A dark and starless forest / Sarah Hollowell.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780358424413 (hardcover)
- ISBN: 0358424410 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 364 pages ; 22 cm
- Publisher: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, [2021]
- Copyright: ©2021
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Sisters > Fiction. Forests and forestry > Fiction. Missing persons > Fiction. Magic > Fiction. |
Genre: | Fantasy fiction. |
Available copies
- 2 of 2 copies available at Kenton County.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Other Formats and Editions
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Erlanger Branch | YA HOLLO S (Text) | 33126020442590 | YA Fiction | Available | - |
Independence Branch | YA HOLLO S (Text) | 33126020442582 | YA Fiction | Available | - |
- School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 2021 September
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal.Gr 7 Upâ Derry lives in a secluded house in the woods with her siblings and their protector, Frank. White, fat, 16-year-old Derry and her siblings fear Frank even as he reminds them that he took them in when no oneânot even their parentsâwanted them because of their magic. Derry and her siblingsâeldest Jane (who is Black); Winnie (who is fat and white); Brooke (fat, Deaf, Mexican American); white twins Elle and Irene (Irene is trans); nonbinary, Mexican American Violet; and the youngest, identical Black twins Olivia and Londonâhave fierce bonds among them. When two of them disappear, their protector blames the dense forest surrounding their home. As Derry learns more about him and her own magical affinity for growing real and imagined plants, Derry will have to decide how far she is willing to go to keep her loved ones safe. Despite each sibling having distinct magical abilities, this element of the story is largely set dressing for a blend of horror and suspense. The first-person narration amplifies the siblings' isolation with a palpable fear of Frank and his punishments. Hollowell goes above and beyond to create an inclusive cast with some elements integrated into the narrative better than others (everyone's use of ASLâdesignated by single quotes around signed dialogueâto communicate with Brooke). Derry's quest to find her missing siblings and save all of them from Frank drives the story but leaves little room for character development of the other siblings who are often absent from the action and remain little more than names and attributes. Derry's moral ambiguity is unresolved by the end of the story along with questions about worldbuilding and what will come next for all of the siblings.VERDICT A dark, inclusive blend of horror and extremely light fantasy. Recommended for collections where horror is popular.âEmma Carbone, Brooklyn P.L.