My Own Lightning

Starred review from March 28, 2022
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.

April 1, 2022
Difficult life lessons are learned against a backdrop of rural America during World War II. In this sequel to 2016's Wolf Hollow, Annabelle is still processing the grief and guilt of the previous year's events. After she befriended Toby, an anti-social veteran, both of them became the targets of a vicious young bully and her accomplice, an escalating dispute that resulted in two tragic deaths. Now, as Annabelle struggles to understand the nuances of her grief, she experiences a lightning strike that upends her world yet again. With dim memories of aid rendered by a mysterious stranger, Annabelle knows she is lucky to be alive. She is physically healthy despite the brush with death but finds that all of her senses are heightened--including her ability to interpret the body language and signals of animals. Annabelle falls into old habits of suspicion and deception but with good cause: Several dogs have gone missing in the community, and neighbor Andy, one-time sidekick to her former tormentor, is behaving oddly. Annabelle may be the only person equipped to help the missing dogs. Written with warmth, Wolk's complicated characters keep readers guessing. Annabelle learns tough lessons about making assumptions and building trust on the path to forgiveness. All characters are assumed White. Steeped in themes of growth and acceptance, a solid continuation of an impactful first installment. (Historical fiction. 9-14)

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July 1, 2022
This sequel to Newbery Honor Book Wolf Hollow (rev. 7/16) starts with a bang as protagonist Annabelle McBride is hit by lightning during a summer storm. That event leaves her in a state she describes as "senses wide open." In addition to gaining hypersensitivity to smells, sounds, and touch, Annabelle finds herself able to "read" the feelings of animals. However, the story never tips over into the paranormal, staying firmly grounded in concrete details of 1940s Pennsylvania farm life. The lightning strike ignites a series of four related mysteries. Who was the Good Samaritan who saved Annabelle's life by administering CPR and then disappeared? What's in the Edelmans' barn? Is that urbane stranger in town up to no good? And what has happened to Buster, the family dog? Common to all these threads is Annabelle's shifting relationship with Andy Woodberry, the hateful bully of the original book. This is historical fiction for middle-grade readers who relish a warm family story with an energetic plot; a character who comes into her own; and a fully realized, sensory-rich setting (including delicious descriptions of farm meals). Sarah Ellis

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from May 15, 2022
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Barely do readers return to 1944 Wolf Hollow before Wolk strikes down her protagonist with a bolt of lightning, swarming Annabelle with stinging pain and snuffing out her consciousness. It's one heck of an opening, and it serves as the impetus for the story that follows. When Annabelle awakens, she is back home, relatively unscathed, save for some burns and bruises; but her senses return incredibly heightened, now allowing her to perceive the feelings of animals. While she delights in this newfound ability, she ponders whether it is a gift bestowed by the lightning or something already inside her that was simply jolted awake. Regardless, the ability comes in handy when Annabelle notices that several local dogs have gone missing, and a surly new neighbor seems a likely culprit. Annabelle's introspective nature remains prominent in this sequel, set a few months after the events of Wolf Hollow (2016). Her feelings toward Andy Woodberry, one of the bullying perpetrators of the earlier tragedies, are put through the wringer here, as she unexpectedly gets to know him better and sees his personal struggles and kindness toward animals. Both characters experience personal growth while coming to understand the complexity of the world around them, and it gives them strength to change themselves and their circumstances for the better. A powerful story to electrify the soul.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
This sequel to Newbery Honor Book Wolf Hollow (rev. 7/16) starts with a bang as protagonist Annabelle McBride is hit by lightning during a summer storm. That event leaves her in a state she describes as "senses wide open." In addition to gaining hypersensitivity to smells, sounds, and touch, Annabelle finds herself able to "read" the feelings of animals. However, the story never tips over into the paranormal, staying firmly grounded in concrete details of 1940s Pennsylvania farm life. The lightning strike ignites a series of four related mysteries. Who was the Good Samaritan who saved Annabelle's life by administering CPR and them disappeared? What's in the Edelmans' barn? Is that urbane stranger in town up to no good? And what has happened to Buster, the family dog? Common to all these threads is Annabelle's shifting relationship with Andy Woodberry, the hateful bully of the original book. This is historical fiction for middle-grade readers who relish a warm family story with an energetic plot; a character who comes into her own; and a fully realized, sensory-rich setting (including delicious descriptions of farm meals).

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)