Review: Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

5 stars for Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.

Wolf Hollow is a story that has me on the edge of my seat right from the beginning. Hauntingly grabbing, once I start reading, I cannot stop thinking about it.

The story is set in a farm in Western Pennsylvania during the autumn of 1943. First person narrator Annabelle McBride, a 12-year old girl, describes the year she learns to lie in relation to two outlanders in her life - Betty Glengarry the bully and Toby the mysterious wanderer.

There are many things to like about this novel. I will share three that I like most here. First and foremost is the brilliangly crafted atmosphere of suspense that keeps me rooted to the story. To begin with, the protagonist's predicament is foreshadowed in the opening of the prologue and it helps inject dramatic tension to the story right from the start. To quote "The year I turned twelve, I learned how to lie" This short, simple sentence set the mood for the entire story ahead. Before I even proceed to chapter one, I already feel anxious and jittery. And I fear for the main character. Why did she lie? What did she lie about? With a harbinger of things to come, it is with some trepidation that I read on.

Before long, another sense of foreboding gives me pause. To quote "We would have been spared some trouble if we had not crossed paths that day. But it's important to look at how everything ended and not just what happened along the way." Now, now, trouble is brewing. That is for sure. The narratives, shrouded in suspense, makes unravelling the mystery even more pressing. By now, I am absolutely hooked to the story. And it is only chapter three. As I keep the pages turning, I find out that this is not the only indication of things to come. Through the rest of the story, I feel as if I have gone on a rollercoaster ride; tension builds up, eases off and then starts all over again. It makes the reading exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. But I definitely enjoy it.

What I like next is the complex moral theme of human kindness in the novel. It shows us that the world the protagonist lives in is a place where doing the right thing - showing compassion to someone who is different in the eyes of people in general - is often hard, sometimes dangerous, and many a time even unpopular. This kindness, delicately expressed in the story, is what makes it so beautiful and tender, yet sad beyond words. Other themes in the story include country life, family, friendship, courage, honesty, respect, trust and belief.

Last but not least, I like the people in the book. It is difficult not to fall in love with the characters as they come alive and leap out of the pages. I am not saying that I like all the characters in the story. In fact, I can hardly remember the last time - I think it is After You which I read like five years ago - I dislike a character that much in a book. And to think of it, it is not just one but two characters that get on my nerves this time round; a teenage girl and another much older woman. But other than these two, the rest of the characters are charming and versatile.

I like Annabelle's parents. They are not only righteous at heart but in action too. And actions speak louder than words. I like Annabelle's two younger brothers. Though they are side characters, their part in the story is by no means negligible. These two little boys help add much mischief to an otherwise quiet family. I like Toby the drifter or the wanderer or whatever you call it. Even though the story is narrated by Annabelle, in my heart, Toby is one lead character too. Then there is Annabelle. What's not to like about her? She is the main character who keeps the story going after all. She is sensible, sensitive and smart, and not to mention, a great help at home to her mother. And because of the stark contrast between Annabelle and the aforementioned incorrigible teenage girl, Annabelle comes off as an angel even when she tells a fib. I like how she becomes friends with someone who is four times her age in the most unusual of circumstances. Then, there are the other supporting characters who play their roles well, and without which, the story cannot flow smoothly. All in all, I will say the characters are all excellently portrayed, and yes, even the nasty ones, especially the nasty ones.

Wolf Hollow is a beautifully written novel, one that is sure to touch the heart and soul of whoever reads the book. Though a children's literature, it is suitable for readers of all ages as the moral principles behind the story know no bounds. This is one more story that stays with me long after I have closed the book.


Publisher: Puffin Books; Reprint edition
Publication date: 3 Apr 2018

*** Favourite Quote ***

The truth was so tightly braided with secrets that I could not easily say anything without saying too much.

~ Wolf Hollow
Lauren Wolk

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Growing up in the shadows cast by two world wars, Annabelle has lived a mostly quiet, steady life in her small Pennsylvania town. Until the day new student Betty Glengarry walks into her class. Betty quickly reveals herself to be cruel and manipulative, and while her bullying seems isolated at first, things quickly escalate, and reclusive World War I veteran Toby becomes a target of her attacks. While others have always seen Toby’s strangeness, Annabelle knows only kindness. She will soon need to find the courage to stand as a lone voice of justice as tensions mount.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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