Into the 'Wildwood': a fantasy grounded in life
-
"Prue was flying. The feeling was incredible." (Words by Colin Meloy, illustration by Carson Ellis.) -
"Wildwood" by Colin Meloy. -
Carson Ellis (left) illustrator of "Wildwood," and author Colin Meloy.
Share with others:
There's is a distinctly hip, gentle vibe to Colin Meloy's young adult adventure, "Wildwood," a coming-of-age story set in a magical forest of bandits, bureaucrats and a rat wearing tiny wingtip shoes.
And that's just one branch of the hidden wonderland known to the outside world as "The Impassible Wilderness."
Mr. Meloy, better known as lead singer of the indie rock band The Decemberists, has said that he and his wife, Carson Ellis, would take walks in Forest Park near their Oregon home and imagine the possibility of something completely different secretly existing around the next bend.
Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins ($17.99)
So he spun the story of Prue McKeel, a middle-schooler from Portland who is shocked to witness, one ordinary day, a murder of crows flying off with her brother Mac: "How five crows managed to lift a 20-pound baby boy into the air was beyond Prue, but that was certainly the least of her worries."
What follows is a journey into what might easily have become a paint-by-numbers tale of magical spells and lost kingdoms. Instead, in his laid-back fashion, Mr. Meloy takes his young adult readers beyond the expected. "Civilized" turns out to be a relative term as Prue and her friend, Curtis, are first pawns, then active participants in a good-versus-evil struggle of epic proportions.
Like the "Harry Potter" series, "Wildwood" works on many levels. Middle-school readers will admire Prue and Curtis' pluck -- and really, there is no better word -- while adults will appreciate Mr. Meloy's loving construction of a world where politeness counts, even among bandits.
Although there are consequences to the action of war -- humans and creatures alike die, and a blood sacrifice is at the heart of the climactic battle -- Prue's story reminds one of the Edward Eager books. Written in the 1950s and early 1960s, and including titles such as "Magic by the Lake" and "Half-Magic," they were thrilling adventures, with bite. They didn't underestimate their young audience's ability to grasp grown-up frustration.
For example, Prue's early encounter with a politico of the magical South Wood leaves her exhausted.
"What the Governor is trying to say, Miss McKeel, is that any sojourn a bird or birds may have taken into the Outside, not the least the suggestion that they may have returned with someone in tow, is quite clearly a violation of any number of citations in the Periphery Laws, and we would thank you for bringing this information to our attention."
"And my brother?" asked Prue impatiently, her brain reaching capacity for political talk. ... "He's wearing a brown corduroy jumper," she stammered. "A-and he doesn't really have any hair."
"Brown jumper," repeated Roger soothingly. "No hair. Got it."
With simple, charming illustrations by Ms. Ellis, "Wildwood" is the first of the "Wildwood Chronicles" trilogy. In a video posted on wildwoodchronicles.com, the couple discuss their inspirations in working on the book together. At one point, Mr. Meloy says "Prue is kind of Carson, as a kid," and her delighted reaction is just right.
Prue is someone we'll want to go adventuring with, again.
First Published January 8, 2012 12:00 am
