550 pages it felt way too long (not that kids can't or won't read long books) especially as it dragged like a snail in molasses on a cold day. For something that really was action-oriented it still felt like nothing was happening. I was not a huge fan of Carson's art but I think she was trying to evoke the early American folk art feel which is cool in a way.
Prue has heard all her life not to go into the Impassable Woods but when her baby brother is taken by a murder of crows into the woods she has no choice (well she does but like the 12 year old that she is her reasoning skills aren't all there yet) and her sort of friend from high school, Curtis, follows her in even though she doesn't really want her help.
Immediately they're set upon by coyotes in uniform and honestly they're a lot less freaked out by anthropomorphic animals that can talk than you'd expect. The kids have stumbled into a war in the woods. The Dowager-Governess who has been exiled wants to reclaim her rule. The rule has been shattered by her incompetent nephew and there's an every providence, every animal for themselves attitude.
How Prue and Curtis got through the magic that keeps people away is a bigger point of concern that her baby brother being stolen. Prue and Curtis are separated and the story is told mostly from either of their points of view. There is a definitely fairy tale quality to the story especially as we learn how they did get through that magic.
I wasn't a real fan of either Prue or Curtis though. Even with the high stakes problem Prue faces I didn't feel the sense of urgency I should have due to this thing feeling like it was five hundred pages long. The ending was at least believable and I did like the North Woods mystics. I'm not sure I'd read the next book in the series though.
Prue has heard all her life not to go into the Impassable Woods but when her baby brother is taken by a murder of crows into the woods she has no choice (well she does but like the 12 year old that she is her reasoning skills aren't all there yet) and her sort of friend from high school, Curtis, follows her in even though she doesn't really want her help.
Immediately they're set upon by coyotes in uniform and honestly they're a lot less freaked out by anthropomorphic animals that can talk than you'd expect. The kids have stumbled into a war in the woods. The Dowager-Governess who has been exiled wants to reclaim her rule. The rule has been shattered by her incompetent nephew and there's an every providence, every animal for themselves attitude.
How Prue and Curtis got through the magic that keeps people away is a bigger point of concern that her baby brother being stolen. Prue and Curtis are separated and the story is told mostly from either of their points of view. There is a definitely fairy tale quality to the story especially as we learn how they did get through that magic.
I wasn't a real fan of either Prue or Curtis though. Even with the high stakes problem Prue faces I didn't feel the sense of urgency I should have due to this thing feeling like it was five hundred pages long. The ending was at least believable and I did like the North Woods mystics. I'm not sure I'd read the next book in the series though.
What an adventure!
Reading this felt like stepping into a fairy tail. The book was a bit long-winded at times, but I actually enjoyed spending more time in this strangle universe. I think the pace of the book is part of its charm. The illustrations are absolutely stunning!
Reading this felt like stepping into a fairy tail. The book was a bit long-winded at times, but I actually enjoyed spending more time in this strangle universe. I think the pace of the book is part of its charm. The illustrations are absolutely stunning!
Lovely story. Kind of irritating that it's a Book 1 out of some number. But it concluded nicely so I don't feel pressured to read the rest.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I strongly disliked this book and didn't finish it. It's overly complicated, excessive in its world-building, and uses ideas and concepts from a wealth of previous fantasy children's novels, but not in a clever or new way. I think Portland could be represented better, and I think there's a reason this book was manufactured to look so pretty: the content was lacking. It is essentially a dragging novel that is Portlandia in Narnia with no understanding of who its audience is.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Sweet story, great to fall asleep to haha. A bit slow and young for me, but I did love the descriptions and Portland references.
adventurous
medium-paced
I had high expectations for this book because I so greatly admire Meloy's storytelling in his song-writing, and though I mostly enjoyed Wildwood, it certainly fell short of my hopes and dreams. The illustrations are beautiful, and the environmental ethic, while a little on-the-nose, was a positive message. I just felt it didn't read quickly enough for such a long book, and the readers who would appreciate the story the most (upper elementary or middle graders) would struggle a lot with the language. It's great to learn new words from reading, but the story moves slowly enough without a young person having to consult a dictionary at least once for each of the 541 pages.
Who is the audience then? My best answer to that question would be "tweens" who still like the simplicity of children's stories but have very advanced language skills. Ultimately, I think the series would probably make for a wonderful film franchise, and I can see a lot more young readers getting into the books if they could also watch the fantasy adventure on the big screen.
