Willa of Dark Hollow (Willa of the Wood Series #2)

by Robert Beatty

Overview

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.

Filled with a compelling mixture of history, mystery, and magic, Robert Beatty's books are loved by readers from 8 to 108.

Grow your middle grade fantasy collection with these best-selling fan favorites:

• Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
• Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty
• If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith
• The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
• The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781368007603
Publisher:	Disney Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Series:	Willa of the Wood , #2
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	189,512
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

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."

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK

“Serafina narrates with an engaging voice that draws the reader into her world. The setting is just as engaging: the Biltmore drips with opulence and the surrounding forest with sufficient eeriness… Serafina has enough mystery and fantasy (with a fair amount of creepiness) to satisfy young readers.”—Historical Novel Society

PRAISE FOR SERAFINA AND THE SPLINTERED HEART

"Along with empowering themes about friendship, choosing right over wrong, and perseverance, Beatty again crafts a dark fantasy with bone-chilling imagery, suspense, and unique supernatural elements... This compelling continuation of the intriguing series revisits puzzling themes, multifaceted characters, and nonstop action, all set against the beautiful Biltmore locale in Asheville, NC."—School Library Journal

PRAISE FOR SERAFINA AND THE TWISTED STAFF

*"Beatty continues to build a fascinating magical world, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Biltmore Estate developing beyond mere settings into characters themselves. Each place reveals history and clues to Serafina's life and those of other gifted, mysterious beings. Even better than its predecessor, a sequel that delivers nonstop thrills from beginning to end."—Kirkus, starred review

From the Publisher

★ 2021-04-08
A young Faeran girl puts everything on the line to save her home and the family she loves.

Emerging from the charred ruins of the Faeran forest lair, 13-year-old green-skinned, brown-haired Willa has formed a new family with humans who care about the Great Smoky Mountain as much as she does. Unfortunately, the Sutton Lumber Company has plans to clear the forest for railroad tracks. Her White adoptive father, Nathaniel, has become a leading voice against the destruction, making him a target. After he is arrested on suspicion of murdering loggers, Willa asks for help from her Faeran clan, but they blame her for the death of their leader and subsequent loss of their old home. Even the forest itself has grown hostile as strange, deathly cold creatures attack. Adelaide, a new blond, blue-eyed friend, and Hialeah, Nathaniel’s White and Cherokee daughter, join Willa in protecting the forest, clearing Nathaniel’s name, saving the Faeran, and unraveling the mystery of the malicious beasts. This duology closer is a captivating, stirring tale of family, friendship, the environment, and our place in the world. At every turn, Willa is faced with higher stakes and decisions that are even harder to make; the consequences of each choice weigh on her heart. The gorgeous prose and imagery of the mountains will inspire in readers a deep admiration for nature and support for Willa’s fight.

A fantastic, heartbreaking crescendo that echoes beyond the final page. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews