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The Woods
After a tragic explosion causes Lenora to lose her family, she goes to live with her estranged uncle at his estate. There, Lenora is drawn to the nearby woods and the magic she discovers within them. Can this magic reunite her with her family, or is it more sinister than she realizes?
Twelve-year-old Lenora's world is turned upside down after an explosion makes her the lone surviving member of her immediate family. She has nowhere to go, until her estranged Uncle Richard shows up and takes her away to live with him in his lonely mansion. Quiet and stern, he spends most of his time in his study conducting research and experimenting. Lenora is able to explore parts of the mansion and its lovely gardens, but Uncle Richard has one rule for her: Stay out of the woods.
Years ago, Lenora's cousin, Bobby went into Gilgevnah Woods and never came out. Now, Uncle Richard will do anything he can to destroy them. Lenora knows she is meant to stay away, but her grief and loneliness draw her in.
Upon entering the woods, she finds a world full of enchantment and beauty. Lenora befriends Bela the Scorlaman, keeper of Gilgevnah Woods, who shows her the wonder and the mystery of the place, but also promises to reunite her with her family. Is it too good to be true?
Will Lenora find peace in the magic of Gilgevnah Woods, or will she find something darker?
The Woods is an entrancing magical realism novel from author R.L. Toalson that tackles profound loss, grief, and finally, acceptance.
Twelve-year-old Lenora's world is turned upside down after an explosion makes her the lone surviving member of her immediate family. She has nowhere to go, until her estranged Uncle Richard shows up and takes her away to live with him in his lonely mansion. Quiet and stern, he spends most of his time in his study conducting research and experimenting. Lenora is able to explore parts of the mansion and its lovely gardens, but Uncle Richard has one rule for her: Stay out of the woods.
Years ago, Lenora's cousin, Bobby went into Gilgevnah Woods and never came out. Now, Uncle Richard will do anything he can to destroy them. Lenora knows she is meant to stay away, but her grief and loneliness draw her in.
Upon entering the woods, she finds a world full of enchantment and beauty. Lenora befriends Bela the Scorlaman, keeper of Gilgevnah Woods, who shows her the wonder and the mystery of the place, but also promises to reunite her with her family. Is it too good to be true?
Will Lenora find peace in the magic of Gilgevnah Woods, or will she find something darker?
The Woods is an entrancing magical realism novel from author R.L. Toalson that tackles profound loss, grief, and finally, acceptance.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2019
7 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Toalson
13 books64 followersArnold Adoff Poetry Honor award-winning MG author, poet | THE COLORS OF THE RAIN | THE WOODS | wife, mom of 6 (boys), long-distance runner, tea drinker
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 14, 2019
After suffering an unimaginable loss, Lenora is forced to move in with her uncle Richard, a man she has never even met. Lenora's father never told her about his brother or their childhood home, which happens to be a mansion, so imagine her shock when she sees her new home for the first time. All uncle Richard asks of Lenora is that she not enter the east wing of his home where he does his work, and she must never go into the woods. The woods behind his home are a dangerous place, but he won't explain why. Lenora only knows that her uncle's son disappeared in those woods many years ago.
When Lenora hears a familiar voice calling her name, she is lured into the woods by the hope of reuniting with her family. Once there, she meets a magical creature named Bela. Bela promises her that the woods will do her no harm if she has no ill intent, but the deeper she ventures into the woods, the more uncertain Lenora is about Bela's promise. Lenora desperately wants to reunite her uncle with his son, and she thinks that she can find him and bring him home with Bela's help. In trying to save her cousin, Lenora is putting her own life at risk. Can she save her cousin without dooming herself? Is her cousin even still alive? This novel will have you begging for answers to these questions and so many more.
I was a big fan of R.L.Toalson's debut novel, The Colors of the Rain. For some reason, I was fully expecting her second novel to be written in verse as well. I was shocked to see that it was 465 pages of prose. The size of this novel may be daunting for reluctant readers, but I think after reading the first two chapters, anyone would be hooked on this book. I would be sure to tell readers intimidated by the length of the novel that the chapters are very short and high-interest. I read 100 pages in no time. The publisher recommends this book for ages 12 and up, and I agree with that age range. Younger readers may be disturbed by what happens to Lenora's family, and while I wouldn't necessarily call this book scary, it could certainly freak out elementary students. I would definitely add this book to my library if I were in a middle school.
When Lenora hears a familiar voice calling her name, she is lured into the woods by the hope of reuniting with her family. Once there, she meets a magical creature named Bela. Bela promises her that the woods will do her no harm if she has no ill intent, but the deeper she ventures into the woods, the more uncertain Lenora is about Bela's promise. Lenora desperately wants to reunite her uncle with his son, and she thinks that she can find him and bring him home with Bela's help. In trying to save her cousin, Lenora is putting her own life at risk. Can she save her cousin without dooming herself? Is her cousin even still alive? This novel will have you begging for answers to these questions and so many more.
I was a big fan of R.L.Toalson's debut novel, The Colors of the Rain. For some reason, I was fully expecting her second novel to be written in verse as well. I was shocked to see that it was 465 pages of prose. The size of this novel may be daunting for reluctant readers, but I think after reading the first two chapters, anyone would be hooked on this book. I would be sure to tell readers intimidated by the length of the novel that the chapters are very short and high-interest. I read 100 pages in no time. The publisher recommends this book for ages 12 and up, and I agree with that age range. Younger readers may be disturbed by what happens to Lenora's family, and while I wouldn't necessarily call this book scary, it could certainly freak out elementary students. I would definitely add this book to my library if I were in a middle school.
December 7, 2019
Originally published on Cyn's Workshop
The Woods is a compelling novel that follows Lenora as she tries to navigate her way through the devastation that has left her an orphan. Moved to a strange new place with her estranged uncle, Lenora is learning to find a way to make peace with the grief that threatens to break her spirit.
This story is a mature read that is perfectly paced to engage readers. The chapters are short and sweet, formatted in a way that works to enchant readers. Lenora's voice is relatable and compelling, it is young and fresh, and her narrative is realistic. Lenora sounds like a child trying to navigate through this new life she has been thrust into while also trying to manage her grief and her denial.
Toalson worked hard to create a moving story that also has a chilling tale at its core. While it deals with grief, the story takes the perspective and attitude of three different characters to show how sorrow affects people, how it can twist a person in the way they choose to deal with it. Toalson is teaching readers how to deal with grief by sharing this lesson with readers. The progression shows readers that while it may be tempting, even simpler to allow grief to take over, acceptance, opening one's heart, while challenging at times, is a better way to live.
The Woods brings to life such an invigorating and easy to read tale for readers. The magical realism is presented in such rich detail, perfect for building the imagination of the reader. It goes beyond fantasy. The depth and meaning in the story elevate it from while still maintaining the ease for young readers while the eerie elements that bring the sorrow to life and give it that haunting feeling.
