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jonirhea 's review for:
Wolf Hollow
by Lauren Wolk
This is a hard book to review..... I won't bore you with a summary because you can read that above from Goodreads. I will start off first by saying, if this book were written for an older audience, I would have given it more stars. Unfortunately, it is being promoted as a children's book. Publishers are rating as an interest level grades 3rd - 6th. As an elementary librarian, I will not be promoting this to the majority of my students under 5th grade. Have publishers lost connection with children? What happened to the fun, lose yourself in the moment, happy ending books?
IF this book were being promoted as a young adult book (the two main young characters in the story are 12 and 14) then I would rate it higher. It is beautifully written, with lots of figurative language throughout. The dark, cruel aspect of the book does make it a difficult read. Some of the concepts in this book are just too deep for elementary age students. While a large part of the book discusses bullying, it isn't ever resolved in the story.
Problems with the Story
1. We never really get the back story to many of the characters, such as Betty or Toby. We are not able to understand why they act the way they do. Betty, the bully in the story, is unbelievably cruel.
2. So much was left unanswered. Was anyone else bothered by this??
3. The heavy topics in the book are overdone, and in my opinion, children will not be able to relate to them.
4. The ending. Nothing more to say.
I hate giving less than 4 stars, especially since this book is really beautiully written, but can we please stop wanting children to grow up so fast!! Let's keep these issues and topics in the young adult books and let children continue to be just that, children.
IF this book were being promoted as a young adult book (the two main young characters in the story are 12 and 14) then I would rate it higher. It is beautifully written, with lots of figurative language throughout. The dark, cruel aspect of the book does make it a difficult read. Some of the concepts in this book are just too deep for elementary age students. While a large part of the book discusses bullying, it isn't ever resolved in the story.
Problems with the Story
1. We never really get the back story to many of the characters, such as Betty or Toby. We are not able to understand why they act the way they do. Betty, the bully in the story, is unbelievably cruel.
Spoiler
Even at the end when she is rescued from the well, she still lies!! You would think that when someone comes near death, as she did, the truth would come out. I was very disapointed that the author decided to not resolve this issue.2. So much was left unanswered. Was anyone else bothered by this??
Spoiler
Where was Betty's father? Did Toby have a family? Why did Toby carry around the guns that weren't working? Why was Betty so heartless and cruel? Why didn't anyone just tell the truth and spare Toby his life? What the heck??3. The heavy topics in the book are overdone, and in my opinion, children will not be able to relate to them.
4. The ending. Nothing more to say.
I hate giving less than 4 stars, especially since this book is really beautiully written, but can we please stop wanting children to grow up so fast!! Let's keep these issues and topics in the young adult books and let children continue to be just that, children.