In Darkling Wood

Alice is sent to stay with her grandmother while her brother undergoes heart surgery. Her grandmother lives next to Darkling Wood, an ancient forest she plans to cut down. In the woods, Alice encounters a girl named Flo who tells her about the fairies that live there. As Alice tries to save the forest, she discovers letters from 1918 that reveal a connection between the woods, her grandmother, and a family's experience during World War I. Through parallel storylines across time periods, the book explores themes of belief, family bonds, and the relationship between humans and nature. The story brings together elements of historical fiction and folklore while examining how people face uncertainty and change.

Readers connect with the parallel storylines between modern-day Alice and 1918 Fran, finding the blend of historical and contemporary elements compelling. Many note the book handles themes of family illness, loss, and belief with care that resonates with young readers. Likes: - Integration of WWI history with fairy folklore - Character development, especially Alice's growth - Atmospheric descriptions of the woods - Accessible writing style for ages 9-12 Dislikes: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters - The ending felt rushed to certain readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (100+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (50+ ratings) One reader noted: "The perfect mix of historical fact and magical possibility." Another commented: "The woods themselves feel like a character." A critical review mentioned: "Takes too long to get to the fairy elements."

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett A grieving child finds healing and magic in a forgotten garden while uncovering family secrets.

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson A girl whose house moves each night grapples with destiny, death, and family bonds in a tale woven with Slavic folklore.

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes The spirit of a young boy connects past to present as he observes the impact of his death on his family and community.

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell A Russian girl who helps tamed wolves return to the wild must undertake a dangerous journey through winter forests to save her mother.

The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Three sisters venture into a frozen landscape to find their missing brother in a world where winter never ends.

🌳 The story weaves together two timelines: modern-day Alice and 1918 Flo, connecting through mysterious letters found in an old house. 🦋 Emma Carroll was inspired to write this book after learning about the Cottingley Fairies photographs, a famous hoax from 1917 where two young girls claimed to capture real fairies on camera. 🌿 The "darkling wood" in the story is based on real ancient woodlands that once covered much of Britain, many of which were cut down for wartime resources during World War I. 💌 The World War I storyline incorporates authentic details about the "Letters from the Front" phenomenon, where soldiers would write to their families from the battlefield. 🏥 The author drew from her personal experience of having a nephew who underwent a heart transplant, similar to the character of Alice's brother Theo in the book.