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ashsalt 's review for:
Wolf Hollow
by Lauren Wolk
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.