Meant for audiences as young as twelve, and while the themes may be mature, the structure and fluidity make it accessible to young readers and a novel that is great for parents or guardians to share with young readers.
The Woods is a compelling novel that follows Lenora as she tries to navigate her way through the devastation that has left her an orphan. Moved to a strange new place with her estranged uncle, Lenora is learning to find a way to make peace with the grief that threatens to break her spirit.
This story is a mature read that is perfectly paced to engage readers. The chapters are short and sweet, formatted in a way that works to enchant readers. Lenora's voice is relatable and compelling, it is young and fresh, and her narrative is realistic. Lenora sounds like a child trying to navigate through this new life she has been thrust into while also trying to manage her grief and her denial.
Toalson worked hard to create a moving story that also has a chilling tale at its core. While it deals with grief, the story takes the perspective and attitude of three different characters to show how sorrow affects people, how it can twist a person in the way they choose to deal with it. Toalson is teaching readers how to deal with grief by sharing this lesson with readers. The progression shows readers that while it may be tempting, even simpler to allow grief to take over, acceptance, opening one's heart, while challenging at times, is a better way to live.
The Woods brings to life such an invigorating and easy to read tale for readers. The magical realism is presented in such rich detail, perfect for building the imagination of the reader. It goes beyond fantasy. The depth and meaning in the story elevate it from while still maintaining the ease for young readers while the eerie elements that bring the sorrow to life and give it that haunting feeling.
Meant for audiences as young as twelve, and while the themes may be mature, the structure and fluidity make it accessible to young readers and a novel that is great for parents or guardians to share with young readers.
August 19, 2019
#kidlitexchange #partner: The Woods by R.L. Toalson. Releases September 17th through @littlebeebooks. #beeareader🐝
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I plowed through the nearly 500 pages remarkably fast considering work and school consume about 90% of my time. Like a retelling of The Secret Garden, The Woods gives us the story of a newly-orphaned girl, Lenora, going to live with her strange and distant uncle in a huge, mysterious mansion. STAY OUT OF THE WOODS is the only rule...but how can she, when the woods are so beautiful, when voices vaguely reminiscent of her family members’ whisper her name from inside?
The Woods is a fantastically written tale of the madness of grief, the burn of revenge, and the sweet taste of secrets and lies. It is a story of family and love and brokenness and healing. Though it is middle-grade, it’s not afraid to move slowly, and I admired the author’s bravery in that decision as it allowed tension to build. As a religion major, I noticed the book getting pretty Biblical in its themes of returning to sin, but that might be because of my major and my brain automatically goes there.
This book is wonderful and I’m so thankful I got to read it. I can’t wait to own it on September 17th!
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy: all opinions are my own.
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I plowed through the nearly 500 pages remarkably fast considering work and school consume about 90% of my time. Like a retelling of The Secret Garden, The Woods gives us the story of a newly-orphaned girl, Lenora, going to live with her strange and distant uncle in a huge, mysterious mansion. STAY OUT OF THE WOODS is the only rule...but how can she, when the woods are so beautiful, when voices vaguely reminiscent of her family members’ whisper her name from inside?
The Woods is a fantastically written tale of the madness of grief, the burn of revenge, and the sweet taste of secrets and lies. It is a story of family and love and brokenness and healing. Though it is middle-grade, it’s not afraid to move slowly, and I admired the author’s bravery in that decision as it allowed tension to build. As a religion major, I noticed the book getting pretty Biblical in its themes of returning to sin, but that might be because of my major and my brain automatically goes there.
This book is wonderful and I’m so thankful I got to read it. I can’t wait to own it on September 17th!
Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy: all opinions are my own.
June 22, 2019
“The only thing that can heal sorrow is time. And even then... it does not always heal straight. It sometimes heals crooked.”
What would you do if everyone you loved was here one day and gone the next? That’s exactly what happened to 12 year old Lenora.
She is swept away by her peculiar Uncle Richard to his manor in Nacogdoches. An uncle that she has never met or even heard of before. He warns her to not go into the woods, but they seem to be calling her name every night.
Will she give into the woods?
Can her and her uncle for a bond?
Will Lenora ever feel loved again?
A story about loss, forgiveness, and hope that will tear your heart to bits and then slowly piece it back together. A MG must ready for this that enjoy magical realism.
What would you do if everyone you loved was here one day and gone the next? That’s exactly what happened to 12 year old Lenora.
She is swept away by her peculiar Uncle Richard to his manor in Nacogdoches. An uncle that she has never met or even heard of before. He warns her to not go into the woods, but they seem to be calling her name every night.
Will she give into the woods?
Can her and her uncle for a bond?
Will Lenora ever feel loved again?
A story about loss, forgiveness, and hope that will tear your heart to bits and then slowly piece it back together. A MG must ready for this that enjoy magical realism.
July 12, 2019
As another reviewer mentioned, the advanced reading copy of this book is quite long at 465 pages. However, the print is a good size, lines are double spaced, and chapters are short and engaging. I was amazed at how quick of a read this turned out to be and how much I wanted to keep going at the end of each chapter. Because of that, any emerging readers that give it a chance will hopefully be surprised at how quickly they devour this story.
The publisher recommends for 12 and up and I would recommend 6th grade and up both for the length and the serious themes of loss, depression, and human disasters. Lenora has the worst possible 12th grade birthday imaginable. In one freak accident, she is left the sole survivor of her immediate family. She is sent to live with her father's brother, an uncle whom she has never met and her father was estranged from. Her uncle is a scientist, although he is considered by the town to be mad, and spends all of his time "working" in the east wing of his family's empty mansion. He is also the sole survivor of his immediate family. When Lenora tries to bond with her newly found uncle, she is frustrated and ready to give up, especially when she meets a magical friend in the forbidden woods named Bela who provides the companionship she is so desperately seeking. Her uncle has forbidden her to go in to the woods, but they are filled with magic. The deeper Lenora travels, though, the more she becomes entangled in a magic that doesn't want to let her go.
This eerie, haunting, beautiful mystery had me turning pages until the very end. It is a beautiful story of loss, redemption, and family. #LitReviewCrew
The publisher recommends for 12 and up and I would recommend 6th grade and up both for the length and the serious themes of loss, depression, and human disasters. Lenora has the worst possible 12th grade birthday imaginable. In one freak accident, she is left the sole survivor of her immediate family. She is sent to live with her father's brother, an uncle whom she has never met and her father was estranged from. Her uncle is a scientist, although he is considered by the town to be mad, and spends all of his time "working" in the east wing of his family's empty mansion. He is also the sole survivor of his immediate family. When Lenora tries to bond with her newly found uncle, she is frustrated and ready to give up, especially when she meets a magical friend in the forbidden woods named Bela who provides the companionship she is so desperately seeking. Her uncle has forbidden her to go in to the woods, but they are filled with magic. The deeper Lenora travels, though, the more she becomes entangled in a magic that doesn't want to let her go.
