My Own Lightning (Wolf Hollow #2)

by Lauren Wolk (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade
Series: Wolf Hollow

Bestselling author Lauren Wolk returns to the world of Wolf Hollow, in this sequel to her beloved, Newbery Honor-winning debut.

★ "A powerful story to electrify the soul." -Booklist, starred review

It's been several months since the tragic events set in motion by bully Betty Glengarry, and the routine of daily life in Wolf Hollow has slowly returned. But for Annabelle McBride it's hard to move forward and make peace with what feels like threadbare justice.

Newly warm summer days are about to bring a jolt of change on the winds of a powerful storm. In its wake, the search for her brother's missing dog will set Annabelle on a new path that brings her to unfamiliar doorsteps and reunites her with a too-familiar adversary--Andy Woodberry, who was complicit in Betty's most terrible acts. Growing up and blazing her own trail will soon force Annabelle to reexamine deeply felt truths--about people, about justice, about herself--that had once seemed so uncomplicated.

Bestselling author Lauren Wolk (Beyond the Bright Sea, Echo Mountain) returns to World War II-era Western Pennsylvania in this luminous sequel to her Newbery Honor-winning debut, Wolf Hollow, proving once again why her acclaimed novels have been celebrated as "historical fiction at its finest."

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Kirkus Reviews

Steeped in themes of growth and acceptance, a solid continuation of an impactful first installment.

Booklist

Starred Review
A powerful story to electrify the soul.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Set in 1944, one year after her Newbery Honor-winning Wolf Hollow, in the same rural Pennsylvania community, Wolk crafts an exceptional sequel that both builds on the complexity of the previous installment and also stands on its own merit. After lightning strikes Annabelle in a sudden storm, and a "mystery hero" with rough hands restarts her heart, she suddenly becomes attuned to sensory input and the feelings of animals, including the injured and maltreated dogs nurtured by fellow hollow dweller Nora. Subsequently unraveling the truth behind canine cruelty in her community, Annabelle repeatedly encounters known bully Andy Woodberry, whose cruel actions previously led to tragedy. The narrative grapples with nuances and contradictions as Annabelle first resents Andy for the trauma he once caused, then weighs other factors, including his kind actions with animals, in reevaluating his character and motivations. With a memorable heroine, a finely honed voice, a distinctive setting, and deeply grounded relationships, this thought-provoking novel raises ethical issues about personal flaws and forgiveness. Ages 10-up. (May)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

ACCLAIM FOR LAUREN WOLK'S WOLF HOLLOW —A Newbery Honor Book

- An NPR Best Book of the Year - A Booklist Best Book of the Year - An Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Year - A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year - A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year - A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year - A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year - An ALA Notable Children's Book

"The honesty of Wolf Hollow will just about shred your heart, but Annabelle's courage and compassion will restore it to you, fuller than before. This book matters." —Sara Pennypacker, New York Times bestselling author of Pax

"An evocative setting, memorable characters, a searing story: Wolf Hollow has stayed with me long after I closed the book. It has the feel of an instant classic." —Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author

"Wrenching and true. . . . comparisons to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird will abound. But Wolk gives us her own story—one full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." —New York Times Book Review

"This exquisite debut confronts injustice and doesn't flinch." —People
Lauren Wolk
Lauren Wolk is an award-winning poet, artist, and author. She is the author of Echo Mountain, Newbery Honor-winner Wolf Hollow, and Scott O'Dell Award-winner Beyond the Bright Sea. Lauren was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780525555612
Lexile Measure
710
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
N/A
Publication date
April 20, 2023
Series
Wolf Hollow
BISAC categories
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV016150 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - 20th Century
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
Library of Congress categories
Human-animal relationships
History
20th century
Families
Family life
Conduct of life
Pennsylvania
Historical fiction
Bildungsromans
Lightning

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