Who is the audience then? My best answer to that question would be "tweens" who still like the simplicity of children's stories but have very advanced language skills. Ultimately, I think the series would probably make for a wonderful film franchise, and I can see a lot more young readers getting into the books if they could also watch the fantasy adventure on the big screen.
can’t tell if prue and curtis are loyal and brave or if they would’ve been the type to have joined and led in the children’s crusade.
incredible illustrations tho.
incredible illustrations tho.
Prue takes her one year old brother to the St. John's Library, only to see him kidnapped by a murder of crows. They carry her poor brother across the Willamette River to a giant Forrest known as the Impassable Wilderness to the people of Portland. The Impassable Wilderness contains four independent nations, with Southwood and Northwood on its respective edges, and the Avian Principality and the anarchic state of Wildwood in between. Prue, and her tag-a-long friend must brave the wilderness and the politics within to find her brother before her parents realize they're gone.
I remember first glimpsing Wildwood at Powell's, prominently featured at the front of the store. The cover caught my eye, and I learned the author was none other than Colin Meloy, the lead singer of The Decemberists. Eventually reading a book by a Portland author, and song-writer intrigued me, but it would be nearly a year before I bought the book. Normally I don't purchase books or movies I haven't already read or watched, but skimming the inside cover of one of the sequels did me in. You see, the series features a prominent Portland landmark, one that happened to be built and owned by my great-great uncle. Any fantasy that has the Pittock Mansion in it is a must read for me. Wildwood was a delightful read with beautiful illustrations, but I found the prose lacking.
I've found a trend with what I call moonlighting authors. Screenwriters and songrwriters who turn their attention to novel writing don't take to it as easily as one would think. Their prose is clunky, overly wordy, and lacking in vibrancy. Wildwood also seemed overly long, not in a way where I found a bunch of unnecessary scenes, but the sentences and paragraphs themselves could use a little trimming.
Wildwood would be a great book to bring with you to Forrest Park, to get the full sensory experience. Ever since I started reading it I was itching to get over to the Wildwood Trail, a.k.a the Long Road. Reading this book made me realize how little of Forrest Park I've actually hiked. As far as the book's concerned, I've only seen the nation of South Wood (from the Pittock Mansion south.)
Meloy's debut novel is also refreshing for its treatment of political bureaucracy, from a kid's perspective. It also teaches the dangers of invasive species. Narnia fans will also love to see the familiar tropes of a pleasant, yet evil witch, and the endless amounts of talking animals.
I definitely recommend reading this book, but you might want to borrow it from your local library before you buy. Just watch out for crows.
I remember first glimpsing Wildwood at Powell's, prominently featured at the front of the store. The cover caught my eye, and I learned the author was none other than Colin Meloy, the lead singer of The Decemberists. Eventually reading a book by a Portland author, and song-writer intrigued me, but it would be nearly a year before I bought the book. Normally I don't purchase books or movies I haven't already read or watched, but skimming the inside cover of one of the sequels did me in. You see, the series features a prominent Portland landmark, one that happened to be built and owned by my great-great uncle. Any fantasy that has the Pittock Mansion in it is a must read for me. Wildwood was a delightful read with beautiful illustrations, but I found the prose lacking.
I've found a trend with what I call moonlighting authors. Screenwriters and songrwriters who turn their attention to novel writing don't take to it as easily as one would think. Their prose is clunky, overly wordy, and lacking in vibrancy. Wildwood also seemed overly long, not in a way where I found a bunch of unnecessary scenes, but the sentences and paragraphs themselves could use a little trimming.
Wildwood would be a great book to bring with you to Forrest Park, to get the full sensory experience. Ever since I started reading it I was itching to get over to the Wildwood Trail, a.k.a the Long Road. Reading this book made me realize how little of Forrest Park I've actually hiked. As far as the book's concerned, I've only seen the nation of South Wood (from the Pittock Mansion south.)
Meloy's debut novel is also refreshing for its treatment of political bureaucracy, from a kid's perspective. It also teaches the dangers of invasive species. Narnia fans will also love to see the familiar tropes of a pleasant, yet evil witch, and the endless amounts of talking animals.
I definitely recommend reading this book, but you might want to borrow it from your local library before you buy. Just watch out for crows.