This eerie, haunting, beautiful mystery had me turning pages until the very end. It is a beautiful story of loss, redemption, and family. #LitReviewCrew
September 25, 2019
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Yellow Jacket for an eARC of this book.
This is the story of Lenora, a young girl who loses her family in an explosion, and is sent to the country to live with an uncle she didn't know she had. This quiet and desolate manor is filled with secrets, but these pale in comparison to the secrets that Gilgevnah Woods keeps locked up tight. Where is Lenora's cousin, Bobby, and is he still alive? Why is her Uncle Richard so afraid of her going into the woods? What is he building, and can she save him, as well as the woods, before it's too late?
I enjoyed the setting that Toalson creates, especially the woods and the magic that draws Lenora to it. I also loved that she focused on coming to terms with loss and grief, using magical elements to help explore the issues (I particularly enjoyed Mrs. Jones and her wise truths). While it is a dark story, it's not overly frightening, and an element of hope runs throughout it.
Although I did find this book quite long, I think it will captivate the right reader.
This is the story of Lenora, a young girl who loses her family in an explosion, and is sent to the country to live with an uncle she didn't know she had. This quiet and desolate manor is filled with secrets, but these pale in comparison to the secrets that Gilgevnah Woods keeps locked up tight. Where is Lenora's cousin, Bobby, and is he still alive? Why is her Uncle Richard so afraid of her going into the woods? What is he building, and can she save him, as well as the woods, before it's too late?
I enjoyed the setting that Toalson creates, especially the woods and the magic that draws Lenora to it. I also loved that she focused on coming to terms with loss and grief, using magical elements to help explore the issues (I particularly enjoyed Mrs. Jones and her wise truths). While it is a dark story, it's not overly frightening, and an element of hope runs throughout it.
Although I did find this book quite long, I think it will captivate the right reader.
May 22, 2021
"When we feel most alone, when our lives have practically fallen apart, when the world explodes and it does not seem like we have what it takes to repair what has been broken, it is in our leaning on one another that we learn just how strong we can be. So don’t be afraid to lean hard."
I was expecting to have fun with this, to get a little lost in it, but I wasn't prepared for how redemptive and moving a story it would be. The enchanted woods, creepy fairy creatures and tragic backdrop are captivating enough, but what makes this memorable for me is the emotional depth of the characters as they grapple with grief and denial. "The Woods" is a story of exceptional power, and R. L. Toalson is a writer of extraordinary wisdom.
I was expecting to have fun with this, to get a little lost in it, but I wasn't prepared for how redemptive and moving a story it would be. The enchanted woods, creepy fairy creatures and tragic backdrop are captivating enough, but what makes this memorable for me is the emotional depth of the characters as they grapple with grief and denial. "The Woods" is a story of exceptional power, and R. L. Toalson is a writer of extraordinary wisdom.
June 11, 2019
Huge thanks to the author and publisher for sharing an ARC with our #bookexpedition group!
Set in the 1940s, this feels like a historical fiction mystery thriller. Twelve year old Lenora’s world is shattered when an explosion rocks her Texas town. With nowhere to go, her estranged Uncle Richard comes to get her and bring her to the family’s enormous Manor. Uncle Richard is a man of Science and spends most of his time working on something private in the east wing of his home. Lenora is left mostly on her own (except for Uncle Richard’s kind cook, Mrs. Jones) to explore the home and garden. The only rules are to stay out of the east wing and away from the woods surrounding the mansion.
Years ago, Uncle Richard’s son Bobby entered the woods and never came back. Uncle Richard warns Lenora that the woods are a dark and evil place, but her loneliness and grief win and she begins to explore them. There, she finds comfort in Bela, a creature she’s sure doesn’t exist in the real world and who befriends her by promising to reunite her with her family. Lenora defies her Uncle by spending more and more time in the woods, downplaying the uneasy feelings that develop the longer she stays.
With themes that deal with loss, grief, and acceptance, this middle grade page turner will be a hit when it’s published in 9/19.
Set in the 1940s, this feels like a historical fiction mystery thriller. Twelve year old Lenora’s world is shattered when an explosion rocks her Texas town. With nowhere to go, her estranged Uncle Richard comes to get her and bring her to the family’s enormous Manor. Uncle Richard is a man of Science and spends most of his time working on something private in the east wing of his home. Lenora is left mostly on her own (except for Uncle Richard’s kind cook, Mrs. Jones) to explore the home and garden. The only rules are to stay out of the east wing and away from the woods surrounding the mansion.
Years ago, Uncle Richard’s son Bobby entered the woods and never came back. Uncle Richard warns Lenora that the woods are a dark and evil place, but her loneliness and grief win and she begins to explore them. There, she finds comfort in Bela, a creature she’s sure doesn’t exist in the real world and who befriends her by promising to reunite her with her family. Lenora defies her Uncle by spending more and more time in the woods, downplaying the uneasy feelings that develop the longer she stays.
With themes that deal with loss, grief, and acceptance, this middle grade page turner will be a hit when it’s published in 9/19.
July 19, 2019
Thank you to the publisher Little Bee/Yellow Jacket Books for sharing the ARC of this remarkable book. The story is compelling, the writing is beautiful, and that cover! Middle Grade readers will be pulled in right away. There's mystery and drama, but magic, as well. It does deal with grief - loss is a strong theme - but I love the way the author has handled the emotions. Highly recommended grade 5+.
August 8, 2019
*3.5 stars
Full review on blog soon!
Full review on blog soon!
June 15, 2019
After suffering unthinkable loss, Lenora goes to live with an estranged uncle, her father's brother Richard. Richard, a scientist, conducts constant research and experiments in an effort to deal with his own overwhelming grief. Lenora, against all rules, goes into the woods when she's called to them.
This novel is set after the 1947 Texas City explosions. It's a great mix of historical fiction and fantasy. In places, it feels like The Secret Garden but is in no way a copy of it. While there are definitely more exciting parts to the story, my favorite parts were those where Lenora and Uncle Richard face their grief and begin to learn to be a family.
This novel is set after the 1947 Texas City explosions. It's a great mix of historical fiction and fantasy. In places, it feels like The Secret Garden but is in no way a copy of it. While there are definitely more exciting parts to the story, my favorite parts were those where Lenora and Uncle Richard face their grief and begin to learn to be a family.
June 30, 2019
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing Collabookation an ARC to review.
The Woods opens on Lenora's birthday, a day that is supposed to be spent playing hooky with her parents, without any siblings to mess it up. When sibling after sibling falls ill, Lenora is sent to school all alone. Then her life is changed completely.
This book caused that wonderful feeling: wanting to rush through the story to know what happens while simultaneously trying to slow down to enjoy every line, paragraph, page.
Captivating and eerie, Lenora can feel herself being pulled into something dark, something not quite right and in her grief and loneliness, she is weak enough to allow herself to be pulled. Her desire for family and belonging cause her to become most vulnerable, and when her uncle tries to save her, it may be too late.
