Girlwood

by Christy Yorke (Pseudonym), Christy Yorke, Claire Dean

Polly Greene has always been considered strange, a girl who can see a person's true colors, a thirteen-year-old more comfortable foraging in the woods with her eccentric grandmother than hanging out with friends. But all that is about to change when Polly's older sister, Bree, vanishes into the woods. The only one who believes Bree can survive, Polly begins to leave food in the woods for her sister and finds a hidden grove she names Girlwood, where she believes Bree is burning a fire each night. Along with an odd but endearing group of friends, Polly clings to the hope that she can see her sister through the harsh, snowy winter. And, in the process, she discovers the cruelty, bounty, and magic of the woods. Will Polly save her sister? And even if she does, will Girlwood survive?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Teen, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Middle Grade

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Christy Yorke was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she went to college and married her high school sweetheart. After graduating magna cum laude from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Psychology, she and her husband moved to Idaho for the fresh air and opportunity to live and play in the wilderness. With two nearly grown children, Christy spends her time writing, working as an internet consultant, gardening, hiking with her black Lab, and enjoying her rustic, electricity-less cabin in the woods.

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

In addition to writing this book, Claire Dean also has a website where she will teach you to read auras.

I think it is fair to mention this in my review (hi, goodreads Stasi! Don't flag me!) because Dean has a note at the end of the book which tells the reader this and explains the basics of aura-reading and also describes her electricity-free rustic cabin where she and her two children forage for the edible plants mentioned throughout the book.

Presumably the website goes into greater nuance about auras than the author's note, which seemed simplistic to me: Purple "means you are sensitive, artistic, and idealistic. People with green auras are helpful, strong, and friendly," etc. Dean did a decent job giving her characters some complexity and depth, so I will give her the benefit of the doubt and suppose that the publisher wouldn't let her have more than a page to expound her woo-woo beliefs. Er, New Age? I don't know what the politer term is for people who think they can see auras and communicate with trees.

From the point of view of this particular reader, it is unfortunate that the book ended with this note, because it made me much less charitable. The main character, Polly Greene, is a prepubescent girl who can also see auras, as well as wings and other symbolic stuff around people. I didn't really have a problem with this, although it didn't particularly please me, either. Encountering this assertion in fiction, I assume that the character has synesthesia and is interpreting it as auras, or is imagining it, or actually has magical gifts (it wasn't immediately clear that this book wasn't fantasy), or is producing some sort of mental effect as a way of coping with stress.

And Polly's life is certainly stressful. Her older sister, who used to play fairies in the woods with her, abruptly became a cruel drug-addict fuck up, then ran away from home. Her parents divorced. She is bullied at school, in part because her adored grandmother is a Mary Sue back-to-nature type who lives in a cabin with no electricity and makes herbal remedies and delivers babies under a tree. So the townsfolk both think she is an evil witch (Idaho is a little backwards, I guess) and resent her from blocking development of the forest, which cost jobs. I think the author intended the reader to admire Baba a lot more than I in fact did.

Anyway, what I was saying is that, perhaps unfairly, I am okay with a character seeing auras and wanting to live free in the woods, but it is hard for not to scoff at people who espouse this view in real life. In real life, pregnant teen drug addicts who run away into the woods with no supplies don't make it through the winter. Unless they get saved by fairies, which I also would have been okay with.

But Dean is a decent writer, and Polly was a decently-constructed character, and I liked the book well enough.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

One night, Polly is awakened from a sound sleep to find her older sister, Bree, kissing her. As Bree's blood red aura trails behind her like the tattered wings of a ruined fairy, she tells Polly that she's leaving for the woods, so that she can try to be alright again. Half asleep, and not sure if she's really seeing her emaciated, drugged out sister or an actual fairy, Polly lets her go, with no argument over how much Bree has destroyed since she started using drugs.

No one believes her when she tells them Bree has run to the woods, so it's up to Polly to provide everything her sister will need. Winter is almost there, and a developer is coming soon to trade out the trees for a housing development. Following the guidance of her grandmother, Baba, Polly knows that she could rely on herself to survive alone in the forest, and, with her help, so can Bree.

Luckily, Polly finds that she doesn't have to be alone. Others may not be able to see the colorful bands of light around each other that display exactly who they are inside, but they will believe her. Under the protection of the hidden grove that Baba has shown her, Polly and her friends will learn that, with a little magic and a little faith, anything is possible.

Beautifully written and with vibrant imagery, this book will strike a chord with anyone who has found magic and solace in their own secluded spot of wilderness. The explanations that head each chapter of the different wildflowers and their medicinal uses are also fascinating, as is the descriptions of various auras and what they mean. The back cover states that the author wrote this as a gift for her daughter, and she will be writing one for her son next. I'll be looking forward to reading that.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a 40-year-old mom with a 12-year-old daughter. This was the perfect mother-daughter read, and I HIGHLY recommend it for mothers and daughters of all ages. Some magic, suspense, and a spunky heroine for the daughters, and strong female characters, interesting plant lore, and girls making the right decisions for the mothers. GIRLWOOD is a great alternative to the darker, edgier books for teens that are out there in force. There are some suggestions of drug use and teen pregnancy, but what I liked about it was that these decisions were only hinted at and were not made by the main character, Polly. Polly sees the bad things that have happened to her sister because of poor choices, and the story is about how she and her friends find their way to what's right. And how they feel empowered by nature and their friendship with each other. A hopeful, optimistic, green story. Wonderful!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially picked this book up because of the amazing cover illustration, and would not have read it based on the flap copy otherwise. The book is not what it might appear to be. A modern story of a younger sister whose drug abusing older sister disappears. Lots of interesting issues are brought forth, and any fantastic elements of the story are open to interpretation. Modern, ancient, new-agey and concrete--all at the same time.

[Ever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminiscent of StarHawk and Francesca Lia Block. A lovely first novel.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is heart breaking, yet beautiful. I had a bit of difficulties getting into it at first, but I was soon enraptured by it. It is an amazing, short book that I would reccomend to most.

[Blanche M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story for anyone who grew up enchanted by Pocahontas and Ferngully. It’s so nice to believe in the magic around you, and the magic within every living thing. It also had some fun tidbits in the chapters about a featured plant and it’s medicinal properties. I know there’s natural remedies in the plants that we can find around us, but I don’t know what I can use or how to identify them. That knowledge needs to be taught and passed down. Polly learned from her grandmother, and as she finds her way, she teaches her friends to appreciate the world around them as well.

[Marnie Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first saw Girlwood in middle school at Barnes and Nobles, and fell in love with the cover. As usual I didn't have the money to buy the book at that time, but it never left my memory. This summer I found it at Half Price Books and had to grab it. The book is wonderful and has a great story and life lesson. Granted, it probably would have been better for the middle school version of myself instead of the 21 year old me. The main character in the piece is thirteen years old. I loved the ideas of the auras that are around everyone and how each person had a color that helped represent who they were. I think if I had the ability to see those colors I would be distracted by them all the time. The book has some great descriptions and characters, though it was slightly lacking in the depth of the piece. And I think that was just because it is meant more for younger readers than people like me who are in college. I found that its main point was to encourage teenagers to be themselves and not care about being part of the group, which is a wonderful theme for teenagers to learn. I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers or parents who are looking for a story to read with their older children. For people my own age it's a great read if you want something that's relaxing and an easy read. Or if you like to collect books with pretty covers like myself. ;)

[Anarda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely cover, lovely decorative artwork around the herb descriptions that started every chapter, and some very lovely thoughts about the wisdom of women, old and young, for which I am grateful. I also thought the initial set- up of a troubled older sister, Bree (shades of Ellen Hopkins), on a downward spiral and parents at a loss on what to do with themselves before and after this girl's disappearance was realistic.

The difficulty I had with the story was in the uneven mix of fantasy and reality; on the one hand, a wise woman grandma who I want to know, right now! And then, a " wolf girl" whose attribute is mentioned once or twice, then basically dropped. Was that necessary? Was the whole wolf interlude necessary? Was Polly's ability to see auras really necessary? There seemed to be a lot of fantastical things thrown into what is really a very slender story about growing up and accepting that not everything is in your power to make things right, and it became a slightly preachy quasi-fantasy, rather than a meditation on reality and metaphor.
Still, I enjoyed the story and the characters for the most part, and would happily hand it to a fantasy-minded young reader.

[Nur Farihin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love nature, forests and woods and anything magical, so I really enjoyed reading this book. The setting is wonderful, the characters are wonderful (my personal favourite is Baba), and the friends and family dynamic is wonderful.

