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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
WOLF HOLLOW is such a beautifully written book that I had to bicker with myself to give it four stars rather than five. Although the place and the supporting characters are vividly and believably portrayed, Annabelle and Betty lack complexity. We're given only a sketch of Betty's background including a few cliche reasons she might have become the bully she is. Annabelle's moral dilemma, which is about lying versus truth-telling and the gray areas where lying might be the right thing to do, never lives up to the way it's hyped in the opening pages. Pieces of Annabelle's dilemmas are too contrived, forcing the narrative along a predictable path without forcing her to grow or change much. There's a moment when Betty has a chance to change, but it would derail the narrative's inevitable progress toward the sad ending that the reader can see coming from miles away.
Nevertheless, WOLF HOLLOW is a worthwhile read. Many readers and reviewers have likened it to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I would recommend it to anyone who is fond of that classic. But for anyone who feels a bit frustrated that the story didn't live up to its original promise, that it lacked complexity of situation or characterization, I would point them to a different book in which children wrestle with secrets and lies and the ugly parts of human nature. I'd point them to Toni Morrison's THE BLUEST EYE.
Nevertheless, WOLF HOLLOW is a worthwhile read. Many readers and reviewers have likened it to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I would recommend it to anyone who is fond of that classic. But for anyone who feels a bit frustrated that the story didn't live up to its original promise, that it lacked complexity of situation or characterization, I would point them to a different book in which children wrestle with secrets and lies and the ugly parts of human nature. I'd point them to Toni Morrison's THE BLUEST EYE.
3-4 stars
I'm not sure how to feel about this one. It was really well written, and had a great story. It was also so incredibly dark, and the vocabulary was really advanced for a middle grade book. That's fine, everyone has the internet, they can look up the words.
But there were some parts of this book that were disturbing enough to me that I had to put aside what I was eating while reading. Those same things might not be as bothersome to a kid, especially if a bit of it goes over their head. I really don't know! I started reading Mary Higgins Clark in 4th grade, and sure I had some nightmares, but overall I did fine. So I'm not against putting heavy material into kids' hands. It would definitely need to be done with some adult guidance, I think, up until 8th grade or so at least.
I'm not sure how to feel about this one. It was really well written, and had a great story. It was also so incredibly dark, and the vocabulary was really advanced for a middle grade book. That's fine, everyone has the internet, they can look up the words.
But there were some parts of this book that were disturbing enough to me that I had to put aside what I was eating while reading. Those same things might not be as bothersome to a kid, especially if a bit of it goes over their head. I really don't know! I started reading Mary Higgins Clark in 4th grade, and sure I had some nightmares, but overall I did fine. So I'm not against putting heavy material into kids' hands. It would definitely need to be done with some adult guidance, I think, up until 8th grade or so at least.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It took a lot for me to get into this book. However, about a third of the way in, I found myself really concerned for the characters. I ended up enjoying it and would definitely recommend it.
Beautiful and painful. Annabelle is an amazing character with a strong voice.
I really loved this book. It's gorgeously written, full of wisdom, and hard to put down. The thing is, I'm not entirely convinced it's a children's book. Someone told me the author originally imagined it being marketed to adults but she was persuaded to turn it into a middle grade novel. Even if that's not true, it seems true. Like [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1398034300s/5107.jpg|3036731] and [b:To Kill a Mockingbird|2657|To Kill a Mockingbird|Harper Lee|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1361975680s/2657.jpg|3275794], this book is complex enough for any adult, but happens to follow the experiences of a young person. Does that in itself make it a YA or middle grade book? As I was reading I noted many places where the meaning was so subtle, I had to re-read it and then put the book down for a minute to ponder. It was also so heart-wrenching at times, so real, that tears sprang to my eyes. I'm not saying this book is "inappropriate" for children. I'm saying most children are probably not mature enough to really sink their teeth into it. The voice of the narration is that of an older Annabelle looking back on the year before she turned 12. It's not fully an 11-year-old's voice, though the narration accounts for what she perceived at the time, versus what she understands in retrospect.
Literature is literature, no matter who it's marketed to, but I feel like this will present a challenge to award committees. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest books I've ever read. But I can't imagine recommending it to many children. Teens, yes. Adults, definitely. It is my sincere hope that it finds a wide readership despite being sold as middle grade fiction. It explores prejudice against people who are perceived as "odd" and the difficult balance between doing what is right and what is expected. Annabelle's mother has some wonderfully powerful lines - the one about numbness and hurt comes to mind. Toby is a character that reminds me (and a lot of readers) of Boo Radley, but he also made me thing of [b:The Things They Carried|133518|The Things They Carried|Tim O'Brien|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1424663847s/133518.jpg|1235619], especially because he carries those heavy guns on his back. Annabelle as a narrator reminded me a little of Briony in [b:Atonement|6867|Atonement|Ian McEwan|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320449708s/6867.jpg|2307233] because of her perspicacity and also her unusual position of power as a child in an adult world. Betty, though a villain, still inspires traces of sympathy. But, I have to admit, I thought mostly of Macaulay Culkin's character in the movie The Good Son (which I just googled and learned was written by Ian McEwan! Who knew?)
If you've made it this far and haven't read the book, I hope you do.
Literature is literature, no matter who it's marketed to, but I feel like this will present a challenge to award committees. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest books I've ever read. But I can't imagine recommending it to many children. Teens, yes. Adults, definitely. It is my sincere hope that it finds a wide readership despite being sold as middle grade fiction. It explores prejudice against people who are perceived as "odd" and the difficult balance between doing what is right and what is expected. Annabelle's mother has some wonderfully powerful lines - the one about numbness and hurt comes to mind. Toby is a character that reminds me (and a lot of readers) of Boo Radley, but he also made me thing of [b:The Things They Carried|133518|The Things They Carried|Tim O'Brien|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1424663847s/133518.jpg|1235619], especially because he carries those heavy guns on his back. Annabelle as a narrator reminded me a little of Briony in [b:Atonement|6867|Atonement|Ian McEwan|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1320449708s/6867.jpg|2307233] because of her perspicacity and also her unusual position of power as a child in an adult world. Betty, though a villain, still inspires traces of sympathy. But, I have to admit, I thought mostly of Macaulay Culkin's character in the movie The Good Son (which I just googled and learned was written by Ian McEwan! Who knew?)
If you've made it this far and haven't read the book, I hope you do.
This is my favorite book I’ve read in a while. I was definitely heartbroken at the end, but I loved following the growth of Annabelle and her unique friendship with Toby. Such a brilliant story, and the author writes it with the perfect words!
This book was beautiful, and heart-wrenching, and very, very good.
This book, about a 10-11 year old girl named Annabelle, is set during WWII in a small farming community in America. When my 8 year old started listening in the car and started asking questions, I worried whether the subject matter was too deep or not for her. I felt like this was as much as or more an adult book than a mid grade fiction book. However, after reflecting the subject matter is something my child needs to understand in her life and I realized that after answering her questions. This book deals with prejudice, bullying, symbolism between the past and the present, mid-understandings and most of all learning how to tell the truth. In reading reviews, the quote from Annabelle that "this was the year I learned to lie" stood out. it is a fact that she lied in hopes of making things better. Did it? I don't know. It was a horrible time to be alive an I am grateful for those that sacrificed in all the wars and dealt with their demons afterwards so that people could have their freedom. Definitely a must read.