This book will satisfy anyone. An examination of grief, it is also full of intense action and loving support. I plan on handing it to readers who have loved Serafina and the Black Cloak or The Night Gardener. Highly recommend to anyone in grade 5 and up.
The Woods opens on Lenora's birthday, a day that is supposed to be spent playing hooky with her parents, without any siblings to mess it up. When sibling after sibling falls ill, Lenora is sent to school all alone. Then her life is changed completely.
This book caused that wonderful feeling: wanting to rush through the story to know what happens while simultaneously trying to slow down to enjoy every line, paragraph, page.
Captivating and eerie, Lenora can feel herself being pulled into something dark, something not quite right and in her grief and loneliness, she is weak enough to allow herself to be pulled. Her desire for family and belonging cause her to become most vulnerable, and when her uncle tries to save her, it may be too late.
This book will satisfy anyone. An examination of grief, it is also full of intense action and loving support. I plan on handing it to readers who have loved Serafina and the Black Cloak or The Night Gardener. Highly recommend to anyone in grade 5 and up.
May 16, 2020
Conceptually similar to many stories of "(presumed) orphan goes to live with crazy relative in big house," Toalson has managed to attach a unique twist to the trope through a connection to a real-life tragedy, a mysterious fantastical edge, and--unexpectedly--a steampunk army. We follow 1947-Texan Lenora as she journeys to Stonewall Manor, her ancestral home, with a vast burden of grief on her shoulders, and as she comes to explore the seemingly impregnable secrets that inhabit it. She makes for a plucky young hero, both overwhelmed by her recent traumatic experience and irresistibly drawn to the glimpses of an old mystery within her family. Her caretaker is officially Uncle Richard, a grouchy, steampunk scientist with few words and much to hide; but unofficially it is Mrs. Jones, the cook, who quickly establishes herself as the character with the most to offer to the Manor's new occupant. When Lenora inevitably finds herself entering the forbidden woods, a new world devoid of sorrow appears, and she becomes pulled between what exists for her at Stonewall Manor and what might await her in the woods. Inner and external turmoils ensue, tying into those of her withdrawn uncle and the workings of his (not-so) secret lab.
Summary now aside, let's dive into what happened here.
The most burning, concise thought I have about this book is that it needed a more attentive editor. If you pick this book up in a library/shop and think, "what a tome!" you'd be right! Plainly put, it shouldn't have been a tome. The tale's length could've been reduced by a quarter to good effect, mostly being achieved by cuts to repetitive dialogue and unnecessary plot stalling. It didn't take long for me to become frustrated with the secrets being withheld from Lenora, so unnecessary did their hiding seem. It doesn't take long to realize that if only Uncle Richard trusted Lenora with the truth of things would everything go much, much better in both their lives. A lot of time is wasted on the holding of secrets which, to the reader, appear obvious, and which, to Lenora, would have proven useful. Connected to wasting time is the brevity of the chapters; it seemed to me a way to give the illusion of forward momentum in a story that needed editing to actually achieve it. In reality this tactic achieved nothing but interruptions in the reading experience and greatly contributed to the book's girth.
Turning aside from pacing and to Toalson's writing itself, it was an enjoyable, but imperfect, read. Being a story of inner sorrow tossed back and forth between its cast, we get a few too many eye/hand/facial movements that betray pent up emotions.
And crying. Lots of crying.
Now, admittedly, there have been great, bonafide tragedies in the lives of all three main characters here; but repeatedly sparkling eyes tend to lost their shine at the quiet dinner table when no one is actually talking about what's making them sad. Between Lenora's insistence that her family is alive and her uncle's insistence that the past shouldn't be spoken of, I found myself flipping the pages a little faster as a way to move the plot forward.
Leaving the human side of things, there are, as mentioned, a few spec-fiction angles here. The first is the woods itself. Upon traversing its leafy depths with Lenora, we're met with something out of Cameron's "Avatar" crossed with Wonderland. Indeed, there's actually a blatant reference to Wonderland that might feel out of place in another story, but not so here, as the entire magical woodland is basically a hodgepodge of bizarre flora and fauna. Bright, bioluminescent colors abound in a place full of strange creatures, dancing trees, and a pool (the "Waters of Aevum") that can tell the future. Lenora is guided through all of this by a giant, fur-collared, pink salamander named Bela.
Let me tell you: this was a lot. The only piece of continuity between all these fantastic things was that they were like the fever dream of a 19th-century naturalist on opium. To make things weirder, I constantly found myself unsure of the nature of the woods' reality: Bela was speaking of an ancient history (though he also said the woods were only 200 years old), while Toalson provided italicized inter-chapter segments that clearly told the reader of a malign human presence in the forest that, essentially, made it evil. Which was it? Were the woods good and bad? Just bad? Is there a lore? Are the "Waters of Aevum" named because of some deep history, or did the bad guy just assign them a name he found at a D&D session? At the end we learn that the woods are indeed the creation of the bad guy; but that answer felt false, and I left the story with tons of unanswered questions.
Continuing briefly with the spec-fiction note, I before described Uncle Richard as "steampunk." That was wholly purposeful. He wears a top hat (the setting is still 1947 Texas, mind you), gear-goggles, and creates giant copper "robots" in his lab. Among the humanoid robots is also, most notably, a gigantic robotic rhinoceros. That breathes fire. We get to see it in action in the woods in the climactic scene, and it does what it promised to do: burn stuff down. Why a rhino? Never addressed. Uncle Richard also boasts a cane which spouts not normal fire, but magical fire. How does he make this? Never addressed. Especially when combined with these two elements, the whole notion of an "army," as he describes his robots, feels a bit ludicrous, as the rest of the story is deeply concerned with inner tragedy and dark magics. And lest we forget the final piece of his bewildering scheme, Uncle Richard somehow manages to transport Lenora's actual HOUSE from her demolished town (twenty miles away, I believe) to Stonewall Manor, and then into the woods, and then blow it to pieces. You'd think Lenora would've noticed her literal family house on the grounds, or been upset with its literal explosion (especially seeing as her family was blown up to begin with), but neither is the case. "My home saved us," she says at the end of everything. Well, that's one way to look at it. I didn't know how to look at it, personally.
There are other things I could mention: how Lenora is constantly running to the woods, away from the woods, to the woods again, etc. How neither Mrs. Jones nor Uncle Richard really do much to restrain Lenora from going into that officially evil place. How there's no legitimate reason given for why the Master is specifically stealing children from the Cole family. How it felt like the curse of Stonewall Manor was a European fairy tale forcibly merged with a personal American tragedy (a Texan one, at that).
The more I write in this review, the more I realize that this book was, unfortunately, a mess. Which is a shame, because the author clearly (see Author's Note and Acknowledgments) put her heart into it. Even if there had been a more attentive editor, I can't help but feel that the disparate pieces of this story simply didn't belong together. But Toalson does have an overall enjoyable writing style, and clearly wants to write stories that both mean something and provide a sense of wonderment, both things I can get behind. I'll look for more to read by her in the future, with the faith that it will only improve.
