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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Fun kids adventure
Magical woods
Political intrigue
People overcome with the need for power and domination
And invasive Ivy
Magical woods
Political intrigue
People overcome with the need for power and domination
And invasive Ivy
Five stars for the excellent illustrations by Carson Ellis and two stars for the writing. I was so frustrated with this book because the idea is so fantastic what with talking animals and wild forest adventures, but in the end it was pages and pages of battles and struggles and not very much fun fantasy. There were so many gaping holes in the plot as well. For example, Curtis decides to stay in Wildwood but has NO MESSAGE to send back to his parents? Really? But Carson's illustrations are GORGEOUS and so beautifully done. I may keep the book, just so to have these wonderful illustrations to look at again.
2.5 Stars. There are some awesome parts to this book, notably the art and some of the colourful characters and locations. However, overall, the reading experience left a sour taste in my mouth. Some sections drag on far too long, and other scenes or characters are left too soon. While I think the book starts on strong, despite the cliches, it slowly dragged out my patience and I felt like I was sifting through the chaff to find the occasional fun or tense moment. There are a few facts established early, such as Prue's knowledge of birds, that feel underused throughout the book. In all, it felt like the book wasted it's potential, and ended up feeling like a less engaging Narnia.
I did my best to take the perspective of someone younger (the target audience), but obviously my age could be skewing my perspective on this. May revisit the review.
I did my best to take the perspective of someone younger (the target audience), but obviously my age could be skewing my perspective on this. May revisit the review.
I've been wanting to read this children's book set in a fictional near-Portland-Oregon forest world for a while, of course because I enjoy the music of the Decemberists and Colin Meloy, and I heard great things about Carson Ellis, the artist, who's also Meloy's wife. I also think the book cover is super cute!
Take this review as you will; I'm out of the age range for this book and I don't have kids! I give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
At over 500 pages, it's a lot, but it's a quick read. I liked the characters of Prue and Curtis and the central drama involving Prue's search and rescue mission after her baby brother, Mac, is kidnapped by crows. I liked all the animal characters - lots of fun. The illustrations by Ellis are wonderful.
The first chapter, introducing Prue and her parents, is pretty twee, reminding me of Portlandia and the cuteness overload about Portland life. The knitting, the single speed bike, the oat milk, "ergo", Prue's shopping trip involving stops at the used record store and library - it made me cringe a bit. If you can get past that, it improves.
Having just critiqued this for being too cute, now I'll go the other way!
I have no idea how this would come across if a parent were reading it to a child. I kept trying to imagine that. I know a book for children of the right age - and I believe this is primarily targeted at age 9 - 12 - needs to have drama; it can't just be sweetness and light. But there's a lot of war, imprisonment, injury, and death here - maybe more than I would have liked. There are also themes of friendship, cooperation, and overcoming the odds - and some humor - but I would have liked more of that, to balance out the darker side. I don't know why the tales we tell our children often seem focused on such war-like situations. Why instill a dystopian world view before we have to? I mean, all comes out well in the end, of course - and I don't think that's a spoiler because what do you expect, it's a kids' book - but it's pretty dark, until it isn't!
Take this review as you will; I'm out of the age range for this book and I don't have kids! I give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
At over 500 pages, it's a lot, but it's a quick read. I liked the characters of Prue and Curtis and the central drama involving Prue's search and rescue mission after her baby brother, Mac, is kidnapped by crows. I liked all the animal characters - lots of fun. The illustrations by Ellis are wonderful.
The first chapter, introducing Prue and her parents, is pretty twee, reminding me of Portlandia and the cuteness overload about Portland life. The knitting, the single speed bike, the oat milk, "ergo", Prue's shopping trip involving stops at the used record store and library - it made me cringe a bit. If you can get past that, it improves.
Having just critiqued this for being too cute, now I'll go the other way!
I have no idea how this would come across if a parent were reading it to a child. I kept trying to imagine that. I know a book for children of the right age - and I believe this is primarily targeted at age 9 - 12 - needs to have drama; it can't just be sweetness and light. But there's a lot of war, imprisonment, injury, and death here - maybe more than I would have liked. There are also themes of friendship, cooperation, and overcoming the odds - and some humor - but I would have liked more of that, to balance out the darker side. I don't know why the tales we tell our children often seem focused on such war-like situations. Why instill a dystopian world view before we have to? I mean, all comes out well in the end, of course - and I don't think that's a spoiler because what do you expect, it's a kids' book - but it's pretty dark, until it isn't!
I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations were also beautiful. It was such a lovely book. Prue was a great protagonist. I loved being in the world of Wildwood. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
I loved, loved, loved this book. It was definitely one of my favorites of the year so far, for so many reasons. First of all, the illustrations were wonderful. They were absolutely perfect in tone for the story, and they added so much. I would definitely suggest getting your hands on a hard-copy version of this book, because there's something about it that would work better in paper format. The full-page illustrations were just lovely, and the ones on each page showed that the illustrator was perfectly in tune with the story.
