Into the Woods [Paperback]

Lyn Gardner (Author), Mini Grey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A twisty-turny, not-quite fairy tale that is sure to please, now in paperback!

Storm, Aurora, and Anything Eden live in a decaying mansion on the edge of the wilds with their erstwhile father and indolent mother. When an accident leaves them orphaned and at the mercy of the sinister Dr. DeWilde, these three courageous and eccentric sisters are forced to flee into the woods, where they encounter kidnappers, sweets-filled orphanages, mountains of ice, diamond mines, and some ravenously hungry wolves.

Taking inspiration from numerous fairy tales and weaving them into a wholly original story, Into the Woods is a whirlwind of a novel, full of imaginative happenings and dastardly deeds.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 5–9—This gothic, wildly adventurous romp through the dream country of fairy tales celebrates the power of sisterhood. The Eden girls—beautiful, domestic Aurora; bold, reckless Storm; and baby Any—live at Eden End, a dilapidated estate near a rat-infested village in a setting that vaguely resembles rural Victorian England. On her deathbed, their mother bequeaths Storm a pipe, whispering "Beware of its terrible power." A year later, their grief-stricken father departs on a mysterious expedition, leaving a note that warns Aurora to be careful on her 16th birthday. Enter the mysterious, evil Dr. DeWilde. He wants the pipe. He and his ravenous wolves chase the sisters from their home and pursue them across a landscape familiar to readers of European myths, fairy tales, and fantasy. Elements of "The Pied Piper of Hamlin," "Rapunzel," "Hansel and Gretel," "The Snow Queen," and many other tales figure in the story. The breathless plot, which pulls readers into an escalating series of dangerous situations, hairbreadth escapes, bitter defeats, and surprising triumphs, is grounded in the realistic personalities of the sisters. As their relationship develops, they appeal to readers as much for their flaws as their strengths. Grey's black-and-white illustrations, interspersed with the text, advance the action. A descendant of Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (Doubleday, 1963) and its sequels, this book is distinguished by a strong, descriptive style. It should have wide appeal as a family read-aloud or absorbing read-alone.—Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Following their mother's death and father's abandonment, Storm and her sisters are left alone. The arrival of the evil Dr. DeWilde and his retinue of wolves forces the girls to flee, running into the woods before he can locate a musical pipe given to Storm by her mother. The ensuing adventure takes the girls afar as they encounter a house of sweets, a long-lost great-grandmother, and the Pied Piper, who lures children away. Gardner's fast-paced fantasy-adventure cleverly borrows from well-known fairy tales, and astute readers will enjoy identifying the many folkloric references. The sisters are especially interesting characters--homebody Aurora is addicted to cooking and cleaning, fearless Storm is drawn to pyrotechnics and acting on impulse. The baby astounds all with her amazing vocabulary. Grey's appealing black-and-white illustrations add humor and detail to the story. This will be a popular pick, especially for fans of Jean Ferris' Once upon a Marigold (2002) or Gail Carson Levine's Princess Tales series. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Yearling; Reprint edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044042223X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440422235
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1.3 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,820 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the cover -, September 3, 2007

By 

E. Thayer (Mishawaka, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Woods (Hardcover)

"Look after it, Storm... It's not a trinket. Whatever you do, don't let it fall into the wrong hands." Storm Eden isn't inclined to take her mother's dying words too seriously. After all, Zella Eden was not a very serious woman. She never did much of anything other than sleep, gaze at her own reflection and eat chocolate truffles in bed. Plus, the tiny musical pipe she pressed so urgently into Storm's hand doesn't look terribly powerful. It looks like a pipe. And a cheap one at that.

But then the wrong hands her mother warned of come knocking on the door of Eden End. hands that belong to the sinister Dr. DeWilde, a scar-faced gentleman with an unhealthy interest in rats. He wants that pipe, and he'll stop at nothing to get it.

With no parents to protect them, Storm and her sisters, Aurora and Anything, have no choice but to flee into the woods -- with Dr. DeWilde's hungry pack of wolves snapping close at their heels and a host of new dangers awaiting them in the shadows.

Featuring wonderful illustrations by the award-winning Mini Grey, Into the Woods is a classic tale with a very modern twist that will delight readers of every generation. ~ from the book's cover ~

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, June 11, 2009

By 

K. Hilmanowski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Woods (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book, purchasing it by impulse (I can't contain myself when I come in contact with fairytales!). I was not disappointed. This is by far the best fairytale I have read in such a long time. The book had everything- adventure, mystery, frightening parts, along with sisterly bonds that were unbreakable! Even though there were hints of other tales mentioned here and there, entwined within the story- Into the Woods is a story all in itself that I couldn't put down. I was enthralled at Lyn Gardner's creativity from beginning to end, and loving how she was able to keep the feel of an old-time fairytale within the pages of something so new and original. It will, like other reviews mentioned,be loved mainly by girls, as the story focuses around three main characters who are sisters. However, there is enough scare, wolves, and an evil Dr. to entertain the boys as well! Plus, it is just one of those stories that will intruige those of all ages. I am 31, and loved it, and can't wait to read it to my little girls who are 4 and 6. I wish Gardner would write another!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Into the Woods--and into a literary life, August 6, 2007

By 

Linda Wyman (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Woods (Hardcover)

I have it on good authority that this book is very appealing to readers (ages 9-12) for which it was intended, but I'd like to speak to its appeal to adults as well. Adults who like to see classic fairy tales become a part of new stories, and adults who enjoy theatrical allusions (from Webster to Beckett) should delight in this book. Reading Into the Woods should very well help to produce a literate audience of young people, some of whom will delight in recognizing allusions to works they know.