“Wolf Hollow has stayed with me long after I closed the book. It has the feel of an instant classic." —Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author of A Long Walk to Water
“This book matters.” —Sara Pennypacker, New York Times bestselling author of Pax
Despite growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and though her bullying seems isolated at first, it quickly escalates. Toby, a reclusive World War I veteran, soon becomes the target of Betty’s attacks. While others see Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. And as tensions mount in their small community, Annabelle must find the courage to stand as a lone voice for justice.
The brilliantly crafted debut of Newbery Honor– and Scott O'Dell Award–winning author Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea, Echo Mountain), Wolf Hollow is a haunting tale of America at a crossroads and a time when one girl’s resilience, strength, and compassion help to illuminate the darkest corners of history.
11-going-on-12. It can be a hard age, more so when the country is in the middle of a war. Regardless, living on a farm can be too quiet, too...boring. But watch what you wish for, because sometimes wishes do come true. In this case, the quiet disappears when Betty moves into town. She has been sent to live with her grandparents because she is "incorrigible". Annabelle has to look that one up in the school dictionary, but it doesn't take long before she gets firsthand experience of exactly what that means. As Betty begins bullying her, things move from bad to worse as another student is badly injured and Betty blames it on someone else. As things begin to spiral out of control, Annabelle learns some hard lessons about life, love, friendship, and loyalty.
I came into this book with absolutely no expectations, and I finished it overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. It's a beautiful book, in a way that too few are. It's been compared with a certain classic, and I can certainly see where those comparisons come from - though that sort of thing drives me crazy. However, I can say with no hesitation that this book will stand as a top read for me in 2016.
The writing is lovely. Not melodramatic, not overly wordy - just what it needs to be. Simple and true. The characters are done so well that they felt like friends I wasn't able to spend nearly enough time with. The setting rings true in a way that some don't, and it's obvious that the author has spent time on a farm. But it's the story that will leave you breathless when it's over, that propels you along like a current before it sets you on shore, wrung out and trying to understand what just happened.
Ultimately, this story is about injustice - those who perpetuate it, and those who have the courage to stand up to it. We have all seen or experienced injustice in our lives, and sometimes it can be hard to fight against it. For some, it's like fighting the tide - they are simply struggling to keep their heads above water. For others, it's the retribution they fear, for those who are unjust don't often worry about adding another name to their list. But for some, injustice is simply wrong and trying to fix it is the honest thing to do. And even then "Sometimes things come out right...Sometimes they don't.". And when you're 11-going-on-12, well...sometimes the hardest lessons to learn are the ones that are the most meaningful.