The other thing that I like about this book is that at the beginning of each chapter, there are info's (albeit small) about plants mentioned in the story, their uses throughout history and properties. I myself is a believer that nature and everything in it have abundant healing properties, so it was very informative reading about plants that grows in a different part of the globe.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. Yes, I'm 41 years old, and this is a teen/young adult book, but it's one of the best stories I've read in a long time! The beginning of each chapter tells about some edible plant and what its medicinal uses are. The story is about a young girl whose family is falling apart - her sister disappears and her parents break up, a developer is building homes, destroying the woods around them. It's so magically written, the protagonist's relationship with her grandmother and their relationship with the woods. Truly a beautiful book!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took some getting through the first chapter, and getting a sense of the magical world that Polly lives in, along with all the issues that face her during the course of the novel. Once I got a sense of the pacing, I could not. put. this. down. I loved it.

Baba always said, when there's trouble, girls, run for the woods. Nature is such an integral part of Polly's life - and touches every aspect of this novel. I love magical realism.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of all time! If you love nature, you have to read this. A great story for girls--powerful, uplifting, and filled with the magic of the woods. A must-read!

[Helen Pugsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can the world just have more books like this? Thanks.

[Nekochimachan (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is reality where people are willing to cut down trees for newer buildings or establishments however Polly Greene wouldn't allow it because her sister ran away in that forest to seek shelter and rethink her life choices. Even though the novel is fiction that it teaches me to have the strength to do the right thing and never stop dreaming or believing. Without a doubt that I kinda like the story except for the parts where Polly is getting hurt and stuff. Plus I really like Polly's grandma because she takes good care with the trees and knows a lot of herbs that can cure someone or something.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey so I read this in sixth grade, no idea why they would put a book where an older sister does cocaine and gets pregnant in my hands, but this book fucking slapped and I think of it constantly. Sure, the grandma is a little kooky, and the mean girl is uncharacteristically mature for an eight grader if I remember right, but otherwise awesome. I love thinking about colors that I associate with people ever since I read this, and vividly remembering trying to talk about this book at the dinner table with my mom.

[Andrea Shore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one summer when I was young- a kid and it was so beautiful the way each chapter has a plant name, it uses and genus. I tried so hard to find a copy and still haven't found one in stores because I hate ordering things online. But other than that i loved the book and i would love to pick it up and give it another read.

['S just my opinion · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF—got to page 70 and I can’t figure out if this is supposed to be a realistic fiction book with new age references or a fantasy with realistic elements.
Unfortunately the story hasn’t drawn me in and I don’t like any of the characters enough to continue on.

[Homewood Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The first and last kiss Polly received from her
sister was as contrary as Bree herself. Lightweight by intense, a kiss
that was supposed to impart some deep meaning but offer zero affection,
a kiss that was retracted nearly before it began. It was past midnight,
and Polly was not only too tired to open her eyes, she was so sick of
her stoned, skeletal, sixteen-year-old sister that she didn't even
acknowledge Bree was there." The next day it is discovered that Bree
has run away, and Polly isn't sure if her midnight memory is true or
only a dream. She also vaguely remembers Bree saying "I'll be somewhere
in the woods. Our
woods." When she mentions this to the police and her
mother, they smiled at her "the way adults often did, like she was
darling and ridiculous." But Polly knows what she saw and heard, and
knows that it's up to her to keep Bree alive through the coming winter.
Together with her friends, she uses the woods knowledge learned from
her grandmother to build a shelter and bring wild, edible plants to a
magical clearing. The woods are in danger, though. A developer has
obtained permission to clear cut and build on acres of the overgrown
landscape. Polly has to hope that enough will be left to sustain her
sister and keep their secrets.

This eloquent tale is rich and
evocative. Several plot lines twist and wind around each other like
vines, interweaving yet remaining separate. Class bullies, abuse,
addiction and growing up are all part of the story, yet none overpowers
the other. The story flows easily, and I became so caught up in the
story and the language that it was difficult to stop. I highly
recommend this book.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bree and Polly had always felt at home in the woods playing at their games, Bree as the princess in need of rescuing and Polly as her woodland fairy always the one there for her, that is until Bree decided she was too old to play such childish games, too old to be running about the woods. But when Bree ran away to the woods leaving behind a broken family and a lost little sister, Polly was a little jealous that she had not thought to flee into the woods first.

With her sister missing, her parents separated and her best friend abandoning her when she needs a friend the most, Polly turns to the one person in her life who is always there for her, her grandmother Baba. It was Baba who first taught Polly about the woods and its magic, but it was not until Bree left that Polly discovered the secret hidden away at the heart of the woods, a place of enchantment and hope. Only in Girlwood could Polly hold onto her belief that things would work out. But then the chainsaws moved in...

