Similarly to Fablehaven, Matt Haig gives us a brother and sister team who go to stay with an aunt at an edge of a forbidden forest full of magical beings. Unlike Brandon Mull's book, this book is filled with more humor and yes, even though I didn't think it would be true at first, these kids are now orphans much like other books in the fantasy genre. The aunt is not really the protector of the forest, but by living at the edge of it and warning people not to go in because of the disappearance of her husband, she in a way fills that role. Using short chapters and author interruptions similar to A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, this one has a quick pace, dreaded consequences, but also a light-hearted tenderness about it that moves it beyond Fablehaven for me.
The main character is the boy, Samuel, while the sister, Martha, is the one he goes to save after she wanders into the Norwegian forest called Shadow Forest. There, Professor Tanglewood has made himself into the Changemaker and taken all that is good about the forest and turned it bad with the help of his servant the Shadow Witch. Samuel must fight against sun-hating Huldres, poisonous pixies and rabbit-eating trolls to save his sister and escape the forest. The voice of the narration is true to a young boy but also funny and the switching perspectives help gives us different versions of what has shaped and made the treacherous Shadow Forest and those who live within and around it.
Intended reading level: Grades 3-6 Interest level: Grade 4
Genre: fantasy, fiction, humor
First in series
Comparable titles: A Tale Dark and Grimm, Fablehaven
Book connections: black and white bracelets with silver circular name tags, bowl of soup, raven/bird and rabbit figurines, stuffed dog, javelin (or spear-fake of course)
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