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Where the Lockwood Grows
Twelve-year-old Erie has never lived life fully in the sunlight. After destructive wildfires wreaked havoc on the world around her, the government came up with a plan—engineer a plant that cannot burn. Thus, the fire-resistant lockwood was born. The lockwood protects Erie and her hometown of Prine, but it grows incredibly fast and must be cut back every morning. Only the town’s youngest and smallest citizens can fit between the branches and tame the plant. Citizens just like Erie.
But one evening, Erie uncovers a shocking secret that leads her to question the rules of Prine. Alongside her older sister, Hurona, she’ll journey from the only home she’s known and realize that the world is much more complicated than she'd ever imagined.
But one evening, Erie uncovers a shocking secret that leads her to question the rules of Prine. Alongside her older sister, Hurona, she’ll journey from the only home she’s known and realize that the world is much more complicated than she'd ever imagined.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2023
9 people are currently reading
2743 people want to read
About the author
Olivia A. Cole
16 books447 followersOlivia Cole is an author and blogger from Louisville, Kentucky. She spent eight years in Chicago and two in South Florida before finding her way back home. She is the author of PANTHER IN THE HIVE and its sequel, THE ROOSTER’S GARDEN, as well as her latest young adult series, A CONSPIRACY OF STARS and its sequel AN ANATOMY OF BEASTS. She is on the Creative Writing faculty at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and is the founder of the sci-fi art show for young Kentucky women, KINDRED: MAKING SPACE IN SPACE.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 11, 2023
This is a great book. Not only is it a beautiful story, but there is a lot of intelligent subtext. Environmentally conscious. Anti-corporation. Socially aware—with a broad spectrum of character diversity. There are even some great mini lessons on government and economy—just little pops of information so well blended into the story that you hardly notice they are there.
While some of the topics in this book might be heavy, the tone is hopeful and upbeat. This book is a real celebration of Earth and family, with a very stiff nod towards nonconformity/individuality (of which I heartily approve). I was fighting back the tears by the end.
P.S. Be sure to read the Acknowledgments at the end of this book. Even that brought tears to my eyes.
While some of the topics in this book might be heavy, the tone is hopeful and upbeat. This book is a real celebration of Earth and family, with a very stiff nod towards nonconformity/individuality (of which I heartily approve). I was fighting back the tears by the end.
P.S. Be sure to read the Acknowledgments at the end of this book. Even that brought tears to my eyes.
January 16, 2024
It was amazing because of its faster pace and slightly cozy yet thrilling atmosphere.
August 26, 2024
-middle grade
-climate fiction
-emotional sister relationships
-giving The Giver and City of Ember vibes
-of course it made me cry
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a review copy
-climate fiction
-emotional sister relationships
-giving The Giver and City of Ember vibes
-of course it made me cry
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a review copy
October 25, 2023
This has such an interesting premise! I was fascinated with the different scientific inventions, especially the lockwood itself. There are some big reveals in here that I didn’t see coming. There is also quite a bit of LGBTQIA+ representation, which is nice to see. Overall, this is a great introduction to young readers as to why we should care about our environment, no matter what age we might be.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2023
I had very mixed feelings about this book, but on the whole, more positive than negative. I feel like I have so much to say! But I'll try to be succinct and fair.
First things first: Where the Lockwood Grows has been compared to The City of Ember, and I think that's a fair comparison. Like The City of Ember, this book is SF for kids who don't necessarily like SF. There's a mystery at its core and young kids get to be heroic. That's good! It will give the book wide appeal.
To a much greater extent than Ember, this book is also a family story, and the mystery at its heart includes family relationships. More on this later.
The problem young Erie faces at the beginning of the book is that she, and the other children of the village of Prine, have to cut back the lockwood every morning. Else the fast-growing trees will completely block out the sun. Children must do the cutting because only they are small and light enough to fit through the vining growth and chop at it. In general, this takes up the mornings of all Prine children between about ten and fourteen years old. When kids are too big, they have to find other work. When they're too small, they are free--as free as the kids of Prine can be. The book begins with a scene of freedom; two sisters playing together.
Now, on an SF level, I had problems with the lockwood. What sort of tree is resistant to ordinary axes and saws and yet can be cut by young children with special hatchets? And why won't it burn? Everything burns--even metal. We call that rusting. So I had to make an effort to accept this premise.
That happened with a lot of the science throughout the book. The buzz yards, for example, made a lot of sense to me. After all, right now, we have viruses designed to kill bacteria that make people ill, and bacteria that are used to clean up oil spills. So why not have bugs designed specifically to eat trash or give light? Where I had problems was with the whole idea, late in the book, that these bugs could be trained to eat only when they heard a particular sound wave. Really? Is this possible? I'm not saying it isn't; I'm saying I wanted to know more, and my doubt threw me out of the story.
Another thing I struggled with was the pacing. The book seemed deliberately poetic, as if the author were striving for beautiful phrases. Believe me, I don't mind that! It's one of the reasons I love Tolkien, and I strive to write this way myself. But this story is told in the voice of a 12-year-old girl from an isolated village. I couldn't always buy the voice.
The pacing was also a little off. It wasn't until Erie and her big sister Hurona escaped from Prine that I became gripped by the story. Their adventures in the city of Petrichor were fascinating, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Here is where we learn about buzz yards, shroom strings, and more. I also liked the friends the girls made in the city. But--
This brings me to a fourth point: family and relationships. For the most part, like the science, this was very well done. Erie's growing awareness of the secrets her mom and big sister were keeping from her; her observations of her mom's fits of anger and depression--all this was convincing and moving. But--
There is a family secret at the heart of the SF secret. When the girls discover it, we find that ALL the white men in this book, without exception, are weak or villainous or both. All the heroes and helpers are gay, people of color, bisexual, or some combination.
I'm actually way left-wing. I liked the multiculturalism in Where the Lockwood Grows, which struck me as natural and believable. I REALLY liked the examination of corporate greed--what goes on in Prine is similar to what went on in so many mining towns in the Appalachians. But couldn't there have been one decent, heterosexual, white male in this large cast of characters?
Oh--one more thing. When I was a little girl in New England, I watched my dad and grandpa burn off the undergrowth from our meadow. It was a technique learned from the Native Americans to prevent fires. The idea that whites were too arrogant to learn from the Native people is, in my own lived experience, false. It became illegal to do these controlled burns because they caused too much smog. Burn barrels for paper waste were also outlawed at that time--the late '70s/early '80s.
Summing up, this book has a great deal of substance. But it's not perfect--a story this ambitious probably couldn't be.
First things first: Where the Lockwood Grows has been compared to The City of Ember, and I think that's a fair comparison. Like The City of Ember, this book is SF for kids who don't necessarily like SF. There's a mystery at its core and young kids get to be heroic. That's good! It will give the book wide appeal.
To a much greater extent than Ember, this book is also a family story, and the mystery at its heart includes family relationships. More on this later.
The problem young Erie faces at the beginning of the book is that she, and the other children of the village of Prine, have to cut back the lockwood every morning. Else the fast-growing trees will completely block out the sun. Children must do the cutting because only they are small and light enough to fit through the vining growth and chop at it. In general, this takes up the mornings of all Prine children between about ten and fourteen years old. When kids are too big, they have to find other work. When they're too small, they are free--as free as the kids of Prine can be. The book begins with a scene of freedom; two sisters playing together.
Now, on an SF level, I had problems with the lockwood. What sort of tree is resistant to ordinary axes and saws and yet can be cut by young children with special hatchets? And why won't it burn? Everything burns--even metal. We call that rusting. So I had to make an effort to accept this premise.
That happened with a lot of the science throughout the book. The buzz yards, for example, made a lot of sense to me. After all, right now, we have viruses designed to kill bacteria that make people ill, and bacteria that are used to clean up oil spills. So why not have bugs designed specifically to eat trash or give light? Where I had problems was with the whole idea, late in the book, that these bugs could be trained to eat only when they heard a particular sound wave. Really? Is this possible? I'm not saying it isn't; I'm saying I wanted to know more, and my doubt threw me out of the story.
Another thing I struggled with was the pacing. The book seemed deliberately poetic, as if the author were striving for beautiful phrases. Believe me, I don't mind that! It's one of the reasons I love Tolkien, and I strive to write this way myself. But this story is told in the voice of a 12-year-old girl from an isolated village. I couldn't always buy the voice.
The pacing was also a little off. It wasn't until Erie and her big sister Hurona escaped from Prine that I became gripped by the story. Their adventures in the city of Petrichor were fascinating, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Here is where we learn about buzz yards, shroom strings, and more. I also liked the friends the girls made in the city. But--
This brings me to a fourth point: family and relationships. For the most part, like the science, this was very well done. Erie's growing awareness of the secrets her mom and big sister were keeping from her; her observations of her mom's fits of anger and depression--all this was convincing and moving. But--
There is a family secret at the heart of the SF secret. When the girls discover it, we find that ALL the white men in this book, without exception, are weak or villainous or both. All the heroes and helpers are gay, people of color, bisexual, or some combination.
I'm actually way left-wing. I liked the multiculturalism in Where the Lockwood Grows, which struck me as natural and believable. I REALLY liked the examination of corporate greed--what goes on in Prine is similar to what went on in so many mining towns in the Appalachians. But couldn't there have been one decent, heterosexual, white male in this large cast of characters?
