In Darkling Wood

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 13, 2017

Review

In this British import, the modern world of heart transplants and cell phones intertwine with the magic of fairies and World War I as Alice and her estranged family members are confronted with painful memories and decisions made in their past. High schooler Alice has been sent to stay with her brusk paternal grandmother Nell, who she doesn't remember, while her younger brother Theo undergoes a heart transplant. Alice is drawn to the Darkling Woods on Nell's property and meets a mysterious young girl who tries to persuade Alice to believe in the fairies living there in order to help save the Wood. Nell is planning to clear cut the Wood, which the villagers are opposed to, making Alice's transition to the local school difficult. Interspersed in this modern time narrative are long, newsy letters from an unnamed sister to her brother serving in the WWI. Multiple layers of family pain and drama are revealed as Alice navigates the protests at school, her conflicting feelings for her father and the promised revenge of the fairies if the Wood is destroyed. Readers will understand Alice clearly through her first person narrative and through her pragmatic perspective on the difficult situations she has to confront. Give to readers who like some magic with their historical fiction.

Overall Book Score: very good