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Spindlewood Tales #1
Pip and the Wood Witch Curse: A Spindlewood Tale
Dark, scary, and magnificently illustrated, this is a new series not to be missed! The great walled city of Hangman's Hollow is at war with the forest outside. Into this war, one dreadful night, fate delivers a skinny, helpless boy. But maybe Pip isn't as helpless as he seems. Maybe he is the one who will defeat the wood witches and rescue the children of Hangman's Hollow.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2011
3 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Chris Mould
156 books54 followersChris Mould is the illustrator of Captain Beastlie’s Pirate Party, written by Lucy Coats. Chris went to art school at the age of sixteen. During this time, he did various jobs, from delivering papers to washing-up. He has won the Nottingham Children’s Book Award and been commended for the Sheffield. He loves his work and likes to write and draw the kind of books that he would have liked to have on his shelf as a boy. He is married with two children and lives in Yorkshire.
Chris Mould spends his working day in one of the prestigious art studios at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax. His studio is clearly marked with a skull and crossboned warning as to what might lie within.
Chris is not confined to book illustration. He has worked for the RSC, the BBC, the FT and many other famous initials, aswell as film development work for Aardman Animations which included character and environment development work on the film Flushed Away.
When away from his studio, Chris spends most of his time with his wife Sue and his two daughters Emily and Charlotte.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 23, 2021
While the illustrations in this book are fantastic and the story is promising, it never quite delivers. It does get more interesting in the second half, but for the first few chapters, I was almost falling asleep. I kept reading only because it's so short. The ending is ok, but clearly you are meant to keep reading. Unfortunately, my library only has the first book and the series is already out of print. In fact, I'm not sure the third one was ever released in the U.S. So this book is kind of a sad road to nowhere.
September 18, 2017
Really enjoyed this children's novel. I feel the book was inviting from the beginning, gripping you right from the start wanting you to read on in order to find out what happens to Pip! The description was brilliant! Chris Mould writes in such a lovely way that describes enough you could draw the characters and your imagination seems to run wild as you go on. Each chapter I felt left me on a bit of a cliff hanger - where was it going to take him next. I feel this book is mainly aimed at children aged 6-11 and could be a real gem in the classroom used in classes such as art, big writes as well as drama. It symbolises facing your fears and growing friendships. The theme throughout I believe was that the grass is not always greener on the other side but you can always make the best of every situation with a bit of courage and help from others. The whole story is from Pip's point of view and I felt my heart racing for him throughout which gives me hope that children would be as keen to and hooked to finishing the story as I was. Although it was based around fantasy the way in which it was set made me feel as though the place really existed which gave it kind of a scary factor but that just invited me more into it. I felt also the chapters had been broken up perfectly meaning it could be read left and picked up again a month later and you would know what was happening. The way the setting was described made me feel this was set many years ago, hundreds in fact and due to this it made the 'forest people' sound all that bit more realistic. Although it does touch on a few other characters mainly, Sam and his son Toad the focus is always on Pip and how he is feeling and I feel the book has been written in a way which allows you to be Pip when you are reading it and feel every emotion he does, almost place yourself there and feel at points in life you have felt exactly the same way. I cannot wait to take this story into the classroom sometime and do some work around it as I feel it will be a real winner! Probably best not to be used as a bed time story for those a bit younger due to the 'forest people' being a little scary!
November 10, 2016
I love Chris Mould's illustrations and his stories have enough about them so I thought I'd give this a go. I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to read more in this particular series - not because there's anything wrong or unpromising. Unlike some reviewers, I did feel the book had a proper ending - but it was about the way Pip feels, not something that happens in a conventional plot sense, but it is a significant event that he does feel that way.
It's all pretty dark, as is popular in children's literature these days (not particularly complaining) and I am not sure the set-up is quite as original and engaging as Something Wickedly Weird although atmospheric, and some of the scenes were certainly well enough written to get the heart racing, especially the chase through the wood on horseback. Phew! The illustrations are predictably wonderful (apart from the cover which was in colour) The aforementioned horse had a touch of the Thelwells which worked rather nicely in such a perilous situation. I liked the chapter headings which made a real contribution to the experience.
It's all pretty dark, as is popular in children's literature these days (not particularly complaining) and I am not sure the set-up is quite as original and engaging as Something Wickedly Weird although atmospheric, and some of the scenes were certainly well enough written to get the heart racing, especially the chase through the wood on horseback. Phew! The illustrations are predictably wonderful (apart from the cover which was in colour) The aforementioned horse had a touch of the Thelwells which worked rather nicely in such a perilous situation. I liked the chapter headings which made a real contribution to the experience.