Oh--one more thing. When I was a little girl in New England, I watched my dad and grandpa burn off the undergrowth from our meadow. It was a technique learned from the Native Americans to prevent fires. The idea that whites were too arrogant to learn from the Native people is, in my own lived experience, false. It became illegal to do these controlled burns because they caused too much smog. Burn barrels for paper waste were also outlawed at that time--the late '70s/early '80s.
Summing up, this book has a great deal of substance. But it's not perfect--a story this ambitious probably couldn't be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
I loved this book. I was hooked from the beginning. Erie and Hurano are such great characters and we slowly see their personalities and their relationships come to life.
The Town of Prime and the Lockwood was so interesting. A vine that can stop fire? Wouldn't that be great to have. But it's literally suffocating their town and the kids have to go up and cut it back everyday.
I liked the relationship that the girls have with their mom, even though there are some secrets being kept from each of them.
Their mom, is brave and strong but has lost her confidence.
There were some shockers in here that I wasn't expecting! But they were so good!
I liked the look at things that are happening with climate change that were not so much talked about in your face, but pointed out throughout.
Hurano and Erie make some great friends along their adventure. I liked seeing the different families and different representation.
I think a lot of the middle graders at my library will like this book. It has so much to offer, a little bit of adventure, mystery, suspense, and real feelings.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
The Town of Prime and the Lockwood was so interesting. A vine that can stop fire? Wouldn't that be great to have. But it's literally suffocating their town and the kids have to go up and cut it back everyday.
I liked the relationship that the girls have with their mom, even though there are some secrets being kept from each of them.
Their mom, is brave and strong but has lost her confidence.
There were some shockers in here that I wasn't expecting! But they were so good!
I liked the look at things that are happening with climate change that were not so much talked about in your face, but pointed out throughout.
Hurano and Erie make some great friends along their adventure. I liked seeing the different families and different representation.
I think a lot of the middle graders at my library will like this book. It has so much to offer, a little bit of adventure, mystery, suspense, and real feelings.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
February 12, 2025
If you are a fan of post-apocalyptic science fiction, then this book is for you! It’s a thrilling story that highlights the fragility of nature and our environment and how natural disasters can have catastrophic effects on society.
When wildfires destroy most of the world, the government’s solution is to cultivate a fire resistant plant called lockwood. Lockwood protects the town of Prine, where Eerie and her Sister Hurona live with their mother, but as a result of its continuous fast growth, the town rarely sees the daylight. It is up to the smallest children to undergo the most dangerous task of cutting back the lockwood each morning before sunrise, just to survive. One night, Eerie climbs to the highest point of the lockwood and discovers a shocking secret that will change the fate of Prine forever.
Though there are some devastating and dark moments in this story, there are also many tender moments between family and friends that spark hope in this adventure story.
The more I read, the more I was intrigued by this story until I simply couldn't put it down until I reached the thrilling end.
When wildfires destroy most of the world, the government’s solution is to cultivate a fire resistant plant called lockwood. Lockwood protects the town of Prine, where Eerie and her Sister Hurona live with their mother, but as a result of its continuous fast growth, the town rarely sees the daylight. It is up to the smallest children to undergo the most dangerous task of cutting back the lockwood each morning before sunrise, just to survive. One night, Eerie climbs to the highest point of the lockwood and discovers a shocking secret that will change the fate of Prine forever.
Though there are some devastating and dark moments in this story, there are also many tender moments between family and friends that spark hope in this adventure story.
The more I read, the more I was intrigued by this story until I simply couldn't put it down until I reached the thrilling end.
January 2, 2024
Erie has only ever known life in the dark, little town of Prine. Prine is dark because it is surrounded by lockwood trees. Lockwood was developed to grow rapidly and to resist fire after a series of devastating fires caused by climate change. Erie and the other children climb high in the lockwood each day to cut it back to allow enough sun in to charge their solar panels while older children like her sister, gather the lockwood pods from the ground. One night Erie and Hurona discover a deadly secret about the lockwood and decide they need to visit the city of Petrichor to alert the inventor of the lockwood. Even though Petrichor is not surrounded by lockwood, all is not as peaceful as it seems and Erie uncovers more secrets the more she investigates, including some long-buried family secrets.
May 16, 2023
Read this while monitoring standardized testing, and that was a mistake because I wanted the kids to stop interrupting me so I could just read. I just love the way Cole writes, plus with this book being conservation-focused, it just healed my little former-scientist heart. Absolutely loved this one - very thankful I got some copies from the publisher because this is going to be my Book Club's first book next school year. Highly recommend for all middle-grade readers, and anyone else who enjoys science or conservation.
Also recommend not reading this in front of students, because the ending had me a lil misty-eyed.
Also recommend not reading this in front of students, because the ending had me a lil misty-eyed.
August 11, 2023
Where the Lockwood Grows is like a darker, more mature City of Ember. The story follows in the aftermath of wildfires that weaked havoc on the Earth. Where, as a result of the fires, the lockwoods were made. Erie is one of many young children tasked with cutting back the lockwoods that both keep out the fires but also sunlight and regrows each night. Erie was both enjoyable yet infuriating at times as a character to follow. And while I wasn't surprised by any of the reveals, I do believe they were very well executed. I just wish there had been an epilogue to give insight into where some of the other characters ended up or how things panned out a few years later.
November 21, 2023
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Where the Lockwood Grows is an emotional middle grade about family, borders, and ethics. This science fiction middle grade is packed with layers. From the very premise of having to fight for sunlight each day, of a world trying to keep kids small for child labor, you can tell Where the Lockwood Grows is going to be complicated and emotional. And Cole doesn't even stop there. This book examines boundaries and identification papers, classicism and technical exploitation, and family secrets.
Where the Lockwood Grows is an emotional middle grade about family, borders, and ethics. This science fiction middle grade is packed with layers. From the very premise of having to fight for sunlight each day, of a world trying to keep kids small for child labor, you can tell Where the Lockwood Grows is going to be complicated and emotional. And Cole doesn't even stop there. This book examines boundaries and identification papers, classicism and technical exploitation, and family secrets.
February 27, 2024
3.5 stars. Part mystery, part dystopian/science fiction and part environmental fiction- this plot packs in a lot. Erie has grown up in Prine, a town surrounded by a special tree that is resistant to fire. Each day the children have to climb and cut it down. Until one day she and her sister discover a secret that sends them on a journey to the ‘big city’. Themes include taking care of the natural world, trust, friendship and family. The cast of characters is diverse and many show a love of science and nature. A few mild swears, some mild violence and the death of a young child from working. 6th grade and up.
August 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It addresses several topics in a way that is easy enough for children to understand. But, as an adult reading the book, I still found it to be a very good story. Very well thought out and delivered. I would recommend it to anyone, and I will definitely be trying to get my son to read it.
October 4, 2023
Erie lives in a small town surrounded by the lockwood that keeps them safe from wildfires. When her sister decides to leave to uncover the lies that keep them trapped, Erie leave the only home she's known to go with her. The secrets that unfold are bigger than Erie could have imagined, and her life will never be the same.
November 17, 2023
Wildfires have destroyed everything. The worlds solution is a bio engineered tree that never stops growing. This means 12 year old Erie only sees the sun after she and the other child workers have cut back the Lockwood. This book packs a bunch and explores a lot of topics. It’s a dystopian but also reads like a thriller. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
My full review is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrzhNMO3Z0/
My full review is here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzrzhNMO3Z0/
September 30, 2023
I don't keep up with climate change issues which is not a good thing. This story is a very outstanding example of what can occur when the wrong people attempt to control the climate to their advantage and how it affects others involved.
November 22, 2023
"Erie’s hopeful stream-of-consciousness narrative and the protagonists’ tumultuous sisterhood add an emotionally grounded through line to this jam-packed, climate-oriented allegory." [Publishers Weekly]
January 31, 2024
Przysięgam wam na uroczyste słowo moje, że tak dojmującego i tak nietuzinkowego i przede wszystkim stylistycznie i konstrukcyjnie tak bardzo obfitego w wartości i niuanse, jak i głębi i emocjonalności Middle grade'a - NIGDY NIE CZYTAŁEM....Ja...ja nie mam słów na to
May 4, 2024
This was so lovely. A really strong stand alone that introduces middle grade readers to environmental issues in a captivating way. The characters were great and the plot was fast-paced yet cozy. I listened to the audiobook while tucked into bed and I highly recommend it.
March 16, 2025
This book was very inspiring. It's sad and surprising in many different ways. This book would have gotten a five-star, but I felt like it was a letdown. It shows a lot of 6 it was so much of a letdown for a bit. Being placed in the future was good, but how far in the future was it?
October 18, 2025
This book is just right for the age it was written for. Cole introduces important facts about the environment and how important it is for all of us to watch over the Earth. There is just the right amount of suspense and tension in the story. What would happen if a tree grew that completely covered a town - yet also protected the town from dying by fire? Read this book to find out!
May 7, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
September 20, 2023
a post-apocalyptic time with great worldbuilding. it had a moving message about saving the planet and good plot twists at the right times
January 19, 2024
Excellent! Brilliant! Realistically dystopian full of heart and hope.
January 25, 2024
What a beautiful reminder that we can be small enough to make a change. Thank you
February 1, 2024
This book is pretty good if you like fantasy and mystery.
March 20, 2024
It was awesome
April 19, 2024
This was a great YA read. I needed a lighter book. This one caught my attention. I loved the story, it was fun and cute. 3.5 for sure
October 22, 2024
What a great dystopian middle grade novel! Dystopians generally are written for an older audience. It's nice to have a dystopian my students can read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews