Wolf Hollow

Wolf Hollow

By:  Lauren Wolk

Book Quote:

"I didn't tell him that I'd put his awful stories in boxes and stacked them on a shelf at the back of my mind.  I could hear a quieter version of them still, from their dark place, through all the other business that occupied my brain, but I wouldn't unlid those boxes until I was ready to hear Toby's stories again as they wanted to be heard.  And I didn't think that would happen for a long time."
-Chapter 18, Page 186

Library Cat Rating:  😻 😻 😻 

Review:

    Annabelle, at the age of eleven (but almost twelve) has grown up in a world that has always been at war.  The year is 1943 and while Annabelle is aware of World War II and has collected milkweed to be used in safety jackets for soldiers, she has faced very little confrontation or ugliness in her rural Pennsylvania town.   That all changes when Betty Glengarry moves to town and makes Annabelle the target of her animosity.  Betty's cruel actions soon extend beyond Annabelle who is faced with difficult decisions as the safety of her family and those closest to her is threatened.  Annabelle is forced to confront her fears and fight for what she thinks is right.  In doing so she learns that sometimes this means going against the grain as she befriends the towns strangest inhabitant, Toby a World War I veteran.  Annabelle learns much about herself and who she wants to be in a complex world where right and wrong, truth and lie, are no longer as clear as they once were and all your decision have consequences.
    VERDICT is that this may be a tough read due to emotional content for some young readers but definitely worth while.  Annabelle struggles to deal with some tough issues such as bullying, war, and death, but she is a truly compassionate protagonist and I think there are many things to be learned from here.  This is a book that will have appeal for both the young and old and will open the door for difficult conversations.

Awards:
Newbery Honor Book (2017), NPR Best Book of the Year, Booklist Best Book of the Year School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, ALA Notable Children's Book

Citation:
Wolk, Lauren.  (2016).  Wolf hollow.  New York, NY:  Dutton Children's Books.

Reading Levels:
-Ages:  8 to 12
-Lexile Measure:  800L

Annotation:
It is 1943 and although 11 year old Annabelle has grown up in a world at war, she has known little conflict in her own life.  That all changes when Betty Glengarry moves to town and makes Annabelle the target of her animosity.  Betty's cruel actions soon extend beyond Annabelle who is faced with difficult decisions as the safety of her family and those closest to her is threatened.

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Other 2017 Newbery  Books:  

Freedom Over Me:  Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dream Brought to Life, written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan

The Inquisitor's Tale:  Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Ashley Bryan (Winner)

Extras:

Author Lauren Wolk discusses some of her favorite books that have influenced her writing!