September 24, 2021
A bit creepy. Good for upper elementary or middle school.
February 11, 2011
(review for hodderchildrens.co.uk)
Pip is a runaway orphan who ends up in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, which up until that point he has only known from stories. Horror stories. There are no other children on the streets of the city but there are wood creatures and the spies from the city. Both on the hunt for the children, each for their own sinister purpose.
The book is fast-paced, adventurous and the names and creatures are fantastical enough that sometimes the story reads like a modern fairytale. What really makes the book stand out though are the most excellent graphics (sometimes mimicking a comic book layout, other times the characters are curled around the page) as well as the clever and interesting chapter titles. Particularly enjoyable are the extras in between the chapters such as "A short bit at the end of chapter fourteen" that tell the story of an extra character that I'm assuming will become more prominent in the later books.
Pip and the Wood Witch Curse is the first in a series of Pip books and is highly recommendable for children in the age group of 8-12.
Pip is a runaway orphan who ends up in the walled city of Hangman's Hollow, which up until that point he has only known from stories. Horror stories. There are no other children on the streets of the city but there are wood creatures and the spies from the city. Both on the hunt for the children, each for their own sinister purpose.
The book is fast-paced, adventurous and the names and creatures are fantastical enough that sometimes the story reads like a modern fairytale. What really makes the book stand out though are the most excellent graphics (sometimes mimicking a comic book layout, other times the characters are curled around the page) as well as the clever and interesting chapter titles. Particularly enjoyable are the extras in between the chapters such as "A short bit at the end of chapter fourteen" that tell the story of an extra character that I'm assuming will become more prominent in the later books.
Pip and the Wood Witch Curse is the first in a series of Pip books and is highly recommendable for children in the age group of 8-12.
May 27, 2011
For all those fans of the Lemony Snicket and Tony DiTerlizzi books, here comes a new series to enthral you just as much. This is the story of Pip, a young orphan who on a dreadful winter’s night arrives in Hangman’s Hollow. Having escaped his miserable orphanage life, Pip finds that this new place is even worse. There are only a few children in the village and those few must stay completely hidden or may fall foul of the hook-handed man and the wicked creatures of the forest. All the other children have disappeared, never to be seen again in the village.
Can Pip and his new friend Toad find the lost children before the great walled village goes to war with the forest outside?
This is Book 1 of the series. Look out for Books 2 & 3 to be released soon – ‘Pip and the twilight seekers’ and ‘Pip and the lost children’.
Can Pip and his new friend Toad find the lost children before the great walled village goes to war with the forest outside?
This is Book 1 of the series. Look out for Books 2 & 3 to be released soon – ‘Pip and the twilight seekers’ and ‘Pip and the lost children’.
July 29, 2016
loved this very scary and imaginative children's book though I think it must give kids nightmares, its very gripping so much so that I read it in 2 hours flat and could not switch off the light before I read to the end. Lots of horrible characters in the book but many kind people too. One thing I think Pip is realising is that sometimes we think we are in the worst place ever in our lives only to move on and find out there are much worse situations we could be in!! looking forward to the following book to see whether the children manage to evade capture by the wood witches and other evil creatures in the hollow!!
June 12, 2013
Meh. First, I give no credit to a book that has such an unsatisfying conclusion. I know it's set up to be the first in a series, but it reads more like a magazine serial in that regard - you've got to give me a little more to make me want to continue. Also, in typical Mould fashion, it conflates odd with confusing. I've liked some of his books, but am just not into this one. I couldn't wait for it to be over.
October 18, 2011
Dark story with plenty of scary creatures, but more of a dark adventure than a horror story. Plot moved well and had a good amount of suspense and tension. I liked the creepy illustrations and british style writing.
April 29, 2015
This book is part Series of Unfortunate Events... any of the them... and part that weird child-hunting part of the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (That weird child-hunting is NOT part of the original story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And this book doesn't end -- it just stops.
August 19, 2012
More than a little scary for timid youngsters, but well written. Illustrations are breathtaking.
February 5, 2013
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February 20, 2013This is the first in a series of fast-paced scary adventures with awesome illustrations. Sure to be a winner!
May 27, 2013
Enjoyable and slightly spooky/creepy fantasy.
October 23, 2016
Un libro de mi infancia, me encantó cuando tenía 11 años.
February 25, 2013
Reminds me of Lemony Snickett. Lots of illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews