Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
Book of the Week: 30 April 2017
Welcome back! The Library was closed for the week before the Easter holidays and, although it was open last week because contractors were not using the crane, this was a late decision and it may have been closed again at short notice – hence no Book of the Week.
Wolf Hollow has been shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Medal and has been compared with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It tackles some of the same themes, is set in a small American community and features a young girl, Annabelle, taking the side of a character whom many people regard suspiciously. However, it has plenty of individuality, suspense and a style that is all its own. At first, it appears to be a story solely about bullying. A spiteful girl called Betty arrives to stay with her grandparents, takes against Annabelle and threatens to beat her with a stick. But then Betty disappears and the whole community develops an atmosphere of suspicion and accusation.
If you enjoyed Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt, which won the Warwickshire Year 9 Book Award, then you may well enjoy this powerful and moving book written in a similar vein.
Carnegie Medal 2017
The Carnegie Medal is awarded by librarians each year for an outstanding book for children and young people. There are eight books on the shortlist and all are in stock in the Library and anyone is welcome to read along with me or write a review. The winner will be announced on 19 June 2017.
The books are: Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce, The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon, The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, The Stars at Oktober Bend by Glenda Millard, Beck by Mal Peet and Meg Rosoff, Railhead by Philip Reeve, Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys and Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk.
Just a note of caution: Beck by Mal Peet and Meg Rosoff does have some scenes which some people may find disturbing and which would be more suitable for older readers. The Carnegie website recommends mature readers or 16+ age group.