Summary now aside, let's dive into what happened here.
The most burning, concise thought I have about this book is that it needed a more attentive editor. If you pick this book up in a library/shop and think, "what a tome!" you'd be right! Plainly put, it shouldn't have been a tome. The tale's length could've been reduced by a quarter to good effect, mostly being achieved by cuts to repetitive dialogue and unnecessary plot stalling. It didn't take long for me to become frustrated with the secrets being withheld from Lenora, so unnecessary did their hiding seem. It doesn't take long to realize that if only Uncle Richard trusted Lenora with the truth of things would everything go much, much better in both their lives. A lot of time is wasted on the holding of secrets which, to the reader, appear obvious, and which, to Lenora, would have proven useful. Connected to wasting time is the brevity of the chapters; it seemed to me a way to give the illusion of forward momentum in a story that needed editing to actually achieve it. In reality this tactic achieved nothing but interruptions in the reading experience and greatly contributed to the book's girth.
Turning aside from pacing and to Toalson's writing itself, it was an enjoyable, but imperfect, read. Being a story of inner sorrow tossed back and forth between its cast, we get a few too many eye/hand/facial movements that betray pent up emotions.
And crying. Lots of crying.
Now, admittedly, there have been great, bonafide tragedies in the lives of all three main characters here; but repeatedly sparkling eyes tend to lost their shine at the quiet dinner table when no one is actually talking about what's making them sad. Between Lenora's insistence that her family is alive and her uncle's insistence that the past shouldn't be spoken of, I found myself flipping the pages a little faster as a way to move the plot forward.
Leaving the human side of things, there are, as mentioned, a few spec-fiction angles here. The first is the woods itself. Upon traversing its leafy depths with Lenora, we're met with something out of Cameron's "Avatar" crossed with Wonderland. Indeed, there's actually a blatant reference to Wonderland that might feel out of place in another story, but not so here, as the entire magical woodland is basically a hodgepodge of bizarre flora and fauna. Bright, bioluminescent colors abound in a place full of strange creatures, dancing trees, and a pool (the "Waters of Aevum") that can tell the future. Lenora is guided through all of this by a giant, fur-collared, pink salamander named Bela.
Let me tell you: this was a lot. The only piece of continuity between all these fantastic things was that they were like the fever dream of a 19th-century naturalist on opium. To make things weirder, I constantly found myself unsure of the nature of the woods' reality: Bela was speaking of an ancient history (though he also said the woods were only 200 years old), while Toalson provided italicized inter-chapter segments that clearly told the reader of a malign human presence in the forest that, essentially, made it evil. Which was it? Were the woods good and bad? Just bad? Is there a lore? Are the "Waters of Aevum" named because of some deep history, or did the bad guy just assign them a name he found at a D&D session? At the end we learn that the woods are indeed the creation of the bad guy; but that answer felt false, and I left the story with tons of unanswered questions.
Continuing briefly with the spec-fiction note, I before described Uncle Richard as "steampunk." That was wholly purposeful. He wears a top hat (the setting is still 1947 Texas, mind you), gear-goggles, and creates giant copper "robots" in his lab. Among the humanoid robots is also, most notably, a gigantic robotic rhinoceros. That breathes fire. We get to see it in action in the woods in the climactic scene, and it does what it promised to do: burn stuff down. Why a rhino? Never addressed. Uncle Richard also boasts a cane which spouts not normal fire, but magical fire. How does he make this? Never addressed. Especially when combined with these two elements, the whole notion of an "army," as he describes his robots, feels a bit ludicrous, as the rest of the story is deeply concerned with inner tragedy and dark magics. And lest we forget the final piece of his bewildering scheme, Uncle Richard somehow manages to transport Lenora's actual HOUSE from her demolished town (twenty miles away, I believe) to Stonewall Manor, and then into the woods, and then blow it to pieces. You'd think Lenora would've noticed her literal family house on the grounds, or been upset with its literal explosion (especially seeing as her family was blown up to begin with), but neither is the case. "My home saved us," she says at the end of everything. Well, that's one way to look at it. I didn't know how to look at it, personally.
There are other things I could mention: how Lenora is constantly running to the woods, away from the woods, to the woods again, etc. How neither Mrs. Jones nor Uncle Richard really do much to restrain Lenora from going into that officially evil place. How there's no legitimate reason given for why the Master is specifically stealing children from the Cole family. How it felt like the curse of Stonewall Manor was a European fairy tale forcibly merged with a personal American tragedy (a Texan one, at that).
The more I write in this review, the more I realize that this book was, unfortunately, a mess. Which is a shame, because the author clearly (see Author's Note and Acknowledgments) put her heart into it. Even if there had been a more attentive editor, I can't help but feel that the disparate pieces of this story simply didn't belong together. But Toalson does have an overall enjoyable writing style, and clearly wants to write stories that both mean something and provide a sense of wonderment, both things I can get behind. I'll look for more to read by her in the future, with the faith that it will only improve.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2019
A Secret Garden-esque tale with touches of Labyrinth, The Woods follows a young girl named Lenora as she is sent to a mysterious manor in the aftermath of a horrifying historical event. Young readers looking for substantial books should definitely give this one a try.
August 12, 2019
This book was worth all 465 pages! It has a little historical fictional and a little bit of fantasy, brilliantly woven into a great story. I had so many questions about The Woods, and the mysterious uncle. I think the author did a great job hooking me and leading me right into the forbidden woods. I’m sure older students and adults are going to enjoy this book.
July 9, 2019
The Woods by R. L. Toalson, Little Bee Publishing (Yellow Jacket Publishing), September 17, 2019
I was given this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review at BookCon 2019.
Dearest Readers,
DID YOU LOOK AT THIS COVER??? WELL, LOOK AGAIN!!! This cover art is outstanding. A little back story. I was in line at BookCon 2019 for Little Bee Publishing to play a spin the wheel game. I saw this cover as a part of their display. It was a large poster, with backlight framed into the wall. It was breathtaking. Without really thinking, I said, "Wow, what's The Woods?" The gentleman working behind the desk started a conversation with me (which made my wait more bearable) and told me all about this magical realism genre, middle grades novel. I got really excited. I love magical realism. I wrote down the date of the release in my phone. When I got up to the spin the wheel game, I won a middle grades book. The woman working the wheel reached for the designated book, but the nice gentleman behind the desk said, "Wait, she was asking about The Woods. Do we have any copies left?" They didn't, so he went up to the wall and took down their display copy and gave it to me. I could not believe it. That sort of kindness really touched me and I could not wait to get to review this book to share some of the kindness that Little Bee showed me. So, without further ado...