More than that, this was just so well-written. In a lot of YA/children's lit, I have come to expect clunky writing. It seems that a lot of authors dumb down their writing style for their audience. There are often grammatical errors, and a lot of showing and not telling. That wasn't the case here. The word choice in this was absolutely lovely. It wasn't dumbed-down at all for the sake of the audience. It made me think of the Mark Twain quote about lightning versus lightning bugs. Meloy definitely uses lightning, and that makes all the difference. Meloy tells an enchanting tale, and he tells it well.
It was also clever and funny, and wonderful. I loved the characters, who were so fleshed out, and I thought that Meloy definitely had a handle on the world he created. It felt so realistic. The book was humorous and sweet and everything I love about YA/children's lit. It had the same sort of wide-eyed wonder that can be found in Gaiman's work, with a little bit of snark to go with it. This quote was what sold me on the book completely, "As she walked, she breathed a quick benediction to the patron saint of sleuthing. “Nancy Drew,” she whispered, “be with me now." Who doesn't love a good Nancy Drew reference?
It was just a story you could be completely caught up in, and one I want to go back to again and again. Its definitely one that I want to re-read and own. I definitely recommend this, especially if you are a fan of the Decemberists, fantasy, Neil Gaiman, or YA literature. It was an absolutely lovely book, and one of the top five ones I have read this year.
I'm actually going to give this five stars, which is rare for me, because I think it accomplished fairly effortlessly so many things that other authors attempt clumsily. When I think about this book, I smile, because it is charming. It reminds me of Gaiman's Stardust or The Graveyard Book, and that is high praise. Well done Meloy! I can't wait for your next book;)
*ETA, Its wonderful on the re-read, and now I can say I was able to tell Meloy in person how much I loved his book.*
More than that, this was just so well-written. In a lot of YA/children's lit, I have come to expect clunky writing. It seems that a lot of authors dumb down their writing style for their audience. There are often grammatical errors, and a lot of showing and not telling. That wasn't the case here. The word choice in this was absolutely lovely. It wasn't dumbed-down at all for the sake of the audience. It made me think of the Mark Twain quote about lightning versus lightning bugs. Meloy definitely uses lightning, and that makes all the difference. Meloy tells an enchanting tale, and he tells it well.
It was also clever and funny, and wonderful. I loved the characters, who were so fleshed out, and I thought that Meloy definitely had a handle on the world he created. It felt so realistic. The book was humorous and sweet and everything I love about YA/children's lit. It had the same sort of wide-eyed wonder that can be found in Gaiman's work, with a little bit of snark to go with it. This quote was what sold me on the book completely, "As she walked, she breathed a quick benediction to the patron saint of sleuthing. “Nancy Drew,” she whispered, “be with me now." Who doesn't love a good Nancy Drew reference?
It was just a story you could be completely caught up in, and one I want to go back to again and again. Its definitely one that I want to re-read and own. I definitely recommend this, especially if you are a fan of the Decemberists, fantasy, Neil Gaiman, or YA literature. It was an absolutely lovely book, and one of the top five ones I have read this year.
I'm actually going to give this five stars, which is rare for me, because I think it accomplished fairly effortlessly so many things that other authors attempt clumsily. When I think about this book, I smile, because it is charming. It reminds me of Gaiman's Stardust or The Graveyard Book, and that is high praise. Well done Meloy! I can't wait for your next book;)
*ETA, Its wonderful on the re-read, and now I can say I was able to tell Meloy in person how much I loved his book.*
Charming. Precisely what you would expect from Meloy's previous storytelling through Decemberists' lyrics.
I thought this book was really cool, I loved the illustrations and the full color artwork. Interesting concept and world.
I'm so sorry that these beautiful illustrations had to accompany such an abysmal story.
Oh, also, now I know why this 541 page book with color illustrations was only $9 at Barnes and Noble.
Oh, also, now I know why this 541 page book with color illustrations was only $9 at Barnes and Noble.
Narnia set in Portland, OR. At least, that's the superficial, simplistic, trite summary.
Lots of good ingredients in this book. An appealing premise, an excellent setting, wild imagination, engaging themes, paired male and female protagonists, lots of world building, and more. I was intrigued by Prue very early:
"Mother," Prue had said, now pouring rice milk over her cereal, "I told you. I'm a vegetarian. Ergo: no bacon." She had read that word, ergo, in a novel she'd been reading. That was the first time she had used it. She wasn't sure if she'd used it right, but it felt good. She sat down at the kitchen table and winked at Mac. Her father briefly peered over the top of his paper to give her a smile.
"What's on the docket today?" said her father. "Remember, you're watching Mac."
"Mmmm, I dunno," Prue responded. "Figured we'd hang around somewhere. Rough up some old ladies. Maybe stick up a hardware store. Pawn the loot. Beats going to a crafts fair."
