The Woods
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
"A supernatural wonder of a book. This Grimm-like fantasy is vividly detailed and will appeal to young and old readers alike." --School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
"Toalson intersperses Lenora's story with Richard's journal excerpts and an enigmatic, menacing character's first-person narrative, all of which lends context and dimension. The seamless blend of fantastical and realistic elements is particularly effective at exploring the multifaceted impact of tragedy and loss." --Booklist
"Mysterious and beautifully rendered, R.L Toalson's THE WOODS is a heartbreaking story of family, magic and grief that will touch readers' hearts." --Samantha M Clark, author of THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST
After a tragic explosion causes Lenora to lose her family, she goes to live with her estranged uncle at his estate. There, Lenora is drawn to the nearby woods and the magic she discovers within them. Can this magic reunite her with her family, or is it more sinister than she realizes?
Twelve-year-old Lenora's world is turned upside down after an explosion makes her the lone surviving member of her immediate family. She has nowhere to go, until her estranged Uncle Richard shows up and takes her away to live with him in his lonely mansion. Quiet and stern, he spends most of his time in his study conducting research and experimenting. Lenora is able to explore parts of the mansion and its lovely gardens, but Uncle Richard has one rule for her: Stay out of the woods.
Years ago, Lenora's cousin, Bobby went into Gilgevnah Woods and never came out. Now, Uncle Richard will do anything he can to destroy them. Lenora knows she is meant to stay away, but her grief and loneliness draw her in.
Upon entering the woods, she finds a world full of enchantment and beauty. Lenora befriends Bela the Scorlaman, keeper of Gilgevnah Woods, who shows her the wonder and the mystery of the place, but also promises to reunite her with her family. Is it too good to be true?
Will Lenora find peace in the magic of Gilgevnah Woods, or will she find something darker?
The Woods is an entrancing magical realism novel from author R.L. Toalson that tackles profound loss, grief, and finally, acceptance.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this haunting novel set in 1947 Texas, Lenora, 12, struggles with grief and denial after her immediate family dies in a terrible accident. Sent to live with a reclusive uncle she's never met, she clings to the hope that her parents and siblings might still be alive as she reluctantly adjusts to life in a sprawling ancestral manor. Barred from participating in aloof Uncle Richard's mysterious scientific pursuits, Lenora turns her attention to the nearby forbidden magical woods, which have claimed lives, according to family lore. The wondrous creatures and tantalizing marvels she finds there compel her, and Lenora must choose between the real world and dangerous enchantments, even as her uncle plans to destroy everything. Reminiscent of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden in its elemental plot points (young orphan, reclusive uncle, mysterious manor house, a transformative green space) and rooted in the tragic 1947 explosion in Texas City, this story moves slowly from the mundane to the magical. The leisurely narrative is weighed down somewhat by an abundance of plot elements, but Toalson (The Colors of the Rain) offers an evocative exploration of loss and recovery in this engaging, lyrical fantasy. Ages 8 12.