The Woods by R.L. Toalson is a middle grades, magical realism novel. It is the story of a girl, Lenora, who has just recently survived a tragedy that beheld her town. Her family is missing, so she is brought to live with her eccentric uncle, who has endured his own set of tragedies. When Lenora gets to her uncle's house she is given a room that used to be her cousin's and the rule that the woods are very dangerous and off limits. Yet, Lenora is drawn to the woods. In a world with so many secrets and so much grief for her sudden change of life, Lenora must figure out what is so dangerous about the woods, and what is really going on in her uncle's home.
Review: This was a really odd book, but not in a bad way. It was as eccentric as it's characters. In the end, this book was really about overcoming and understanding grief. It is told in a magical way, but this is a book with a message and a mission. I actually thought it handled grief, sadness, and post-traumatic stress in a very mature, and appropriate way. Lenora is such a relatable character. She is average, has a lot of interests, and strong beliefs. Pre-teens and young adults could easily see themselves in Lenora and her emotions. She is wonderfully...normal. I was a big fan of Lenora as a character and the way her character set a canvas for this story's larger message.
Another point would be the amazingly simple, but entrancing rules of this magical world. It works so fluidly with our own, making it believable. The magic that is introduced is not overwhelming, but ever present. There were no loop-holes, or missing pieces, despite it's simplicity. I do not want to speak in more detail, as I feel some of the reveals of the magic are an important part of this book.
I hesitate just a little on some of the way the story unfolded. I felt that Lenora's never ending questions led to too many situations of tell instead of showing the readers, which is a big pet peeve of mine. There is an excellent scene where Lenora begins to piece some of her mystery together by visiting a room with a swing. This scene held my attention and kept my mind working. I felt that many other times, Toalson used Lenora's "curiosity" as an excuse to ask lots of questions until the people around her just gave in and answered them. Lenora was a very determined little girl. I think she would have just stopped asking questions and tried to figure it out for herself after being denied information so many times. There was an opportunity for more sleuthing and deducting for this little scientific mind, but I feel it was missed by the author.
That being said, it was refreshing that Lenora fought to find answers because she hated secrets, not just because she was a fan of mysteries or detectives. This made her motives more relatable and continued to pull readers into relating to her.
All in all, I felt that this was a good middle grades book. It has room for growth, but is a good story and very well written. I think it takes on a very difficult topic with grace and dignity, and I hope that this book can be used to help someone, somewhere cope. Or, at the very least, talk about what grief can feel like in a safe setting (like a classroom or the home). I would recommend this read to a mature middle schooler, or for the above stated purpose. Happy reading. :)
Star Rating: ***
Happily Ever After Rating: 60%
Most Sincerely,
Shauna <3
I was given this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review at BookCon 2019.
Dearest Readers,
DID YOU LOOK AT THIS COVER??? WELL, LOOK AGAIN!!! This cover art is outstanding. A little back story. I was in line at BookCon 2019 for Little Bee Publishing to play a spin the wheel game. I saw this cover as a part of their display. It was a large poster, with backlight framed into the wall. It was breathtaking. Without really thinking, I said, "Wow, what's The Woods?" The gentleman working behind the desk started a conversation with me (which made my wait more bearable) and told me all about this magical realism genre, middle grades novel. I got really excited. I love magical realism. I wrote down the date of the release in my phone. When I got up to the spin the wheel game, I won a middle grades book. The woman working the wheel reached for the designated book, but the nice gentleman behind the desk said, "Wait, she was asking about The Woods. Do we have any copies left?" They didn't, so he went up to the wall and took down their display copy and gave it to me. I could not believe it. That sort of kindness really touched me and I could not wait to get to review this book to share some of the kindness that Little Bee showed me. So, without further ado...
The Woods by R.L. Toalson is a middle grades, magical realism novel. It is the story of a girl, Lenora, who has just recently survived a tragedy that beheld her town. Her family is missing, so she is brought to live with her eccentric uncle, who has endured his own set of tragedies. When Lenora gets to her uncle's house she is given a room that used to be her cousin's and the rule that the woods are very dangerous and off limits. Yet, Lenora is drawn to the woods. In a world with so many secrets and so much grief for her sudden change of life, Lenora must figure out what is so dangerous about the woods, and what is really going on in her uncle's home.
Review: This was a really odd book, but not in a bad way. It was as eccentric as it's characters. In the end, this book was really about overcoming and understanding grief. It is told in a magical way, but this is a book with a message and a mission. I actually thought it handled grief, sadness, and post-traumatic stress in a very mature, and appropriate way. Lenora is such a relatable character. She is average, has a lot of interests, and strong beliefs. Pre-teens and young adults could easily see themselves in Lenora and her emotions. She is wonderfully...normal. I was a big fan of Lenora as a character and the way her character set a canvas for this story's larger message.
Another point would be the amazingly simple, but entrancing rules of this magical world. It works so fluidly with our own, making it believable. The magic that is introduced is not overwhelming, but ever present. There were no loop-holes, or missing pieces, despite it's simplicity. I do not want to speak in more detail, as I feel some of the reveals of the magic are an important part of this book.
I hesitate just a little on some of the way the story unfolded. I felt that Lenora's never ending questions led to too many situations of tell instead of showing the readers, which is a big pet peeve of mine. There is an excellent scene where Lenora begins to piece some of her mystery together by visiting a room with a swing. This scene held my attention and kept my mind working. I felt that many other times, Toalson used Lenora's "curiosity" as an excuse to ask lots of questions until the people around her just gave in and answered them. Lenora was a very determined little girl. I think she would have just stopped asking questions and tried to figure it out for herself after being denied information so many times. There was an opportunity for more sleuthing and deducting for this little scientific mind, but I feel it was missed by the author.
That being said, it was refreshing that Lenora fought to find answers because she hated secrets, not just because she was a fan of mysteries or detectives. This made her motives more relatable and continued to pull readers into relating to her.
All in all, I felt that this was a good middle grades book. It has room for growth, but is a good story and very well written. I think it takes on a very difficult topic with grace and dignity, and I hope that this book can be used to help someone, somewhere cope. Or, at the very least, talk about what grief can feel like in a safe setting (like a classroom or the home). I would recommend this read to a mature middle schooler, or for the above stated purpose. Happy reading. :)
Star Rating: ***
Happily Ever After Rating: 60%
Most Sincerely,
Shauna <3
February 16, 2020
Acknowledgement: I have known the author since high school. That being said, she'd be furious with me if I didn't post an honest review.
Lenora is looking forward to her 12th birthday and spending it the way she always spends it - as a "fun day" with her family in Texas City, Texas (a chemical and oil production town). On her birthday, she gets a parent-sanctioned absence from school. That day, however, her brothers were sick and her younger sister was feigning an illness to stay home. So off to school she went - very angry with her parents (a fire-chief and housewife) for not allowing her to have her fun day. At school that day, she and her classmates watch as multi-colored smoke came from the docks at the port. Minutes later, her life changes when the docks explode. Her father's brother, long estranged from the family, comes to take Lenora to the family home, Stonewall Manor. Her denial of the deaths of her family members and refusal to allow the grieving process to start do complicate the dynamic at Stonewall Manor. The woods behind the manor have a history of enticing children living there to explore, however, they don't return home. Lenora battles complicated feelings of grief, the past, and what the future may hold without her parents and siblings in it as she grapples with the hold the woods have on her. It truly takes a family effort - with her new family - to beat the evil that lies in the woods.
