by Christopher Pennell
Flap Copy Description: Every night Carly stayed in her room, drinking hot tea and sitting in her chair by the little brick fireplace she felt so lucky to have. She read books, waiting for the sun to rise so that she could finally go to sleep and leave the lonely, wakeful hours behind.
Strange things abound in the town of Whistle Root: a little girl named Carly Bean Bitters has never been able to sleep at night, rats make music in the moonlight, and friends are found in the unlikeliest of places.
When a wicked creature hatches deep in the woods, Carly must uncover a secret legacy of magic and music. Will she save herself and her new friends before it's too late?
My Thoughts:
Christopher Pennell's debut middle grade novel is delightfully creative and the illustrations by Rebecca Bond are just wonderful. The author included mysterious settings, awesome word choices, and imaginative characters. While I found the plot to be a bit confusing, overall I found The Mysterious Woods of Whistle Root to be well worth recommending to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.
