Skip to main content

Willa of the Wood

Willa of the Wood
By Robert Beatty
Disney-Hyperion, 2018. Fiction.

Willa is a night-spirit and one of the few Wood Witches left in her Faeran clan. Like all the other children in her clan, she is sent out at night to steal from the day-folk under cover of darkness and take what the people won't miss. Willa is the best thief in her clan until the night her curiosity gets the better of her and leaves her hurt in the land of the day-folk. As she calls upon the spirits of the forest and the ancient connection her clan shares with the natural world, she is confronted by a realization that not all day-folk are enemies and not all Faeran are friends.

Having never read any Robert Beatty books, I was immediately enchanted by Willa and her forest world. For a young narrator, Willa's voice is clear, strong, confident, and believable. She speaks almost poetically about her forest and the magic of the world around her - and Robert Beatty is able to paint a vivid world that makes the real-life location of the Great Smokey Mountains come to life. This fast-paced, adventurous story is matched with depth and heart that will satisfy all readers of all genres and all ages. And for fans of audiobooks, this book is great to listen to.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

De la hora del cuento: La letra "F"

Cuentos Gustavo: el fantasmita timido Por Flavia Z. Drago Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020. Libro ilustrado. "Conoce a Gustavo. Ɖl es un fantasma y como a cualquier ser paranormal le encanta hacer lo que le es normal: atravesar paredes, hacer volar objetos y brillar en la oscuridad. TambiĆ©n le encanta tocar el violĆ­n. Pero Gustavo tiene un problema. Ɖl es muy, muy tĆ­mido, y aunque su deseo mĆ”s grande es tener amigos, nunca se ha atrevido a hablarle a ninguno de los monstruos en su pueblito. Con el DĆ­a de Muertos cerca, ¿se atreverĆ” Gustavo a dejar que lo vean?" --Editor Cuentitos ¡Yo sola! Por Sumana Seeboruth y Maribel Castells Concord : Barefoot Books, 2023. PequeƱo libro ilustrado. "Yo sola. ¡No, no, no! Puedo hacerlo. ¡Vete, vete, vete! Esta niƱa no quiere que la ayuden ... hasta que su hermana mayor necesita ayuda. ¡El trabajo en equipo es divertido!" --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "F" El bosque en familia Maisy juega fĆŗtbol Lo...

From Story Time: The Letter "F"

Preschool Time Family of Friends Written by Varsha Bajaj Illustrated by Ishaa Lobo New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025. Picture Book. Isha can't wait for her birthday party. Nani, her fun-loving grandmother, is coming all the way from India to be there! So when Nani has to postpone her trip, Isha is crushed. She no longer feels like celebrating. Fortunately, she has a whole neighborhood of friends to cheer her up, and they all work together to make her day truly special. This moving intergenerational story shows the impact that chosen family can have and is a wonderful reminder to appreciate all the important people in our lives. --Publisher Preschool Time Found By Salina Yoon New York: Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, 2014. Picture Book. Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny. --Editor Toddler Time On All Fours By Gaƫtan DorƩmus Brooklyn...

Review: Last One Picked

  Last One Picked By Audrey Meeker New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2026. Comic.  Annabeth has never been very athletic, but that doesn't matter. She is perfectly content to spend her time with her Warrior Princess books and volunteering at the library. When summer comes, her mom is convinced by their stuck up neighbor to send Annabeth to volleyball camp, the last place she would ever want to be. Not only does she feel completely out of her depth, her ex-best friend, Serena, is there- and she is not happy that Annabeth is infringing on her domain. However, with the help of some encouraging coaches and teammates, Annabeth slowly starts to realize that she doesn't mind volleyball so much, and might even have a place on the team after all. This graphic novel will hit home for many tweens, especially as it deals with several relevant topics, such as body image, gaining confidence, and how we should treat others. The illustrations were bright and colorful, and the story itself ...