Order History
Premium Membership & Rewards
Help Center / FAQ
5 Reasons I’ve Reread The Wildwood Chronicles Series Three Times
Ships in 1-2 days.
I consider Wildwood Chronicles a new classic. Husband-wife duo Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis brought this fantasy series to life with Wildwood in 2011. Book two, Under Wildwood, and book three, Wildwood Imperium, soon followed. Meloy, a singer-songwriter for The Decemberists, and Ellis, a notable illustrator (whose works include the fantastic Mysterious Benedict Society series), merge magic and stories with fiction and folklore into a truly memorable series. The tale begins with friends Prue and Curtis venturing into the forbidden forest of their hometown of Portland to save a baby brother kidnapped by a murder of crows. What happens next encompasses three volumes full of adventure, amusement, trickery, bravery, and challenges. Geared towards older children, these books are just as amusing for middle grade and young adult fiction fans of all ages. Here are five reasons this is a world you and your young readers need to lose yourselves in!
The Worlds Within Worlds
Within Portland, Oregon lies a forest by the name of the Impassable Wilderness. This area is off limits to children by the instruction of their parents, yet that does not stop our two young protagonists from finding their way into the woods—which is where our story begins. Once inside, they discover an entirely different world. The forest is magical and home to a hidden population of animals and people, separated into the North Woods, the South Woods, and the area in between, run by the bandits, who have themselves created their own hideout, which is yet another world. Readers will be fascinated by the way the Impassable Wilderness reveals its myriad organic layers, even with an urban city right outside its perimeter.
Ships in 1-2 days.
The Talking Animals
Anthropomorphic animals fill the pages of these books—in words as well as gifted illustrations. Armed with both weapons and language, these are not your average animals. Clever and funny, they add an element of surprise to the story that fantasy readers will find especially appealing. A rabbit wears a colander as a helmet; coyotes act as soldiers for Alexandra, a badger pulls a rickshaw, and birds talk incessantly. While many fantasy tales feature talking animals, these characters help drive the story and the depth of their contributions to the plot runs deep.
The Gorgeous Illustrations
Ellis helps bring this fantastical tale to life with a multitude of illustrations throughout the books. More than 80 in each book help readers visualize the details of the woods, the animals, the characters, and the plot lines. The Chronicles of Narnia series influenced her work, and Ellis collaborated with Meloy throughout the process. Just as the writing inspired the images, it is apparent that the work of Ellis also inspired Meloy’s storytelling. Living near Forest Park in Portland, it is clear Ellis used her knowledge of the geography and flora and fauna to guide her in creating these frame-worthy illustrations.
Ships in 1-2 days.
Nature
The idea that nature is an accessible and important part of life is prevalent in this story. The occupants of the woods are either of the wood, or an outsider. Some are half-breeds, like Prue and Curtis, and can come and go as they please. The protagonists of the series encompass a dual nature that allows them to experience the Impassable Wilderness, which quickly becomes another character of the story. The natural setting becomes an excellent backdrop for a man versus nature struggle. The Impassable Wilderness struggles throughout the story for the freedom of the woods. The protagonists witness this firsthand, time and again; the impact of man on nature, as well as the impact nature has on man.
Big Ideas
Author Meloy is not afraid of approaching big ideas with this series. Young minds will explore everything from voyages and combats, to trust and instincts, to power and friendships. Danger is lurking just beyond many pages and the overall theme can feel a bit dark—much like being deep inside a verdant forest. Politics also play heavily into the series, with local laws and regulations established to keep the separate parts of the Impassable Wilderness operating. With politics comes discord, but also unity. In addition to big ideas, big words are peppered frequently throughout the pages, which will help enrich vocabularies, though kids—and adults!—may need to look up a few words and terms along the way.
Have you read The Wildwood Chronicles?