Wildwood audiobook

Prue felt like someone had bored a hole in her stomach the size of a basketball. Prue has always lived in Portland, on the edges of a great and wondrous forest.She never gave it much thought...that is until her one-year-old brother (Mac) was carried off by a flock of crows to the heart of the forest.So, she does what any child would do...go after him with her friend Curtis.However, they soon realize that this will NOT be a simple grab-and-go. The forest, or better known as the Wildwood, is far more mysterious and dangerous than either of them thought possible. As she walked, she breathed a quick benediction to the patron saint of sleuthing. "Nancy Drew," she whispered, "be with me now." There's an army of coyotes being led by a once-banished queen who quickly capture Curtis. Prue appeals to the rightful Wildwood king only to find that he has no interest in helping her plight. She quickly exited the room, hearing the echoes of the mastiff’s angered barks fade behind her down the hallway. Prue must rely on her own strength and wits to navigate this wild world of talking animals, tree magic and ancient evil.Will she save her brother? Or be forever lost in the Wildwoods?Ultimately - I really, really enjoyed this one.I absolutely adore long middle school books - the longer the better! It's always fun to really have time to settle into the story and get to know the characters (which we had plenty of time to do!).I especially loved Prue - her dry wit and cleverness truly made this story shine. I loved all of her quirks - from her one-speed bicycle to her slight-obsession with yoga. Meditation. That's the key. Supposedly. Calming your mind in total silence. This definitely had a Narnia feel - I saw several parallels but not enough to bother me.There were a few times where the wording became a bit...wordy. A bit outside of the typical middle school reading level. We break our own hearts imposing our moral order on what is, by nature, a wide web of chaos. And yet that perfectly fit the tone of the novel. So, all in all this book was a win for me!YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads

What an enjoyable read this was. I confess to entering into this novel with conflicting feelings. I attended a young adult literature conference back in October. As we were getting settled in to listen to the keynote speaker (no less than Mike Lupica, not to drop names or anything . . . ), I caught

I first picked up this book because, I cannot lie, I love the Decemberists. After cracking open the first couple pages I was swept into the seedlings of a great adventure. The world created by Meloy is so close to our own yet so far apart. It takes place in the "Impassable Wilderness" of Portland. And by the end of the book I was thinking if I went to Portland I too would be able to find this magic forest existing today just beyond my imagination. It has everything I love: adventure! birds! animals! wise old women! friendship! family!I'm quite an outdoorsy person myself, so I really loved all the nature that is so perfectly and accurately described for the setting of this story. I think any kid that is into hiking, camping, and exploring the natural sciences will really love this book. (Adults too!)

This is a delight of a young-adult book.After reading a number of reviews here and on amazon, I can only add to the discussion that the largest complaints seem to be that the vocabulary is troubling and perhaps not age appropriate. To that I say, "Buy a dictionary, suck it up, and read better books." All the praise that has already been doled out sums it up: it's a great tale that's just different enough from everything else in the genre of kids' fantasy to be really engaging and delightful.

Wildwood me surpreendeu bastante. Primeiro por ser um livro infantil bem longo, são 500 páginas só de história (as ilustrações não são contabilizadas). E segundo por ser um livro infantil épico. No sentido de O Hobbit e As Crônicas de Narnia. O livro não foge da violência, da complexidade do texto (tive dificuldade com algumas palavras e aprendi várias) e de oferecer um sistema político e social. Nada aqui é mastigadinho pra criança e isso me deixou muito feliz. O legal da Prue - nossa heroina - e Curtis, é que eles estão descobrindo esse mundo, enfrentando-o da melhor forma que conseguem, mas ainda são crianças. Gostei muito de como o vilão da história é ao mesmo tempo mirabolante e realista. E que as coisas não são simplesmente preto e branco, o bem versus mal.

This gave me all The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe vibes and I LOVED IT.

Halfway through this book, I got that sinking feeling.That, oh no, this is a series, feeling.I was going to want more, and more, and more, and after every book, I'd have to wait for the next one. Happily, this first Wildwood novel ties up quite neatly and stands on its own. I'm not going to have to wonder what on earth happens next for the next few years, the desire for a new Wildwood novel warring with my desire for a new Decemberists album. Poor Colin... if he is one of my favorite singers AND one of my favorite writers, he is going to have to exhaust himself to keep me happy. This is a fantastic book, written for middle-grades but clever enough for adults. The artwork, by the inimitable Carson Ellis, is woven beautifully throughout the text. I'm quite tempted to order the expensive, autographed edition with color plates... it will be so much nicer than my little unfinished ARC!

Prue liebt ihren kleinen Bruder Mac und es macht ihr auch überhaupt nichts aus, sich um ihn zu kümmern. Doch als sie wieder einmal mit ihm auf dem Spielplatz ist, passiert etwas schreckliches: Ein Schwarm Krähen packt sich Mac und fliegt mit ihm in die undurchdringliche Wildnis, die noch kein Mensch betreten hat, oder zumindest kam noch nie jemand zurück. Für Prue ist ganz klar, dass sie ihren Bruder retten muss und sie macht sich auf den Weg zum Wald. Unterwegs trifft sie auf ihren nervigen Klassenkameraden Curtis, der sie unbedingt begleiten will. Und die Beiden erleben das unglaublichste, spannendste und tollste Abenteuer, das man sich nur vorstellen kann, denn in diesem Wald ist nichts wie gewohnt.Oh wow! Ich bin immer noch hin und weg und komplett in dieser Geschichte gefangen. Was für ein tolles Jugendbuch, das wirklich keine Wünsche offen lässt. Zuerst möchte ich noch die wunderschönen Bilder von Carson Ellis erwähnen, die es in diesem Buch reichlich gibt. Das ist auch mit ein Grund, sich unbedingt das Print und nicht das eBook zu kaufen. Ich habe das Buch immer wieder durchgeblättert und mir die tollen Bilder und Illustrationen angesehen.Die Geschichte steht den Bildern in nichts nach. Sie ist absolut phantastisch, spannend, interessant, gut ausgearbeitet und spricht Jung und Alt an. Prue ist ein liebes Mädchen, das alle Gefahren ignoriert und ihre eigenen Ängste zur Seite stellt, um ihren geliebten Bruder zu retten. Der etwas nervige Curtis wird ihr im Laufe der Geschichte zum guten Freund und ist nicht mehr wegzudenken. Sehr spannend fand ich auch die Entwicklung der beiden Kinder, die an ihren Erfahrungen wuchsen, aber sich immer treu blieben.Die Beiden treffen auf ihrer Reise durch den verwunschenen Wald auf jede Menge seltsamer Gestalten. Nicht nur, dass die Tiere alle sprechen können, es gibt auch Schakale in Uniform, eine Räuberbande, die unter ihrer rauen Schale einen sehr weichen Kern hat. Sie treffen auf einen Adlergeneral, eine böse Hexe, eine ziemlich clevere Ratte und noch vielen mehr. Es hat großen Spaß gemacht, diese unterschiedlichen Charaktere kennenzulernen, denn der Autor hat sehr viel Liebe in diese verschiedenen Wesen gesteckt und auch den unwichtigsten Charakter noch liebevoll ausgearbeitet.Das macht die Geschichte aber keineswegs langweilig, sondern versprüht einen ganz besonderen Zauber. Auch die Handlung wurde sehr gut ausgearbeitet und man merkt wirklich, wie viel Liebe und auch Begeisterung der Autor in dieses Buch gesteckt hat.Der Schreibstil ist sehr bildhaft, einfach, schließlich ist das Buch ab 10 Jahre, und flüssig zu lesen. In meinem Kopf, lief von der ersten Seite an ein Film und ich bin wirklich traurig, das Buch beendet zu haben. Ich fühle mich gerade, als hätte ich gute Freunde verloren. Zum Glück gibt es aber weitere Bände um Wildwood, so dass ich meine Freunde bald wieder treffen kann.Ich vergebe für diese phantastische Geschichte 5 von 5 Punkten, den Favoritenstatus und eine Leseempfehlung für alle, die Lust haben, mal wieder ins Reich der Phantasie zu reisen. "Wildwood" ist so viel mehr als nur ein Jugendbuch und wirklich für jedes Alter geeignet.Reihenfolge:1. Wildwood2. Wildwood - Das Geheimnis unter dem Wald3. Wildwood - Der verzauberte Prinz© Beate Senft

