The Little Woods (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Little Woods Karen Coats Templeman, McCormick . The Little Woods. Schwartz & Wade, 2012. [336p]. Library ed. ISBN 978-0-375-96943-0 $20.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-375-86943-3 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-375-98349-8 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys R* Gr. 7-10. Ten years ago, Cally's older sister went to spend a vacation with the daughter of a teacher at St. Bede's Academy and never returned. The two little girls went missing from their beds and were presumed to have died in a fire in the woods behind St.Bede's. Now Cally has turned her loss into sympathy scholarship dollars, enrolling in St. Bede's in hopes that a diploma from the well-respected school will open opportunities for her. Keeping her history a secret, she is soon swept up in the privileged social landscape. She immediately discovers, however, that another girl has gone missing from the school, and her curiosity is piqued, fueled by the suspicious behavior of some of her teachers and classmates and by the mysterious delivery of a puzzle box with a coded message inside. The story takes a few conventional turns and some unexpected ones, establishing a rhythm that is sure to please mystery fans as they follow the clues and have their suspicions confirmed and thwarted by turns. Meanwhile, a substantial romance plot develops that spins Cally a bit out of control amidst the wealth of boy riches that St. Bede's has to offer an edgy new girl. With swift pacing and sure-footed plotting, a conventional murder mystery laced with a touch of creepiness, and an honest portrayal of hormones outrunning hearts, this is sure to attract a broad fan base. Copyright © 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois