Wolf Hollow is a 2016 Newbery Honor award book, it set during Depression era times. Annabelle is the main character and she shares about her life during this time with her parents, brothers and grandparents. She tells the story much like an old tale about the people in her community, Toby the drifter that has stayed for a while and Betty, the mean older girl that was sent to live with her grandparents for “being incorrigible”. Toby is quiet and somewhat strange man that reminiscent of Boo in To Kill a Mockingbird. Betty tortures Annabelle and is cruel to neighbors and friends. She becomes missing and all eyes turn to Toby, Annabelle knows he had nothing to do with Betty’s disappearance and helps Toby hide while discovering more about him and herself.
This is Wolk’s second book and an excellent example of historical fiction. As Annabelle tells her story, you can easily picture her, people and setting around her. She followed Wolf Hollow with another novel the next year. It has tremendous depth and is captivating, as students will want to read it in one setting. You feel the strength of Annabelle and her mother and love of her family. Annabelle is protective of the ones she loves and wants to right misconceptions. Her parents join her on her desire to redeem Toby’s name but it might be too late. The value and issues reflected in this book from contemporary society includes strong independent women even the frustrating aunt is a working woman in the times of depression. Annabelle and her mother show values of kindness and not accepting the narrative about someone’s life. They see the good in Toby and want to help him like caring for a wounded animal; they see the value of a wounded soul. Annabelle’s sense of justice is particularly true with the issues of today. Students demonstrate because they want other viewpoints heard and are demanding for everyone’s perspective to be viewed. Wolf Hollow is an exceptional book and a worthy Newbery honor book.
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