Why is it that every time I hear/read about a story about a girl who sets out to rescue her baby brother from some magical creature in a whole fantasy-esque land, my thoughts immediately turn to Labyrinth? I mean, it was kind of hard for me to ignore it in The Iron King but I also got those type of vibes in this book too. But you know, without the awesomeness that is David Bowie. Readers, please - contain yourself.But eventually, as I continued reading - this book became this reminder of several things, such as: The Witches, The Snow Queen, Coraline, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (I refer to the movie versions because I haven't read the books yet) and a bunch of other media that I cannot put my finger to it. Yet.In a Nutshell: Prue sets off to rescue her baby brother Mac, after he gets kidnapped and flown away by a murder of crows to a placed called the Impassable Wilderness. It is basically a whole forest-like area that is said to be uninhabitable and full of dangerous creatures and such. She is joined by fellow classmate Curtis, and soon they realize that the place has a whole different name/type of world living within it as well as a lot of politics, revenge and battles fought as they search for her brother.In all honesty, I am not too sure if I am able to write down why I enjoyed reading this book. Maybe it was because the cover looks amazing - as does the illustrations inside the book. I guess I like being visually stimulated and staring at pretty things. I liked how determined, resourceful and kind character Prue became. I never did feel pissed off with anything that she did because it was believable and believe me, I haven't met a heroine like that ages. Curtis was okay, I guess - he reminded me of Wybie from the film version of Coraline and even though his character really didn't do much for me - I wasn't that annoyed with him or anything.Even though it was essentially a very simple story of Prue rescuing her brother - there is so much more going on that it surprisingly doesn't make the plot more convoluted, but instead enriches it with these minor subplots that are relevant and eventually do interconnect with each other in the end. The writing was okay, and the story was relatively consistent in its pacing and it does get very tense and exciting as it draws nearer to the climatic battles and such. However, I felt that by the time that was done, it got a bit rushed and ending was just okay for me. (view spoiler)[But a happy one, nonetheless. (hide spoiler)]The world-building wasn't that complex, but very extensive and imaginative - everything from how the governing bodies of both the North and South Woods worked, the Mystics and the whole Periphery magic (I think that was what they called it) that keeps most 'Outsiders' out. Although the whole animals in actual clothing and speaking like humans reminded me a lot of Bedknobs and Broomsticks for some unfathomable reason, I liked that some of the minor characters were given personalities and most of the cast in this book was pretty likable. Even if the supposed antagonist fell a bit flat for me and were pretty generic/dime a dozen kind but hey, at least I could understand the main villain, Dowager Governess' motivations for why she was planning to carry out her eeeeeeeeeeeevil plans which was a plus. I don't know, I guess sometimes I get annoyed that the villains are lazily written in the sense that they are evil just for the sake of being evil.Overall, I do recommend this to everyone, even if the fact that book is over 500+ pages. Okay, maybe it was just the copy I borrowed but nonetheless, don't let that deter from reading an actually good story!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

A super clever adventure, Wildwood was a fun read with amazing illustrations. I only lowered my ranking because of the morally distressing situations like a potential baby sacrifice. For grades 4-8, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want my own kids to read it yet.

It should really come as no surprise that Colin Meloy would one day turn his spirited imagination to the world of young adult fiction. He has been crafting some of the most exquisitely lyrical songs in rock for over a decade now, from rowsings descriptions of an opulent caravan's entry into a city and odes to America's most famous spy to lengthy epics about bandits on mist-wrapped islands and revenge tales to put Monte Cristo to shame. With a mind so firmly rooted in grand tales of picaresque characters, this transition would seem an obvious one. It can work to play to your strengths, as it most assuredly did here.When Prue's baby brother Mac is abducted by a murder of crows and flown deep into the dark of Wildwood, an untamed wood on the other side of the river from Prue's home in the North Portland hamlet of St. John's, she embarks upon a quest most perilous to see him safely returned. With her schoolmate Curtis tagging along, Prue breaches the barrier of the Wildwood and enters a magical world of talking animals, bloodthirsty ivy, and dastardly crooks aplenty. Racing to stop a deposed governess from destroying all of Wildwood, Prue and Curtis are aided by a veritable army of allies- from the Bandit King, Brendan, and the king of avian territory, Owl Rex, to the kindly hippy mystics of North Wood and the ever-hungry rat, Severus. The entire time I was reading this book I was reminded of the stories that my father used to craft for me each night before bed- a huge sprawling epic that continued serially each night for years. While reading Wildwood I could picture Meloy weaving just such a tale for his son, transforming Portland's Forest Park into the magical land of Wildwood, and sending Prue and Curtis on one adventure after another with that wondrous theatric mind of his. Wildwood is set to have two follow-up stories and I already know that I'm going to be reading them as well.

