Darkwood [Hardcover]

M.E. Breen (Author), Molly Breen (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. One minute the sky is light, the next minute it is black. But darkness comes in other forms, too, and for thirteen-year-old Annie, the misery she endures in her Uncle’s household makes the black of night seem almost soothing. When Annie escapes, her route takes her first to a dangerous mine where a precious stone is being stolen by an enemy of the king, and later to the king’s own halls, where a figure from Annie’s past makes a startling appearance. All the while, reported sightings of kinderstalk— mysterious, wolf-like creatures that prowl Howland’s dark forests—grow more frequent. Eloquent, suspenseful, and imbued with fairy-tale motifs found in The Brothers Grimm, this is a riveting coming-of-age story of a girl who must learn to trust her instincts if she’s to lead the people she is destined to rule.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

M.E. (Molly) Breen lives in San Francisco, where she works as a literacy advocate through the Carnegie Foundation. A graduate of Yale University, Molly has taught at both Yale and Stanford University. This is her first novel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599902591
• ISBN-13: 978-1599902593
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,307,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

M.E. Breen grew up in Berkeley, California surrounded by books, animals, and blackberry bushes. Darkwood, her first novel, received a star review from Kirkus and was a Junior Library Guild selection. She has taught creative writing at Stanford and Yale University, where she received a BA and MA in English literature.

She is interested in forests, monsters, and road trips, not necessarily in that order. Grimm's fairy tales and the Greek myths of metamorphosis are major influences on her writing. She also loves to read poetry, essays on science and nature, and recipes, though she never actually cooks anything. She lives by Ocean Beach in San Francisco with a dog named Truckstop and two cats: one small with brown stripes, the other the approximate size, shape, and alacrity of a pumpkin.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book as good as its intriguing cover..., June 7, 2009

By 

Ana Mardoll (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Darkwood (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

Darkwood / 978-1-59990-259-3

With its lovely cover featuring a heroine with dark hair and bright eyes, framed by two clever cats and trailed by the ominous shapes of black wolves melting into the shadows of the forest behind her, "Darkwood" cannot help but catch and hold the eye of the observer. The premise is even more intriguing: in the world of Howland, there is no dusk, no moon, and no stars - only sudden, complete blackness when night comes. The inky darkness hides frightening dangers - the black wolves, or 'kinderstalk', that take livestock from the farms and steal children under the cover of darkness. When Annie learns, at the start of this fast-paced novel, that her foster uncle and aunt plan to sell her as a slave to the nearby mine, she braves the darkness for the first time, and a world of adventure opens up before her.

Reviewing books meant for younger readers is always difficult because one has to weigh the quality of the writing against the expectations of the intended audience. I was pleased to note that "Darkwood" starts the action quickly, filling in necessary details as the heroine goes along, rather than spending the first few chapters filled with nothing but exposition. Author Breen treats the reader with respect, providing little details along the way that will become significant in retrospect, always with a light touch, never rubbing the reader's nose in. On the other hand, however, sometimes too much credit is given to the imagination, as Breen has a habit early in the novel of moving the characters around too quickly, often to places the reader is unaware of or unprepared for. This sort of 'exposition via teleportation' is a touch disorienting and can be a little confusing. However, the style settles down a bit after the first third of the book or so and 'teleportation' is kept to a minimum afterward. As is not uncommon with fantasy books, some rather wild coincidences abound in order to further the plot line, which might potentially strain the credulity of an adult reader, but not so many as to try the patience of a younger reader, I think.

Although many of the common motifs of fairy tales and children's stories are present here - a quiet orphan, a bewildering prophecy, a dark wood brimming with shadowy monsters - "Darkwood" manages to remain immensely original as it weaves a tale of wars: humans against animals, king against subjects, and children against adults. Annie, our dark-haired heroine, is full of the hopes and fears of youth, and is clever, courageous, and kind without ever being too 'perfect' or unrealistic. She is often quiet, but is not afraid to speak her mind when the situation requires it, and she is not fazed or impressed by the trappings of wealth and royalty. Though she is bemused by her cats' almost magical ability to guide and protect her, she learns to trust them as her unlikely guardians. Breen also provides wonderful supporting characters, including two comical, yet wise, adult sisters who provide Annie with much needed maternal love and support on her hard journey.

Though the target audience of "Darkwood" is 10-14 years of age, I have no doubt that children and adults of all ages will find the original story, the commendable heroine, and the dark world of Howland to be a compelling and interesting read. For myself, I will definitely be watching for any sequels that may come, and I hope that Annie will enjoy many future adventures.

NOTE: This review is based on a free Advance Review Copy of this book provided through Amazon Vine.

~ Ana Mardoll

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just another ok YA fantasy, August 9, 2009

By 

E. T. Dexter "Dex1138" (near Salem, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darkwood (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

For a 30-something male, I read a lot of YA books. I know what I like, what can I say? This particular story never really grabbed me and as a result I felt like I was trudging through it. Maybe it's because I like my fantasy a little more magical. This is a somewhat "low fantasy" setting.

Some say this is a dark fairy tale but for the most part it never feels to have a sense of wonder to it that would pull me into the world. There are fairy tale like elements to be sure: two sisters, one large and one small, an evil witch and the mysterious kinderstalk that keep the people locked in their homes at night.
I never really attached to the main character, Annie and was actually more interested in finding out about her cats, who appear to be more than they seem.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, with a strong young female protagonist!, May 17, 2009

By 

D. Pointer (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darkwood (Hardcover)

As I read this engaging and vivid novel, I was reminded of two of my favorites, which interestingly are not much like each other: The Wizard of Oz and The Golden Compass. Both, like Darkwood, offer a richly imagined alternate world against which a young female protagonist embarks on a quest. Darker in tone than Wizard, but not as fearsome as Pullman's Dark Materials, this novel reads like the first in a potential series. I, for one, look forward to the next from M.E. Breen!