Unfortunately, Mac, Prue's toddler brother, is stolen away by crows while she watches him in the park. The flock swoops down out of nowhere, picks him up, and disappears across the river into the Impassable Wilderness. The legendary "I.W." is a length of woods so dense and forbidding that modern civilization has given it a pass, and all Portland children grow up knowing they must avoid it at all costs. Except now Prue must venture into the I.W. to rescue her baby brother. Curtis, a classmate, sees her going and invites herself along. In the woods, they discover a whole world of magic, talking animals, and warring kingdoms, and they find themselves caught up in the local politics and more in a grand, dangerous, and life-altering adventure.
As I said, all the ingredients are there and I kept thinking I should be loving it. The story never swept me away or felt particularly magical, unfortunately, and by the end I just couldn't seem to get engaged in the big climax. I've seen enough other reviews to know that's not the case for all readers so I'll recommend it, but I didn't love it. First-time author Meloy certainly could have used an editor. As you might guess from the excerpt above, he is a lover of words and made generous use of rarer ones, but his use lacked a certain deftness and cadence and they ended up feeling more for show than communication. More significantly, I felt the length of the book could have been reduced significantly, as he dwelt on each description and event for too long and the whole read much too sluggishly for me.
Also, while I have tried not to let this influence my rating, Amanda Plummer's audiobook performance certainly detracted from my enjoyment of the book. While the worst sin possible is a monotone reading and she was certainly far, far from that, she seemed to ignore the cues of punctuation and semantics and read with an odd and distracting inflection. Just randomly and for no logical reason she would take pauses, draw out words, add emphasis and rising or falling tones, and more. I had to really work at times just to figure out the full sense of the writing as written. And her dialogue; at first all the characters seemed to talk in voices that were somewhere between wide-eyed wonderment and baby talk. Eventually that lessened, but then she started trying to use voices and accents, accents that were unrecognizable, nonsensical mishmashes and that would change even within single sentences, much less from page to page and scene to scene. I'll be avoiding her in the future.
Lots of good ingredients in this book. An appealing premise, an excellent setting, wild imagination, engaging themes, paired male and female protagonists, lots of world building, and more. I was intrigued by Prue very early:
"Mother," Prue had said, now pouring rice milk over her cereal, "I told you. I'm a vegetarian. Ergo: no bacon." She had read that word, ergo, in a novel she'd been reading. That was the first time she had used it. She wasn't sure if she'd used it right, but it felt good. She sat down at the kitchen table and winked at Mac. Her father briefly peered over the top of his paper to give her a smile.
"What's on the docket today?" said her father. "Remember, you're watching Mac."
"Mmmm, I dunno," Prue responded. "Figured we'd hang around somewhere. Rough up some old ladies. Maybe stick up a hardware store. Pawn the loot. Beats going to a crafts fair."
Unfortunately, Mac, Prue's toddler brother, is stolen away by crows while she watches him in the park. The flock swoops down out of nowhere, picks him up, and disappears across the river into the Impassable Wilderness. The legendary "I.W." is a length of woods so dense and forbidding that modern civilization has given it a pass, and all Portland children grow up knowing they must avoid it at all costs. Except now Prue must venture into the I.W. to rescue her baby brother. Curtis, a classmate, sees her going and invites herself along. In the woods, they discover a whole world of magic, talking animals, and warring kingdoms, and they find themselves caught up in the local politics and more in a grand, dangerous, and life-altering adventure.
As I said, all the ingredients are there and I kept thinking I should be loving it. The story never swept me away or felt particularly magical, unfortunately, and by the end I just couldn't seem to get engaged in the big climax. I've seen enough other reviews to know that's not the case for all readers so I'll recommend it, but I didn't love it. First-time author Meloy certainly could have used an editor. As you might guess from the excerpt above, he is a lover of words and made generous use of rarer ones, but his use lacked a certain deftness and cadence and they ended up feeling more for show than communication. More significantly, I felt the length of the book could have been reduced significantly, as he dwelt on each description and event for too long and the whole read much too sluggishly for me.
Also, while I have tried not to let this influence my rating, Amanda Plummer's audiobook performance certainly detracted from my enjoyment of the book. While the worst sin possible is a monotone reading and she was certainly far, far from that, she seemed to ignore the cues of punctuation and semantics and read with an odd and distracting inflection. Just randomly and for no logical reason she would take pauses, draw out words, add emphasis and rising or falling tones, and more. I had to really work at times just to figure out the full sense of the writing as written. And her dialogue; at first all the characters seemed to talk in voices that were somewhere between wide-eyed wonderment and baby talk. Eventually that lessened, but then she started trying to use voices and accents, accents that were unrecognizable, nonsensical mishmashes and that would change even within single sentences, much less from page to page and scene to scene. I'll be avoiding her in the future.