The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood

Great story. Combines a mixture of magic, a little mystery, a touch of wonder, and the realities of dealing with a difficult situation like divorce.

I read this book with my 7yo daughter and, upon completing it, she gave a high compliment: "Did the author write more?" I found the author's home page and was not surprised that she considered herself an artist first. The book provides wonderful visual images of all kinds, and does so in a natural way that enhances the story, rather than distracts from it. Though fairies are a key element of the book, the strength of the book are the human relationships that the central figure of the book develops. They also occur in a very natural way. As a trivial footnote, there seemed to be a minor inconsistency that an editor should have caught. The story features a semi-remote rural setting with no electricity or modern convenience, except for propane fuel. However, the house has a refrigerator, and ice is available during a hot summer. A curious oddity.

There are two stories here. The one you might expect from the title is a sweet story of shy but active fairy folk who live in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. But there is a more "serious" story as well -- young Willa, the heroine of the book, has to cope with her parents' recent divorce and being uprooted to live with her mom in a less-than-perfect new home, as well as a new friend with a somewhat scary, troubled father. But with the help of some of the adults around her -- an "older than old" neighbor lady, her rough and tumble uncle, her hard-working mom -- and at least the possibility of magic, Willa finds her way with strength and resourcefulness. A very entertaining read for anyone, The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood might be especially helpful for young people experiencing some big changes in their own lives.

I loved this book! Readers will enjoy the easy pace which encourages page-turning as the story's heroine, Willa, unravels the mystery of whether or not magic exists in her woods. Willa's world has totally turned upside down with her parents' divorce, then relocation with her mother. Dealing with emerging fears and feelings, Willa finds new friends (perhaps more than she knows about) who help her find her place in the world once again. This book is a wonderful instrument to use as a conversation starter for topics such as divorce, friendship, coming-of-age issues and recognizing that senior citizens offer valuable gifts of wisdom if youngsters take the time to pay attention. As someone who usually sticks to non-fantasy fiction, the author's suggestion and exploration of magical fairies allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. I highly recommend this book for both kids and adults alike!

My son (9) and I read this aloud together and both loved it. It's a hopeful book about life after divorce, without really being about the divorce. If you liked "Because of Winn Dixie" you'll love this book.