Claire Dean
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Deep in the woods, surrounded by a wall of thorns, is a grove of larch trees called Girlwood. Few know how to find it: Only Baba, an old grandmother, who understands the power hidden within wild plants. And Bree, a reckless teenager, who runs away from home one dark autumn night. And Polly, the younger sister, whom Baba loves and Bree leaves. Polly, who can see the light and colors of all living things. Girlwood A place where fairies live and wolves prowl. A place where Polly and her friends can build their own shelter and control their own fire. But can Polly and the girls of Girlwood save Polly’s sister, Bree? Can they save the grove from developers? Can they save the magic within themselves? In Girlwood, anything is possible. |
Cover art by Aya Kato www.ayakato.net
Reviews
animals and nature which has helped so many young people cope with their problems all over the world. It will help young readers to understand that it is okay to be different. And that every individual can play a role in making this a better world." Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute UN Messenger of Peace
Polly, the earthy, wistful 12-year-old protagonist, wakes up to find her teenage sister, wild child Bree, missing. The search goes on in the background as Polly and her friends fight to keep the bulldozers away from her beloved forest, a magical place where Bree could be hiding. Each chapter opens with a description of a medicinal and edible plant that Polly and her wise grandmother find in those woods. This premise sometimes bogs down with mentions of Bree's clichd problems. But mostly Dean succeeds in creating a fast-paced story and sympathetic characters that eco-minded readers will appreciate. In their deep woods hideout, called Girlwood, Polly and pals uncover secrets about themselves and their world. 'The forest could have been Fairyland... the dawn sky like a field of tulips, the new snow twinkling pink, green, and blue, as if even the ground they walked on was enchanted,' Dean writes in a typically lush passage. The best wrought element of the book, though, may not be in the forest at all — it might be the satisfying ending. Ages 12 — up." Publishers Weekly
filled with wonder and magic if they have the courage to hold onto hope... All of the characters in the book are complex and quirky, and the writer's voice is strong and intuitive... This book spoke to me." The Well-Read Child "One night, Polly is awakened from a sound sleep to find her older sister, Bree, kissing her. As Bree’s blood red aura trails behind her like the tattered wings of a ruined fairy, she tells Polly that she’s leaving for the woods, so that she can try to be alright again. Half asleep, and not sure if she’s really seeing her emaciated, drugged out sister or an actual fairy, Polly lets her go, with no argument over how much Bree has destroyed since she started using drugs. No one believes her when she tells them Bree has run to the woods, so it’s up to Polly to provide everything her sister will need. Winter is almost there, and a developer is coming soon to trade out the trees for a housing development. Following the guidance of her grandmother, Baba, Polly knows that she could rely on herself to survive alone in the forest, and, with her help, so can Bree. Luckily, Polly finds that she doesn’t have to be alone. Others may not be able to see the colorful bands of light around each other that display exactly who they are inside, but they will believe her. Under the protection of the hidden grove that Baba has shown her, Polly and her friends will learn that, with a little magic and a little faith, anything is possible. Beautifully written and with vibrant imagery, this book will strike a chord with anyone who has found magic and solace in their own secluded spot of wilderness. The explanations that head each chapter of the different wildflowers and their medicinal uses are also fascinating, as is the descriptions of various auras and what they mean. The back cover states that the author wrote this as a gift for her daughter, and she will be writing one for her son next. I’ll be looking forward to reading that." Allison Fraclose Teens Read Too
readers are inspired to believe the same thing of Polly's tale. Girlwood is Claire Dean's debut novel, and her loving and uplifting message about standing up for one's beliefs, girls' empowerment, and respect for the natural world show hers to be a wonderful new voice in young adult fiction. Arriving at a time when America is growing increasingly environmentally conscious, this novel provides a way for young people to think about our demands upon the environment, and its costs. At the beginning of each chapter Dean provides us with a small but pleasurable bonus--she outlines the properties and uses for plants commonly found in the woods of North America. Highly recommended for ages 12 to 15." JB Children’s and Teen Librarian |
Something tugged at her scalp, and Polly realized her hair had snagged on the spiny leaves. She wasn't trapped, she told herself; she’d crawled into a gleaming green cocoon. She couldn't move a hand to free her hair, so she took a chance and lunged forward, leaving a few curls like earrings on the lobes of the leaves. Scalp stinging, she had just room enough to squirm forward on the ground, caterpillar- like. A few more feet and she had to blink to adjust to the oddly bright sky. At the end of the tunnel, Polly slowly got to her feet. In front of her stood her grandmother, surrounded by a grove of giant, glowing larches. Even without their auras, the larches were dazzling in their fall colors—every needle like a dagger of spun gold. The tree beside Baba was nearly 200 feet high, yet its most spectacular feature was what most people didn’t see: a white, pulsing light around it in the shape of wings—thousands of them fluttering along the trunk and branches—as if the larch could lift off into the sky at any moment. “What is this place?” Polly asked. |
News
GIRLWOOD a heartfelt and much-appreciated endorsement, her organization for youth, Roots and Shoots, chose the novel as their book club pick of the month for June! Integrating GIRLWOOD's themes of nature conservation with Roots and Shoots push for youth activism, the site www.rootsandshoots.org highlights ways young people can get out into nature and learn to protect the wild spaces around them. Check it out and get involved. Moms and daughters get together outside Boston for a mother/daughter book club featuring GIRLWOOD. I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to them via phone and answer their questions. If you're interested in GIRLWOOD for a book club of your own, I'd be delighted to answer your questions, too. Contact me at: claire@clairedean.net |
