Friday, March 7, 2014

The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root by Christopher Pennell--ADVISIBLE

Pennell, Christopher The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root, illustrated by Rebecca Bond. 262 pgs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. $16.99. Language: G; Violence: G; Mature Content: G.

Carly Bean Bitters has a unique condition; she cannot sleep at night. During the day while others attend school, go to work, and live in the sunlight, Carly snoozes away oblivious. But at night, when the rest of the world sleeps, she becomes a witness to the magic that occurs in the moonlight. The moonlit world is a place where mice play music on rooftops and fly on the wind. Soon Carly makes friends with the mice and learns of the legend of the Whistle Root trees. Things begin to change when a wicked creature comes to life in the woods and sets about creating havoc.  Carly must understand her place in the legend and believe that she can stop the fiendish monster before all is lost.
Young readers will enjoy this book that is filled with magic and wonder. It is a nice tale of friendship and being able to overcome a crisis by believing in yourself and trusting in others. The illustrations that are sprinkled through the book are charming and add to the story. The only drawback is, while the plot is original and creative, the book falls short of creating a truly magical experience.

EL—ADVISIBLE. AEB

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