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Willowmere
"To Pea, Love Mom"
...reads the necklace twelve-year-old Pea finds stuck high in the willow tree Mom had planted long ago on their ranch. Pea doesn't know how it got there. If Mom were alive, she would ask her. But when Pea takes the necklace, the tree reveals a secret tunnel to Willowmere-the magical world built by her mom's stories.
Pea crawls through the tunnel and realizes that Willowmere is crumbling. Frightening dangers lurk behind each tree, and magic is deteriorating into chaos. All she learns seems to contradict everything she knows.
But could Mom still be alive in Willowmere? If Pea can learn to trust her new friends, and harness the power of stories, she might just save the world.
But she'll have to save herself first.
...reads the necklace twelve-year-old Pea finds stuck high in the willow tree Mom had planted long ago on their ranch. Pea doesn't know how it got there. If Mom were alive, she would ask her. But when Pea takes the necklace, the tree reveals a secret tunnel to Willowmere-the magical world built by her mom's stories.
Pea crawls through the tunnel and realizes that Willowmere is crumbling. Frightening dangers lurk behind each tree, and magic is deteriorating into chaos. All she learns seems to contradict everything she knows.
But could Mom still be alive in Willowmere? If Pea can learn to trust her new friends, and harness the power of stories, she might just save the world.
But she'll have to save herself first.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
248 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 13, 2023
A well written story of a young girl overcoming struggles after such a great loss. The story flows along as any young child's life might after losing a loved one, struggles, sadness , forgiveness , love, fear , jealousy over new things discovered and most of all strength.
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July 11, 2023With themes dealing with lost, jealousy and forgiveness, Willomere is a place where a child learns they have power over more than they may think and that love and memories can bring peace. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
March 4, 2024
A 12 year old girl, Pea, who tragically lost her mother discovers a magical world created by her mother's stories.
The book is full of adventures that help Pea find her courage and strength. It explores themes of loss and the love that lives on.
It is written in short chapters, and would be a good read- aloud novel.
The book is full of adventures that help Pea find her courage and strength. It explores themes of loss and the love that lives on.
It is written in short chapters, and would be a good read- aloud novel.
October 19, 2023
Following the death of her mother, a young girl discovers the world she built.
Willowmere by Andrea Cox Christen is a story about love, stories, and resilience in the face of death. It is about perseverance and the fight to protect everything one has. The main character, Pea, is a believable portrait of a young girl after her mother's death. The event has scarred Pea in a way that is accessible but not overdone. The other people (and lemur-monkey-dogs) that she meets in Willowmere are all complex and multi-faceted, and their development helps to push the story forwards. Willowmere is a world that is rotting from the inside out, but the fear and violence that the protagonists encounter never feels over-the-top. Instead, the inherent beauty of the world shines through in Christen's graceful prose, creating a setting that readers will long to explore further. The plot is fast-paced but never rushed, leaving plenty of time for the characters to fight and eventually flourish with one another. It is also a beautiful allegory for the pain we go through when dealing with the death of a loved one. The pain and growth that Pea experiences, along with themes of resilience and cooperation, are at the heart of the narrative. These ideas are extremely well-developed, and they are represented in the plot in a way that will feel understandable even to readers who have not experienced this sort of loss.
From beginning to end, Willowmere is a joy to experience. Christen builds the story with much skill, and she makes it feel natural for readers to want to disappear within her creation. I can only hope that she will continue to write more of these books so that we can see Pea and her friends develop even more within Willowmere and in the real world.
Willowmere by Andrea Cox Christen is a story about love, stories, and resilience in the face of death. It is about perseverance and the fight to protect everything one has. The main character, Pea, is a believable portrait of a young girl after her mother's death. The event has scarred Pea in a way that is accessible but not overdone. The other people (and lemur-monkey-dogs) that she meets in Willowmere are all complex and multi-faceted, and their development helps to push the story forwards. Willowmere is a world that is rotting from the inside out, but the fear and violence that the protagonists encounter never feels over-the-top. Instead, the inherent beauty of the world shines through in Christen's graceful prose, creating a setting that readers will long to explore further. The plot is fast-paced but never rushed, leaving plenty of time for the characters to fight and eventually flourish with one another. It is also a beautiful allegory for the pain we go through when dealing with the death of a loved one. The pain and growth that Pea experiences, along with themes of resilience and cooperation, are at the heart of the narrative. These ideas are extremely well-developed, and they are represented in the plot in a way that will feel understandable even to readers who have not experienced this sort of loss.
From beginning to end, Willowmere is a joy to experience. Christen builds the story with much skill, and she makes it feel natural for readers to want to disappear within her creation. I can only hope that she will continue to write more of these books so that we can see Pea and her friends develop even more within Willowmere and in the real world.
January 30, 2024
Sweet book of a girl finding her mother's magical land.
December 28, 2023
"That tree was probably fed on dreams, water and soil. I wonder if that tree misses her like we do."
Rating Willowmere is difficult for me because I appreciate the heart and emotion that was certainly poured into this story, but there was just something that kept me from enjoying it to the extent that I expected to. Looking at the story as a whole, it's very sweet, nostalgic, and adventurous. It has vibes that remind me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, but also a very fresh storyline that makes it stand out.
The things that just didn't do it for me were the dialogue and the way Pea acted throughout most of the story. I understand a lot of her actions are typical of 12-year-olds going through traumatic circumstances (like the loss of a mother), but it was still very difficult for me to sympathize with her and like her as a character (especially since this is fiction). The way she treated those around her was often out of line and she rarely apologized for it, instead justifying it in her thoughts. I actually sympathized with Laur more than Pea because I felt that Laur at least tried to be friendly; Pea was downright mean to Laur, very often, before she even had reason to be. So, that made it really difficult for me to root for her.
