Willa of the Wood (Willa of the Wood, Book 1)
Description
From #1 New York Times best-selling author Robert Beatty comes a thrilling new series set in the magical world of Serafina.
Move without a sound. Steal without a trace.
Willa, a young night-spirit of the Great Smoky Mountains, is her clan’s best thief. She creeps into the homes of day-folk under cover of darkness and takes what they won’t miss. It’s dangerous work—the day-folk kill whatever they do not understand--but Willa will do anything to win the approval of the padaran, the charismatic leader of the Faeran people.
When Willa's curiosity leaves her hurt and stranded in the day world, she calls upon an ancient, unbreakable bond to escape. Only then does she discover the truth: not all day-folk are the same, and the magical foundations that have guarded the Faeran for eons are under attack.
As forces of unfathomable destruction encroach on her home, Willa must decide who she truly is. To save the day-folk family that has become her own--and lift the curse that has robbed her people of their truth--Willa will meet deadly force with trusted alliance, violence with shelter, and an ever-changing world with a steady heartbeat of courage.
Praise for Willa of the Wood (Willa of the Wood, Book 1)
"Willa of the Wood will grip readers from its first page... Willa is... an admirable protagonist."—Culturess
"A moving, atmospheric journey of hope."—Kirkus Reviews
"Beatty conjures up a resourceful, compassionate heroine. Full of atmospheric details and richly described magic... this well-paced tale asks insightful questions about the relationship between nature and humans."—Publishers Weekly
"The heroine is an appealing character... and her anguish is clear as she wavers between frightened self-preservation and her desire to help her friends."—School Library Journal
"Willa is a strong and likable creature of the natural world, and seamlessly represents themes of loyalty, tradition, family, and stewardship of the Earth in this engaging story."—School Library Connection
Accolades
2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: Middle Grade, finalist
2018 Cybils Award, Elementary Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Nominee
Amazon: Best Children's Books of 2018, ages 9-12
Imagination Soup: Best Middle Grade Chapter Books of 2018
BNKids: July's Best Books for Young Readers, selection (2018)
Brightly: 9 Middle Grade Books for Environmentally Conscious Kids, selection (2018)
PopSugar: The Best books for Kids in 2018, as Voted by Actual Kids and Parents Who Read Them, selection
A Mighty Girl: 2018 Books of the Year, ages 9-12
PRAISE FOR SERAFINA AND THE SPLINTERED HEART
*"From the first gripping page, the book pulses with action and intrigue... Each character continues to surprise both one another and readers with their emotional complexity. A captivating, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed fantasy."—Kirkus, starred review