The Wolf Hour

Gr 5-8--A metafictional retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood." In the Puszcza, an ancient forest with magical roots, fairy tales are real--magicked and crafted into being by a sly Witch. But two characters, Magia, a brave woodcutter's daughter in a red cap; and Martin, a wolf who loves to read and is curious about humans, don't fit their prescribed roles. When Magia's family is threatened, she sets out for the dark forest. Martin does the same after his beloved mother goes missing. The two are on a collision course, but will their stories follow the same old path readers have come to expect? In a heady mix of folklore and fantasy, Holmes offers a meditation on fate, expectations, and the ability of people to determine their own futures. It is also an exploration of stories and the ways story can be used to harm, misinform, and alienate--a timely topic indeed. Flowery syntax and a sprinkling of Polish terms make this a sophisticated read best suited to fantasy and fairy tale lovers with an appreciation for language. VERDICT Unique and challenging, this retelling will be welcomed by fans of Gregory Maguire's Egg and Spoon and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon.--Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal

The story of Little Red Riding Hood intersects with that of the Three Little Pigs in this complex fantasy, set in and around an alluring but treacherous Polish forest known as the Puszcza. In this folktale world, readers meet a woodcutter's daughter named Magia, who is enticed by a powerful red cape offered to her by a carefully disguised witch; a young wolf named Martin who has no sense of tracking but adores books; and three pigs who long for their absent mother. As these narrative strands intersect, the retellings illustrate the power of story (Martin's mother has taught him to believe that "stories can kill you") while blending humorous details, such as Martin's photographic memory of his books, with an abundance of magic. Holmes (Operation Yes) offers additional ruminations on the nature of story in occasional notes directed at readers. But although elements of these interwoven tales are individually compelling, such as Magia's desire to ease her mother's depression, the machinations and intersections become excessively complicated, causing the storytelling to bog down. Ages 8-12. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (Sept.)

Holmes' eerie, anachronistic storytelling style is perfectly suited for this postmodern fairy tale pastiche. . . . Holmes' dreamy narrative is not to be missed for fans of fairy tales and fairy tale retellings.

"A lovely, haunting weave of fable and fairytale, The Wolf Hour will claw its way into your heart and sing to your soul." — Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times-bestselling author of Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood

"This might land well with fans of Ursu's Breadcrumbs, and the triumphant conclusion could please fans of fairy tales with happy endings." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This is a true fairy tale, a deep forest of a book. The Wolf Hour swallowed me whole." — Laurel Snyder, author of Orphan Island

"Fairy tales are precarious places for girls and wolves. In a brash, dazzling break with tradition, Sara Lewis Holmes arms a woodcutter's daughter and a sensitive wolf pup with a means of defense against the old familiar roles that threaten to swallow them whole. The story of how they come together to rewrite fate is bewitchingly delicious; you'll gobble it up." — Christine Heppermann, author of Poisoned Apples: Poems for You, My Pretty