The other thing was the dialogue, which I really feel is going to be a personal preference. Renault annoyed me. Every time there was dialogue from Renault, I cringed, and again, that's a personal preference. Some middle graders might laugh at it, other readers might find it cute and endearing, but I struggled with it. I read a lot of middle grade books with the silly and charming side-characters so I'm not unfamiliar with this type of character (think Bing Bong from the movie Inside Out or Dobby from Harry Potter), but I just never could get myself to find him "cute".
Overall, Willowmere has a sweet message of overcoming the sadness of loss, mending broken relationships, and exploring the world within the Willow Tree. I'd recommend it to readers who love unique characters and books where the main character has a lot of flaws to overcome.
I received this book from the author/publisher for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
Rating Willowmere is difficult for me because I appreciate the heart and emotion that was certainly poured into this story, but there was just something that kept me from enjoying it to the extent that I expected to. Looking at the story as a whole, it's very sweet, nostalgic, and adventurous. It has vibes that remind me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, but also a very fresh storyline that makes it stand out.
The things that just didn't do it for me were the dialogue and the way Pea acted throughout most of the story. I understand a lot of her actions are typical of 12-year-olds going through traumatic circumstances (like the loss of a mother), but it was still very difficult for me to sympathize with her and like her as a character (especially since this is fiction). The way she treated those around her was often out of line and she rarely apologized for it, instead justifying it in her thoughts. I actually sympathized with Laur more than Pea because I felt that Laur at least tried to be friendly; Pea was downright mean to Laur, very often, before she even had reason to be. So, that made it really difficult for me to root for her.
The other thing was the dialogue, which I really feel is going to be a personal preference. Renault annoyed me. Every time there was dialogue from Renault, I cringed, and again, that's a personal preference. Some middle graders might laugh at it, other readers might find it cute and endearing, but I struggled with it. I read a lot of middle grade books with the silly and charming side-characters so I'm not unfamiliar with this type of character (think Bing Bong from the movie Inside Out or Dobby from Harry Potter), but I just never could get myself to find him "cute".
Overall, Willowmere has a sweet message of overcoming the sadness of loss, mending broken relationships, and exploring the world within the Willow Tree. I'd recommend it to readers who love unique characters and books where the main character has a lot of flaws to overcome.
I received this book from the author/publisher for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.
July 11, 2023
Willowmere is great read for children who have enjoyed fantasies like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Roar. I really liked Andrea Cox Christen’s story and characters. It was full of adventure, dangers, and unpredictable problems for the characters to solve by working together and discovering their own inner strengths. It is well written and moves along at a good pace.
Pea (Penelope) is dealing with grief over the loss of her mother and fearfulness. Suddenly she discovers the world of Willowmere which was created by her mother’s wonderful imagination and stories. However, Willowmere is falling apart without Pea’s mother’s stories that created Willowmere. Can Pea face her fears and grief and save Willowmere? Can she find her mom somewhere in Willowmere? Pea must learn to work with new friends, conquer her fears, and learn to forgive to be successful in healing the broken magical world.
The values of friendship, courage, forgiveness, and love carry the characters through to a satisfying ending.
Pea (Penelope) is dealing with grief over the loss of her mother and fearfulness. Suddenly she discovers the world of Willowmere which was created by her mother’s wonderful imagination and stories. However, Willowmere is falling apart without Pea’s mother’s stories that created Willowmere. Can Pea face her fears and grief and save Willowmere? Can she find her mom somewhere in Willowmere? Pea must learn to work with new friends, conquer her fears, and learn to forgive to be successful in healing the broken magical world.
The values of friendship, courage, forgiveness, and love carry the characters through to a satisfying ending.
July 27, 2023
Willomere is a fun read about a young girl named Pea who discovers a secret world that her mother made as a child. Pea is dealing with her grief over the loss of her mother and the change in her relationship with her father as they navigate life without her mother. The story reminds me of an "Alice in Wonderland" or "Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe" feel as Pea enters the make-believe world through a willow tree that her mother plants as a child. She needs to problem solve and work together to overcome the problems in the secret world and save its inhabitants. She learns to deal with her fears, process her grief and deal with new feelings like jealousy as they save the world. Whimsical and encouraging read that moves along at a good pace. Love the clean story line with the positive moral values. This would make for a great family read-aloud too!
Thank you to Chicken Scratch Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book to me for free and allowing me to leave an honest review.
Thank you to Chicken Scratch Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book to me for free and allowing me to leave an honest review.
August 16, 2023
For Pea (Penelope), entering the magical world of Willowmere is a way to connect with her recently deceased mother. It is the world created by her mother’s richly imagined stories. But without her mother’s presence as the queen of Willowmere, the world is decaying. Pea learns that the way to reconnect with her mother is by curing the decay, by infusing Willowmere with her own memories and stories.
While Willowmere is an action-filled fantasy, it is also a book about acceptance. Throughout the book, Pea learns to accept grief, to accept the help of others, to adjust her memories, to accept that her mother was not quite as perfect as Pea wanted to believe. It is also a book about learning that others need her help, and learning how to give as well as receive.
While Willowmere is an action-filled fantasy, it is also a book about acceptance. Throughout the book, Pea learns to accept grief, to accept the help of others, to adjust her memories, to accept that her mother was not quite as perfect as Pea wanted to believe. It is also a book about learning that others need her help, and learning how to give as well as receive.
August 13, 2023
Willowmere is a wonderful fantasy about Pea as she grapples with the death of her mom. Definitely got The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe feelings while I read the book, which is absolutely wonderful. The story has well written characters, and just the right amount of danger and adventure to keep readers engaged, but not feel like what's happening is too far-fetched.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews