When a murder of crows abducts twelve-year-old Prue McKeel's baby brother from the playground one day, her previously normal life becomes anything but. Consumed with guilt, Prue follows the crows to the Impassable Wilderness--a place she's been forbidden to go. Reluctantly, Prue accepts the company of a boy from school named Curtis, and the two embark upon a journey deep into a new world--a world called Wildwood, where animals speak and a disgruntled Dowager Governess (and possible witch) lead an army of coyotes in a war against bandits. Little does Prue know that her very birth set in motion the events leading to her brother's abduction, and that he is a part of a bigger plot that could change this mysterious wilderness forever.

Written by the lead singer of the indie folk band the Decembrists, Wildwood reads like a modern classic, filled with magic and richly drawn characters. This adventure story is beautifully written and told from the alternating perspectives of main characters Prue and Curtis, which adds an element of suspense. Both children encounter many obstacles but persevere, which gives them a high level of confidence in their competence that they do not have at the beginning of the story. Any reader who feels like a bit of an outsider will relate to Curtis in particular, as Wildwood is a place where he finally feels like he belongs. At 560 pages, Wildwood is not for reluctant readers and some of the vocabulary may be challenging, especially to younger readers who may most enjoy this book read aloud. Those who are captivated by the story will look forward to following Curtis and Prue's adventures in, Under Wildwood, book two of the Wildwood Chronicles.
>Book trailer from YouTube:

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