Book Review - Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty + Giveaway

 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran species. They are an ancient race of forest people that have lived in the Great Smoky Mountain since the trees have grown there.  However, a crew of human loggers have arrived and are cutting down and destroying the forest she loves at an alarming rate. Willa feels powerless as she is unable to stop them. She doesn't know how she will be able to stop them as they have powerful machines and she is just one girl.

Willa tries to get a closer look at the loggers and tries to devise a plan to stop the deforestation. She comes across these mysterious creatures that are beautiful and elusive until, she realizes they are hunting humans. Willa struggles to decide if unleashing these dangerous spirits is the only course of action she has to stopping the loggers. She will have to find a way to save the people and animals she loves while taking a stand against the loggers and the darkness that is threatening to destroy her world.

This is the second novel in the series but, I felt that this novel can be read as a standalone. The book is heartbreaking and an exciting read. The book has many great lessons including, respecting nature and focusing on the group mindset instead of thinking of only yourself. I liked all the characters and thought they were beautifully written including, Charka. I hope this isn't the end of the series and that they make a series from the book!

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.**

  

About the Book:

Title: WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW

Author: Robert Beatty

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Young nightspirit Willa discovers an ancient, powerful magic deep in the forest in the enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times best-seller, Willa of the Wood.

This enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times bestseller Willa of the Wood is perfect for any reader who cares deeply about the natural world. 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Praise for Willa of the Wood:

"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

 

GRAB WILLA OF THE WOOD NOW!

 

Willa of the Wood and Willa of Dark Hollow are being adapted into a multi-season, live-action television series!

 

About Robert:

Robert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa of the Wood series published by Disney Hyperion. Loved by young readers and adults alike, the Serafina and Willa books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over 22 languages. Robert lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, “The Serafina and Willa books grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2021

BookHounds YA

Excerpt

Week Two:

5/2/2021	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
5/3/2021	jillpiscitello	Excerpt
5/4/2021	YA Books Central	Excerpt
5/5/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
5/6/2021	Jenguerdy	Review
5/7/2021	booksaremagictoo	Review
5/8/2021	Amani’s Reviews	Review

Week Three:

5/9/2021	Little Red Reads	Review
5/10/2021	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
5/11/2021	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review
5/12/2021	Emelie's Books	Review
5/13/2021	Books and Zebras	Review
5/14/2021	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
5/15/2021	michellemengsbookblog	Review

Week Four:

5/16/2021	two points of interest	Review
5/17/2021	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
5/18/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
5/19/2021	Lifestyle of Me	Review
5/20/2021	Haunted By Books	Review
5/21/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
5/22/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review

Week Five:

5/23/2021	The Try Everything	Excerpt
5/24/2021	Musing of Souls	Review
5/25/2021	Popthebutterfly	Review
5/26/2021	more.books.yes.please	Review
5/27/2021	DearRivarie	Review
5/28/2021	Momfluenster	Review
5/29/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt

Week Six:

5/30/2021	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt
5/31/2021	Do You Dog-ear?	Review

Book Review - If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Kirra and her family live with the rest of her clan inside a dormant volcano. She is curious about the world that exists beyond their own. She and her father are the only two people allowed to venture out of their community. Kirra is training to become a Storyteller like her father. The pair travels from village to village to spread scary stories to keep people away from their homes.

On their last journey, Kirra hears a story about the "Takers". She is curious to know more and ventures out to learn more about them. However, she unwittingly leads the Takers back to her home. Kirra ends up losing everything she holds dear. In the aftermath, she is found by a child named Luwan. She is adopted by his family and becomes a part of their Tree Folk clan.

Afraid of the past, Kirra keeps to herself and hides her past from everyone. She no longers wants to leave the safety of home to find new adventures. Luwan loves to explore and he is captured when he went spying on a group of strangers. Kirra realizes the Takers have returned and she must face her inner demons if she wants to protect those she loves.

The novel was a fun and emotional read. I love the graphic photos that were included but, I wished they were included with the story instead of a section in the book. The main character was a fierce child who learned the values of loss, community, and forgiveness. I am hoping they turn this book into a series. I am excited to see Kirra grow and forge her own stories.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 

About The Book:

Title: IF WE WERE GIANTS

Author: Dave Matthews & Clete Barrett Smith

Pub. Date: March 3, 2020

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

World-renowned musician, environmentalist, and humanitarian Dave Matthews, in collaboration with popular children’s book author Clete Barrett Smith, has conjured an exciting and poignant fantasy about a girl who must confront her past mistakes before she can save her peaceful community from a gigantic threat.

Kirra, a curious, agile, and outgoing girl, lives in an idyllic community hidden inside a dormant volcano. She and her father are the only two people allowed to venture beyond its walls. Kirra is in training to become a Storyteller like him, and together they travel from village to village spreading fearsome tales designed to keep outsiders away from their secret nest. One day, after hearing rumors of strangers called the “Takers,” Kirra leaves the volcano by herself, hoping to discover her own story. But she unknowingly leads the Takers back to her doorstep, and they rob her of everything she has ever held dear. A devastated Kirra is found by a boy named Luwan and adopted into his family, which lives among others high in the trees of a dense forest. Now quiet and withdrawn, Kirra hides her dark past from everyone and never wants to leave the safety of her tree dwelling. Luwan, on the other hand, loves to explore. One day it leads to trouble: He is captured while spying on a group of strangers. The Takers have returned. To save the Tree Folk, Kirra must face her inner demons and summon all her storytelling to weave the most important tale of her life. This compelling novel about overcoming loss, embracing community, and living in harmony with nature is highlighted with a full-color insert of concept artwork, making it perfect for family sharing.

Dave & Clete Talk about IF WE WERE GIANTS

YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/L5qKjrApV_8

About Dave:

Dave Matthews has chronicled his life’s travels so often that when asked, he can rattle off the details without pause. It goes like this:

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1967. Moves two years later with his family to Westchester County, NY, where his dad, a physicist, goes to work for IBM. Then, in the early `70s, to Cambridge, England, before returning to New York — where his dad died in 1977. The family moved back to South Africa in 1980, where Matthews went to a few different schools and “got more wise about the evils of government, there and in general.” O.K.; pause for a breath.

The key move for Dave Matthews Band fans, of course, was when he relocated in 1986 to Charlottesville, VA, where his parents had lived before he was born. Though he also logged time back in South Africa and in Amsterdam, it was in Charlottesville where Matthews — who took piano lessons as a child before picking up the guitar at age nine — became part of the local music community and hatched the idea for his own band.

“I didn’t really have a vision, or a plan,” says Matthews, acknowledging that some of his musical sensibility came from spending time in so many different places as a child. “I’m sure it gave me a little bit of an openness. The most diverse music in the world is in America, ’cause there’s so many different cultures here, but what tends to be pushed to the top is often a narrow view of what there really is. So maybe (his travels) just gave me a wider pool of listening.”

Matthews says his principal goal with the band was to surround himself with the best players possible. To this day he remains “amazed” that he was able to recruit and retain the four musicians he rather modestly refers to as his superiors. “I was just looking for people that I liked,” explains Matthews, who feels he’s “gotten a bit better” over the years. “Could I play with them was more of the question, I think. We just ended up fitting together. The band wasn’t something that I was looking for; it was very much I loved the people I asked to play with me. There was a connection at the beginning, and I think what we’ve been about is not some grand scheme but more the spirit of everyone, which is why we ended up with this band and why it sounds like it does.”

Dave Matthews photo credit Brantley Gutierrez

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About Clete:

Clete Barrett Smith’s first novel for teens, Mr. 60%, will be released by Crown Books in August, 2017. Smith has also written four humorous middle grade adventures: Aliens on Vacation Alien on a Rampage, Aliens in Disguise, and Magic Delivery. Aliens on Vacation was released by Disney-Hyperion Books for Children in May, 2011 and named an American Booksellers Council “New Voices” selection as one of the top middle grade novels of the year by a debut author; and AOV was nominated for state award lists in Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania and Nebraska. A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, Clete Barrett Smith taught English, Drama and Speech at the high school level for over twenty years. Clete received his MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2010. He currently lives in Bellingham, Washington with his family.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Three lucky winners will receive a finished copy of IF WE WERE GIANTS, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21062/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Five: 3/30/2020 Twirling Book Princess Excerpt 3/31/2020 Two Points of interest Review