this book was just dripping with magic and wonder and such tasty words. the second i stepped into this book i wanted to stay in the magical land of Wildwood forever. oh, how i wish i could be a bandit and live with Iphigenia and curtis and brendan and all those wonderful people. i simply love this book.it's narnia mixed with rumplestiltskin mixed with magic mixed with the beautiful words of from anne shirley.just an exquisite book.and i am antsy to start on the next !!!

Prue McKeel is an ordinary girl growing up in Portland--that is, until a murder of crows swoops down and seizes her baby brother Mac. Desperate to conceal the loss from her parents, she follows the crows out of the city into the Impassable Wood, which lies just across the river. Nobody is supposed to go there, but that doesn't stop Prue, or the schoolmate who tags along with her, Curtis Mehlberg.Prue and Curtis soon find themselves in over their heads and separated, and for much of the story their adventures run on different tracks. Prue gets taken to the community of South Wood, where she seeks help from the bureaucrat in charge but soon learns that his agenda does not track with hers. Curtis, taken captive by coyote soldiers (yes, actual coyotes), fetches up with an alluring but dangerous woman known as the Dowager Governess. Both children must learn to recognize the truth behind deceptions; both meet danger and physical harm and ethical challenges.Wildwood is a magical tale in the spirit of children's literature of the golden age, before children were coddled and sheltered from every adverse puff of breeze. Today's young people, brought up to be sensitive plants, might find this book a bit traumatizing, rife as it is with danger and even death. But for this superannuated child it was magnificent, everything I would want a story of youthful daring and courage to be. I loved every page of it.The illustrations are a bit stylized for my taste, but they lent the book a certain Scandinavian mystique. And it has maps, calloo, callay! Every novel of suspense should have maps. Not to mention that there's a sequel . . .

** spoiler alert ** This book was great. There is adventure on every page! I didn't like the villain. I found the Dowager Queen to be a confusing character. I did like how the action started the moment you started the book.The book is about a young girl named Prue. I find Prue to be a unique name... Anyways, Prue's baby brother is abducted by crows and taken to the Impassible Wilderness (a.k.a. Wildwood). So, Prue sets off on a journey to find and take back her brother, Mac. Prue's friend, Curtis, tags along. They are soon separated by a pack (or military force) of Coyotes. Curtis joins the coyotes while Prue is whisked off to the South Wood to meet the Governor-Regent, who is a total potato sack and doesn't really offer help.Curtis joined the coyote pack to fight in a battle for Wildwood against the Bandits. Curtis becomes a hero in the battle (A.k.a. tactical-ops man). Then, Curtis finds out the Dowager Queen is lying to him. She is trying to destroy all of Wildwood. She has Prue's baby brother and she is going to sacrifice him. Mac would be fed to the Ivy, and then the Dowager Queen (did I mention her name is Alexandra?) would control the ivy to destroy all of Wildwood.Prue is still in Southwood. She meets with Owl Rex, who advises that she go to North Wood and seek help from the Mystics. Owl Rex is arrested by the SWORD. Prue rides on a giant eagle to North Wood, but is shot down by a Coyote Archer. The eagle doesn't survive. Prue is rescued by Bandits. then, Prue and the Bandit King are captured by the Coyotes and Alexandra. The Dowager Queen lies (again) and tells Prue she will do everything she can to protect and bring Mac back to Prue. Alexandra sends Prue back home, where she learns that her parents actually made a deal with Alexandra. In exchange to have a baby, if her parents ever had a second child, that child would belong to Alexandra. Ring a bell? That's why she has Mac.Curtis is locked up, and Prue heads back to Wildwood. I'm not going to spoil the rest for anybody.So basically, what Prue and Curtis thought to be an easy task, turned it to something greater and more dangerous than they could have ever imagined. Full on Bandits, Mystics, coyotes, and much more, this book is truly unique and wonderful. Readers will fall in love with Wildwood.