Toalson bases the novel on the 1947 Texas City explosion that killed over 400 people. The grief and trauma Lenora feels as she comes to grips with what the explosions did to the town and her family makes the reader want to reach through the pages and hug her. I had forgotten this was to be a fantasy book until Lenora arrives at Stonewall Manor. After a few trips into the woods, the reader senses Lenora is in the battle of good vs. evil. Entries from Lenora's uncle's journal and passages of thoughts from the evil that rules the woods helps show just what evil Lenora is up against.
I really liked the character development in this novel. Even though Lenora's nuclear family isn't around for much of the book, it is clear how close-knit the family was. Lenora's new family at Stonewall Manor have great features that endear them to readers.
Sophomore efforts by authors traditionally have a hard time matching the strengths of the debuts, but I think Toalson has met the quality of her debut.
Recommend to middle grade readers who like a bit of fantasy but also want to be able to relate to characters who have experienced pain.
Lenora is looking forward to her 12th birthday and spending it the way she always spends it - as a "fun day" with her family in Texas City, Texas (a chemical and oil production town). On her birthday, she gets a parent-sanctioned absence from school. That day, however, her brothers were sick and her younger sister was feigning an illness to stay home. So off to school she went - very angry with her parents (a fire-chief and housewife) for not allowing her to have her fun day. At school that day, she and her classmates watch as multi-colored smoke came from the docks at the port. Minutes later, her life changes when the docks explode. Her father's brother, long estranged from the family, comes to take Lenora to the family home, Stonewall Manor. Her denial of the deaths of her family members and refusal to allow the grieving process to start do complicate the dynamic at Stonewall Manor. The woods behind the manor have a history of enticing children living there to explore, however, they don't return home. Lenora battles complicated feelings of grief, the past, and what the future may hold without her parents and siblings in it as she grapples with the hold the woods have on her. It truly takes a family effort - with her new family - to beat the evil that lies in the woods.
Toalson bases the novel on the 1947 Texas City explosion that killed over 400 people. The grief and trauma Lenora feels as she comes to grips with what the explosions did to the town and her family makes the reader want to reach through the pages and hug her. I had forgotten this was to be a fantasy book until Lenora arrives at Stonewall Manor. After a few trips into the woods, the reader senses Lenora is in the battle of good vs. evil. Entries from Lenora's uncle's journal and passages of thoughts from the evil that rules the woods helps show just what evil Lenora is up against.
I really liked the character development in this novel. Even though Lenora's nuclear family isn't around for much of the book, it is clear how close-knit the family was. Lenora's new family at Stonewall Manor have great features that endear them to readers.
Sophomore efforts by authors traditionally have a hard time matching the strengths of the debuts, but I think Toalson has met the quality of her debut.
Recommend to middle grade readers who like a bit of fantasy but also want to be able to relate to characters who have experienced pain.
April 3, 2021
This story deals with loss, albeit using magical curses to help. A little girl loses her family and has to move into a home with an uncle she'd never met, only to be mostly ignored and left alone. She soon starts ventures into a haunted woods and she loses sight of what is bad and good and how best to deal with her pain.
For me it was a bit dull for half the story. Its really just the little girl asking questions and adults refusing to answer. You know people, a LOT of tragedies and misunderstandings would be avoided if we would just TALK to our kids. Dont hide the truth from them, no matter how painful. It will help them cope better and not look for relief elsewhere. Its a sad fact that adults push their kids away simply because they do not want to deal with hard topics.
The curse finally becomes clear later on, although I question if the killing was unjust or not, for he did become an evil spirit. Overall, the story was interesting and unique in how it dealt with this topic. But it did remind me of books like The Secret Garden, A Little Princess and Narnia in certain ways, except with a creepy twist, so it was both unique but totally famiiar lol
For me it was a bit dull for half the story. Its really just the little girl asking questions and adults refusing to answer. You know people, a LOT of tragedies and misunderstandings would be avoided if we would just TALK to our kids. Dont hide the truth from them, no matter how painful. It will help them cope better and not look for relief elsewhere. Its a sad fact that adults push their kids away simply because they do not want to deal with hard topics.
The curse finally becomes clear later on, although I question if the killing was unjust or not, for he did become an evil spirit. Overall, the story was interesting and unique in how it dealt with this topic. But it did remind me of books like The Secret Garden, A Little Princess and Narnia in certain ways, except with a creepy twist, so it was both unique but totally famiiar lol
July 18, 2025
A 12-year-old girl whose family is tragically killed is sent to live with her uncle in a mansion near an enticing and forbidden wood. This is a middle-grade book with a well-developed premise. What I liked: the mystery of the woods, the journal entries by Lenora's uncle that fed the mystery, and Lenora's first-person perspective. There was also a nice flow to the writing. The only real drawback to me was the ending. I expected more symbolism than realism (in keeping with the rest of the story), but instead it was pretty neat and tidy in some ways that I didn't like. It made me feel like the author couldn't quite decide where to land.
March 14, 2021
Oh my god, this was so good! I loved the woods. I know they are supposed to be evil, but I loved all the creatures and Bela. It was so heartbreaking during the explosions, and I had no idea that this had happened. I immediately looked it up, and it should be something people learn about. I wasn't expecting Bobby to still be alive and recoverable. I thought that he would definately be lost to the woods forever. I wish that there would be more by like this. Historical fantasy? I really enjoyed it.
October 4, 2019
I found the beginning very interesting. It's setting was based on the historical event that happened, an Industrial tragedy in Texas City, TX in 1947. Lenora lost her whole family and had to live with an uncle in another town farther away who she had never known. The mansion he lived in was the old family home. But half way into the book it turned strange bringing in magic and science. Although it had a happy ending, I felt disappointed with the outcome.
October 11, 2019
Lenora loses her family in the actual, historic Texas City Disaster of 1947 when two huge ships loaded with ammonium nitrate exploded on the docks. Over 400 people were killed, including 63 unidentifiable bodies, due to the horrific nature of the blast. Orphaned and bereft of siblings, her healing starts with an eccentric uncle, a safe home, a caring housekeeper and a magical forest. A fantasy/historical fiction mash-up about survival.
October 28, 2024
I like this book. It is so enticing once you get into it. But that's just it, only when you really get into it. It starts off a bit slow then it speeds up, and then its slow again. Through Lenora's point of view, this mystery will capture your mind and have you entranced in the woods. If you like both mysteries and historical fiction, this is the book for you.
September 26, 2019
This is a fascinating read. R. L. Toalson explores grief and loss within a world of magical realism. Lenora is such a brave character.
