New Title

                                                                              
1) Meloy, Colin. Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles, Book 1. 2011. Harper Collins. Hardbound: 541 pages. Price: $17.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: Prue McKeel’s life is ordinary.
     At least until her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows. And then things get really weird.
     You see, on every map of Portland, Oregon, there is a big splotch of green on the edge of the city labeled “I.W.” This stands for “Impassable Wilderness.” No one’s ever gone in—or at least returned to tell of it.
     And this is where the crows take her brother.
     So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend Curtis deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much bigger as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness.
     A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.
     Wildwood is a spellbinding tale full of wonder, danger, and magic that juxtaposes the thrill of a secret world and modern city life. Original and fresh yet steeped in classic fantasy, this is a novel that could have only come from the imagination of Colin Meloy, celebrated for his inventive and fantastic storytelling as the lead singer of the Decemberists. With dozens of intricate and beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist Carson Ellis, Wildwood is truly a new classic for the twenty-first century.
RECOMMENDATION: Think of this book as a hybrid between The Chronicles of Narnia and Grimm's Fairy Tales with environmental themes. For ages 9 and up, although younger children might have trouble with some of the "larger" words used in the text. The artwork by Carson Ellis highlight this book!