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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. They shot Toby for no good reason. The amount of hate and grief that I’m feeling for a fictional character is probably not okay but this HURTS.
Such a good book but really one of the saddest books I’ve read that is targeted for kids. As a middle grade book, I would say this is for older MG, say 6-8 grade, rather than younger.
One of the reasons I purchased this audio-book was because I read a review comparing Wolf Hollow to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. I don't believe I would have come up with that comparison on my own, but now that I've finished listening to Wolf Hollow, I completely understand it. Beginning with the first lines:
The year I turned twelve, I learned how to lie.I loved this story. It won't have quite the same place in my heart as To Kill a Mockingbird does, but rather than returning it to the used book store as I normally would, I'll be hanging onto it so that I can listen again some day with Brian.
I don't mean the small fibs that children tell. I mean real lies fed by real fears--things I said and did that took me out of the life I'd always known and put me down hard into a new one.
It was the autumn of 1943 when my steady life began to spin, not only because of the war that had drawn the whole world into a screaming brawl, but also because of the dark-hearted girl who came to our hills and changed everything.
Wolf Hollow is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in some time. The story of the events that happen in this rural community is tightly wound and compelling, but the strength of the book is in its well-developed characters who you will feel deeply about-- either positively or negatively--, in the complexity of the themes and issues brought up by the story, and in Wolk's ability to convey a sense of place and time so completely. This book deserves to win awards. That being said, it is not a book I would feel comfortable putting in the hands of anyone younger than 10, or possibly even older unless they are fairly mature kids. It would likely be a very good read-aloud, as reading this with a caring adult could lead to excellent discussion. This one earned every bit of the five stars in my estimation!
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Intense at times with heavy topics…would recommend for tweens and above
Excellent book. Great messages about integrity, self confidence and standing up for others that may not stand up for themselves.
Ahoy there me mateys! I loved the author's book beyond the bright sea and thought it was past time I read this book. It was on me list longer as it be a Newbery Honor book and I heard of it first. In comparison to her other book, this one was so different in tone. It was not light-hearted and I wasn't expecting that as I had long ago forgotten the blurb. I listened to the first part on audiobook and then switched to ebook so I could finish it faster.
This story follows Annabelle who lives on a small farm in Pennsylvania. In her twelfth year, a new girl comes to town and changes both the town and Annabelle specially. When a horrible event happens, the accusations begin. Annabelle must decide how important are friendship and the truth and what to do when no one believes you.
This is a beautiful coming-of-age story. It is also a wonderful story about the effects of bullying and prejudice and lying. Annabelle makes a believable and lovable protagonist. I adored that Annabelle's whole family is present and caring. I thought the author used the family itself as excellent insight and counterpoint to Annabelle's point of view. In addition, the world building about life on a small rural farm was lovely. Also the audiobook narrator, Emily Rankin, did an excellent job. I highly recommend both books by the author.
As Matey Milliebot says in her review:
"Let’s see…topics Wolf Hollow deals with (excellently): Bullying, standing up for what you believe is right, trauma, dealing with the consequences of your actions, lying, friendship, grief, prejudice and supporting your family. This book handles a lot of heavy topics and while it’s not an entirely easy read, I think it has the right mix of honesty, tough themes and positive moments."
Side note: Though I understand the comparison of this book and to kill a mockingbird, I feel that it does both books a disservice. Also the author has a new book coming out in April. Arrrr!
This story follows Annabelle who lives on a small farm in Pennsylvania. In her twelfth year, a new girl comes to town and changes both the town and Annabelle specially. When a horrible event happens, the accusations begin. Annabelle must decide how important are friendship and the truth and what to do when no one believes you.
This is a beautiful coming-of-age story. It is also a wonderful story about the effects of bullying and prejudice and lying. Annabelle makes a believable and lovable protagonist. I adored that Annabelle's whole family is present and caring. I thought the author used the family itself as excellent insight and counterpoint to Annabelle's point of view. In addition, the world building about life on a small rural farm was lovely. Also the audiobook narrator, Emily Rankin, did an excellent job. I highly recommend both books by the author.
As Matey Milliebot says in her review:
"Let’s see…topics Wolf Hollow deals with (excellently): Bullying, standing up for what you believe is right, trauma, dealing with the consequences of your actions, lying, friendship, grief, prejudice and supporting your family. This book handles a lot of heavy topics and while it’s not an entirely easy read, I think it has the right mix of honesty, tough themes and positive moments."
Side note: Though I understand the comparison of this book and to kill a mockingbird, I feel that it does both books a disservice. Also the author has a new book coming out in April. Arrrr!
3.5 stars. An extremely well written book about bullying. Very mature themes for a book geared toward children. There were several parts that were very difficult to read.
This was my second time through, and I loved it even more. It's a great book for teachers who are hell-bent on teaching To Kill A Mockingbird in middle school when it's a book reserved for the high school curriculum. It doesn't touch on racism, but it does touch on prejudice and class and gender and age. I love the way the natural world is woven in throughout the novel. Wolk is masterful at deciding when to release certain information to particular characters as the story unfolds, and she places some of the onus of sharing critical information on the main character. But sharing the truth is never that simple in times of crisis. This book is a middle grade novel with a foot in the YA world. It's a gorgeous mentor text for observational as well as narrative writing.
Annebelle is one of my new favorite narrators, and Toby’s quiet, observant demeanor reminded me of Boo Radley. This story is about the ripple effects of one lie in a small community, and how jumping to conclusions can have dire consequences for all involved. Heartbreaking and so beautifully written. Ages 10 and up.