February 21, 2020
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Yellow Jacket for an eARC of this book.
Twelve year old Lenora has lost her family in a terrible explosion on her birthday and now has to go live with her estranged uncle in the old family home located on the edge of the Gilgevnah Woods.
Lenora has never been told anything about the family home or her uncle so she is surprised to learn that Stonewall Manor where her father grew up is in fact a mansion and has been in the family for centuries. Just like the house, her uncle is silent and reclusive, always off working in his lab in the east wing where Lenora has been discouraged to visit as he is too busy to answer questions. She is told that windows must be closed and locked in the evenings and that she must never enter the woods. The only company she has is Mrs. Jones, the cook who avoids answering the multitude of questions Lenora has about her uncle and her cousin Bobby who entered the woods never to return.
Consumed by loneliness and the lack of answers to questions, Lenora attempts to rejuvenate the garden and begins to hear the woods call her name beckoning her to come. Devastated and alone with her grief Lenora enters the woods to find a magical creature Bella who promises to take her to Bobby and see her family but she must not tell anyone of her visits. Despite an uncomfortable feeling and knowing she should tell someone of her visits but never does and it appears that the woods are taking a toll on her physical well being. At the same time, readers are introduced to Richard’s journal and his experiments and engineering tasks he is working on as he knows there is evil in the woods that stole his son and is determined to destroy the woods and the evil within it no matter the cost.
This is a longer story but readers will get caught up in the themes of grief, loss and family intermixed with the magic and how it is affecting Lenora’s family. Toalson has created a world in the woods that is both enchanting and disturbing at the same time. Despite the length the chapters are short and interspersed with the journal pages of Uncle Richard and may allow readers to gain confidence reading a longer book. Available now.
Twelve year old Lenora has lost her family in a terrible explosion on her birthday and now has to go live with her estranged uncle in the old family home located on the edge of the Gilgevnah Woods.
Lenora has never been told anything about the family home or her uncle so she is surprised to learn that Stonewall Manor where her father grew up is in fact a mansion and has been in the family for centuries. Just like the house, her uncle is silent and reclusive, always off working in his lab in the east wing where Lenora has been discouraged to visit as he is too busy to answer questions. She is told that windows must be closed and locked in the evenings and that she must never enter the woods. The only company she has is Mrs. Jones, the cook who avoids answering the multitude of questions Lenora has about her uncle and her cousin Bobby who entered the woods never to return.
Consumed by loneliness and the lack of answers to questions, Lenora attempts to rejuvenate the garden and begins to hear the woods call her name beckoning her to come. Devastated and alone with her grief Lenora enters the woods to find a magical creature Bella who promises to take her to Bobby and see her family but she must not tell anyone of her visits. Despite an uncomfortable feeling and knowing she should tell someone of her visits but never does and it appears that the woods are taking a toll on her physical well being. At the same time, readers are introduced to Richard’s journal and his experiments and engineering tasks he is working on as he knows there is evil in the woods that stole his son and is determined to destroy the woods and the evil within it no matter the cost.
This is a longer story but readers will get caught up in the themes of grief, loss and family intermixed with the magic and how it is affecting Lenora’s family. Toalson has created a world in the woods that is both enchanting and disturbing at the same time. Despite the length the chapters are short and interspersed with the journal pages of Uncle Richard and may allow readers to gain confidence reading a longer book. Available now.
October 23, 2022
loved this when i was younger! very dark when you think about it but super interesting even now when i reread it
December 7, 2019
5 stars!!
I actually read this book twice. (Sometimes when I want to rate a book five stars, I start overthinking, and I have to re-read the book just to make sure.) I can confirm that it is five stars for me, and the best middle grade I’ve read this year.
I live for these middle grade novels that explore tough topics with a more gentle hand than YA or adult literature, but they let adolescents who are struggling with big struggles like loss or grief that they are not the only ones.
I really like to look at the woods as a metaphor for addiction. I think you could argue either way, but I haven’t seen anyone else take that interpretation yet.
The prose of this novel is beautiful and the characters are dynamic and will break your heart, only to warm it again. I think the plot drags the slightest bit, and I’m not the biggest fan of the endgame, but the themes that this novel explores are so much more important to me than the plot, and the evolution of grief and love is so perfectly depicted in this story.
I want to scream about this book from the rooftops and shove it into the arms of everyone, but I’ll start with this review. Seriously. Please read this book.
I actually read this book twice. (Sometimes when I want to rate a book five stars, I start overthinking, and I have to re-read the book just to make sure.) I can confirm that it is five stars for me, and the best middle grade I’ve read this year.
I live for these middle grade novels that explore tough topics with a more gentle hand than YA or adult literature, but they let adolescents who are struggling with big struggles like loss or grief that they are not the only ones.
I really like to look at the woods as a metaphor for addiction. I think you could argue either way, but I haven’t seen anyone else take that interpretation yet.
The prose of this novel is beautiful and the characters are dynamic and will break your heart, only to warm it again. I think the plot drags the slightest bit, and I’m not the biggest fan of the endgame, but the themes that this novel explores are so much more important to me than the plot, and the evolution of grief and love is so perfectly depicted in this story.
I want to scream about this book from the rooftops and shove it into the arms of everyone, but I’ll start with this review. Seriously. Please read this book.
November 11, 2019
How mysterious...
The story follows twelve year old Lenora who’s family passes away in a big explosion and what she will do next. For me, I think this is a journey for her. A chance to discover.
This story took no time to finish. I was hooked from the start to the end and I was really starting to try and see how it would go when the story finally got better.
I have to say I did not expect this to be so well written. It really bites at the edges of your fingers and holds on for a long time.
There were so many great moments throughout this book that I eventually just hung on to the end. Not bad for a middle grade story. I look forward to more miracles like this.
The story follows twelve year old Lenora who’s family passes away in a big explosion and what she will do next. For me, I think this is a journey for her. A chance to discover.
This story took no time to finish. I was hooked from the start to the end and I was really starting to try and see how it would go when the story finally got better.
I have to say I did not expect this to be so well written. It really bites at the edges of your fingers and holds on for a long time.
There were so many great moments throughout this book that I eventually just hung on to the end. Not bad for a middle grade story. I look forward to more miracles like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2020
This book was beautiful from start to finish. It handled the themes of grief and sorrow in such a beautiful way. Lenora was unlikeable in the beginning, but after following her story and seeing just how she handles the loss of her family, she quickly became my favorite. This book truly captures the meaning of family. Sorrow is lonely, but you’re never truly alone you are loved more than you even know. Family is more than blood, it is a bond that lasts forever.
March 13, 2023
I actually have read this book more times than Goodreads has said, and it is one of my favorite books. I remember picking it up a couple of years ago and loving the storyline. The characters are well-written, the story is incredible, and this book has emotion to it. I'm not going to lie, I cried at the end of the book, and that is not something I say often. I 100% recommend it.
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