Under Wildwood - (Wildwood Chronicles) by Colin Meloy (Paperback)

About the Book

The second book in the "New York Times"-bestselling adventure series the Wildwood Chronicles from Meloy, lead singer of the Decemberists, and Ellis, the acclaimed illustrator of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Illustrations.

Book Synopsis

For fans of the Chronicles of Narnia comes the second book in the Wildwood Chronicles, the New York Times bestselling fantasy adventure series by Colin Meloy, lead singer of the Decemberists, and Carson Ellis, acclaimed illustrator of The Mysterious Benedict Society.

The three books in the Wildwood Chronicles captivate readers with the wonder and thrill of a secret world within the landscape of a modern city. The books feel at once firmly steeped in the classics of children's literature and completely fresh. Each story is told from multiple points of view, and the books feature more than eighty illustrations, including six full-color plates, making them an absolutely gorgeous object.

In Under Wildwood, Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis reveal new dimensions of the epic fantasy-adventure series begun with the critically acclaimed, bestselling Wildwood.

Ever since Prue McKeel returned home from the Impassable Wilderness after rescuing her brother from the malevolent Dowager Governess, life has been pretty dull. School holds no interest for her, and her new science teacher keeps getting on her case about her dismal test scores and daydreaming in class. Her mind is constantly returning to the verdant groves and sky-tall trees of Wildwood, where her friend Curtis still remains as a bandit-in-training.

But all is not well in that world. Dark assassins with mysterious motives conspire to settle the scores of an unknown client. A titan of industry employs inmates from his orphanage to work his machine shop, all the while obsessing over the exploitation of the Impassable Wilderness. And, in what will be their greatest challenge yet, Prue and Curtis are thrown together again to save themselves and the lives of their friends, and to bring unity to a divided country. But in order to do that, they must go under Wildwood.

The bestselling trilogy from Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis consists of Wildwood, Under Wildwood, and Wildwood Imperium.

From the Back Cover

Ever since Prue McKeel returned home from the Impassable Wilderness, life has been pretty dull. Her mind is constantly returning to the verdant groves and sky-tall trees of Wildwood, where her friend Curtis still remains as a bandit-in-training. But all is not well in that world. A hard winter has come and discord reigns in the wake of the so-called Bicycle Coup. Dark assassins with mysterious motives conspire to settle the scores of an unknown client. A titan of industry employs inmates from his orphanage to work in his machine shop.

Review Quotes

Praise for Wildwood: "A richly satisfying weave of reality and fantasy." - New York Times Book Review
"Meloy's debut is the kind of delicate, elaborate fantasy that is so well versed in classic Narnian tropes that it is destined to be enthusiastically embraced." - ALA Booklist
"Meloy has an immediately recognizable verbal style and creates a fully realized fantasy world. Ellis's illustrations perfectly capture the original world and contribute to the feel of an instant timeless classic." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"This book is like the wild, strange forest it describes. It is full of suspense and danger and frightening things the world has never seen, and once I stepped inside I never wanted to leave." - Lemony Snicket
"Wildwood is an irresistible, atmospheric adventure - richly imagined and richly rewarding." - Trenton Lee Stewart
"Dark and whimsical, with a true and uncanny sense of otherworldliness, Wildwood is the heir to a great tradition of stories of wild childhood adventure. It snatched me up and carried me off into a world I didn't want to leave." - Michael Chabon
"Wildwood is a beautiful object and a beautiful read. One part fairy tale, one part coming of age story, one part unrepentantly gorgeous work of art, this book is overflowing with gifts." - Jonathan Safran Foer
Praise for Under Wildwood: "Droll and ornate, elegiac and romantic--the sequel to Wildwood (2011) brings readers deeper into and under the pine-scented, magical world tantalizingly close to Portland, Ore...The incomparable Ellis more than rises to the challenge--her sly, wistful, abundant illustrations provide an emotional through line." - Kirkus Reviews
"The numerous types of creatures in the wood will keep readers' attention, as will the dramatic tension that fills every corner of this Empire Strikes Back-type sequel." - School Library Journal