Girlwood is a story of the woods; a story of family and friendships; a story of two sisters, the one who left to save herself and one who was left behind to save everyone else. Polly's world is full of the impossible, auras, faeries, wolves and an old witch whom she loves very much. But she is struggling to hold on to all the magic of childhood that she so strongly believes in in the face of cold reality that comes with growing up. A blend of fairytale, contemporary fiction, botany and magic, Girlwood has a unique charm that will pull at your heartstrings.

[Roots & Shoots]

This article was published on the website for Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots.

ROOTS & SHOOTS BOOK CLUB June 2008: "Girlwood" by Claire Dean
06/01/2008

If you like "hope and magic and fairies," then you'll love this month's Roots & Shoots Book Club selection: Girlwood by Claire Dean. At the request of the author's daughter, for whom the book was written, Girlwood is full of all these things.

Geared to an adolescent and "tween" audience, the book tells the story of Polly, as she ventures into the fantastical tree grove known as "Girlwood." While there, Polly must rescue her unruly sister, save the grove from developers and discover the magic within herself. While the novel's protagonist is female and its title seemingly gender-specific, its themes are universal for young people.

"This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a teenager," said Dr. Jane, who wrote an endorsement for the book. "It emphasizes the healing power of animals and nature, which [can help] young readers to understand that it is okay to be different and that every individual can play a role in making this a better world."

Once you read Girlwood, you can start finding your role in the world. Here are some ideas:

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/kbfQgb

[Shelley Dunbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay… So I gave Girlwood three stars even though I mostly loath this book. Reading this for the first time as an adult I find it very difficult to think of a book more poorly written than Girlwood. My reading experience was enraging. Dean’s writing style was muddy at best, and the transitions from topic to topic were extremely clunky. I at one point found myself sitting on my couch, staring at the book thinking: “I could read this, or I could go do the giant pile of dishes in my sink.” I got up and did the dishes… and I don’t have a dishwasher.
Now, you may be thinking, “why the heck did she give this thing three stars?” It’s a valid question. I have three reasons:
1. My twelve year old self would have loved it, because she didn’t know any better. Don’t judge her.
2. It has at its core, if you can wade through the terrible writing, a truly feminist message. One that I think is important for girls to hear. I would love to have a better book that showcases this, so that I can downgrade Girlwood’s star count, but I haven’t found it yet. Please give me suggestions!
3. A beautiful use of a semi-colon that was so shocking coming from Dean it pulled me out of the story. Page 93 check it out. I have a thing for semi-colons. Don’t judge me.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With one foot in the modern world and one foot in a world of fantasy, Claire Dean's Girlwood takes us into the life of Polly Greene, who can see the colors that surround people, revealing their true selves. Polly's older sister, Bree, disappears into the woods one night, and Polly is the only one who believes she has not run far, that she's hiding nearby to heal her out-of-control life.

When Polly finds a magical clearing hidden among the trees, she's certain that her sister is close, and she determines to leave her food and clothing and healing plants to help Bree survive until she's ready to return.

Girlwood explores many themes as Polly enlists the help of friends and family in her mission:
What's the value of nature compared to development?
Why do girls sometimes subvert their own personalities when they start to date?
How does divorce affect family dynamics?
How can parents teach and protect their children while also allowing them to have independent thoughts?

The themes are woven into a story that is as enchanting as the magical clearing, Girlwood, itself. And by the end, you may even find yourself searching for your own Girlwood.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is great for early teens. It has a great message to young girls about staying away from drugs, sex and the wrong crowd. If you love nature this book is a great one to read. I learned about people’s auras, according to this book we all have energy fields around us and give off color. You can train your eyes to see them, the colors that you give off all mean something. Purple, for instance, means you are sensitive, artistic and idealistic. People with green auras are helpful, strong, and friendly.
I have tried it out but I guess I’m not concentrating enough  Overall good book with a great message!

Favorite quote from the book “As soon as she started dating him, Bree began to dress like Aaron, hold her cigarette between her thumb and forefinger the way he did, sample his favorite drugs. It took no time at all to complete her transformation from girl to Aaron’s shadow, as if love wasn’t measured in goodness and devotion but in how much you’d give up for a person, how far you’d sink.”

[Quilltips]

This would have been a much better book if it hadn't been so intent on its New Age/hippie/neo-pagan agenda. I know, I know, lots of things get accused of that; still, it was just plain laid on too thick. Also, while I have no problem with a bit of environmentalism/Green politics in a book, did the author *have* to hit us over the head that many times with it? Put it all together, and the book basically turns into a feel-good conversion tract for its respective causes.



To be fair, I did enjoy parts of the book. I was very hopeful when I picked it up that it would help girls appreciate the wild and respect themselves, and it does some of that. It's got many uplifting points. Still, it would have been much better if the rest of it weren't hitting the reader over the head with a pine-scented sledgehammer. Also, it was completely predictable -- everything I thought might happen, happened. Reading this wasn't the worst waste time I can think of, by far; but it was still a waste of time.

[Payal · Rating 2 out of 5]

NEEDS TO COME WITH A TRIGGER WARNING. I am slightly unclear where this book sits as a genre, but since it is written from the perspective of a 12 year old, it automatically gets put into the YA category. However, the blurb or the general introduction to the book mentions nothing that the fact that the book deals with the fallout of a drug addicted, pregnant runaway teenager on her family. Drugs are mentioned in its various forms, and throughout the book.
My Grade 3 daughter got assigned this book by her teacher. Presumably the teacher hadn't read the book her, and there was nothing on the covers anywhere that even hint that the book deals with such clearly high school or at the very least middle school topics. Even so, I truly believe such books need a trigger warning, so kids and their parents can make more informed choices in their reading.
Having said the above, in the hope that it might be useful to someone, the book read as an adult was okay. I particularly enjoyed reading about all the botanical information. And grit and determination of the main protagonist is inspiring.

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girlwood is a hidden grove of larches, that can only be reached by crawling through a thorny thicket. Polly is certain that the grove has some magic in it--and she will need all the magic she can get to help her sister, Bree. Bree: strung out, barely 100 pounds, maybe even pregnant, and now she's gone. She told Polly that she was going to the woods, and there has been a fire burning a couple of the times Polly has gone to Girlwood, but fire alone can't keep Bree alive through the winter. Polly can see auras, and find edible and medicinal forest plants, but even with her gifts, she can't save her sister all by herself.

One girl's coming-of-age story, with threads of environmental issues; magical realism; family relationships; middle school friendship, betrayal, and romance; and a threatended grove in the middle of the woods. How much are you willing to believe? Let Polly take you by the hand and tell you her story.

Recommended for younger teens.

[Renetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know... don't judge a book by it's cover... but have you seen this cover?! The woman who owned the little store was insisting on closing immediately, she had somewhere to be. I quickly flipped the book over and read the quote.

"Every day has a moment of wonder in it that most people pass right by."

Sold!
----------------------------

So I finally got a chance to read this. I absolutely love roaming the woods and foraging for food. Being close to nature and contemplating and appreciating life. If this sounds like you, read this book. If this doesn't sound like you, then you really should read this book.

It's a coming of age story though less than a year is covered. A lot can happen in a year. Friends can come and go and come back again and... Life can throw seemingly impossible hurdles and challenges at you.
Dealing with life as an adult is tricky but try it at 12!

Great story! A must read for my granddaughter when she's approaching those middle childhood years.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Polly is 12, her parents just separated, because her Mother wants to be a fine upstanding corporate family, and her Dad wants to quit being a lawyer, live in a cabin with no electricity and make woodcarvings.

Their older daughter has gotten in with a bad crowd, turned to drugs and ran away. Her Mother is trying to distance herself from their strange herbal remedy healer type Grandmother, who Polly adores.

Polly is a very fantastical child, who see's people's aura's and emotions, she feels also very mystical and fantastical about nature and the forest outside of their town, that is being actively cleared out for a gated living community.

Polly is convinced that her sister Bri is living wild in the woods. Is she? Is she not? Could be either.

This book fell really flat with me, I don't know if I would have liked it, if I would have read it when I was younger? I was a very daydreamy kid, but I didn't relate to Polly at all.

So it was a strike-out for me.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The make-believe, true-life dichotomy in this one just didn't really flow for me. And the ending was very unsatisfying. But I read it anyway.

Favorite Quotes:

"It took no time at all to complete her transformation from girl to Aaron's shadow, as if love wasn't measured in goodness and devotio, but in how much you'd give up for a person, how far you'd sink."

"...praying that happiness simply grew more complicated as you got older, and sometimes, if it had to, even started with a lie."

"She felt protective of their optimism..."

"That's too much to ask, to be someone's whole world...I'm not everything. I'm just me."