Pilu of the Woods

February 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-In this gorgeous tale, the natural world reflects the complex workings of a child's heart. Frustrated after a fight with her older sister, Willow retreats to the woods and meets a sprite, the mysterious Pilu, who is in a situation surprisingly similar to Willow's. As the two go deeper into the forest, Willow's grief and anger over the loss of her mother bubble over and become monsters. The power of this story lies in the intricate and evocative full-color illustrations of a sweet yet dangerous woodland world that is fully alive with the internal turmoil of the protagonists. Nguyen's decision to embrace the darkest of feelings is reassuring and empowering. VERDICT With vibrant art and rich and challenging themes, Pilu and Willow's journey promises a resonant read for those in search of a thoughtful, comforting exploration of sorrow.-Emilia Packard, Austin, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
Two young strangers discover nature as they help each other express and overcome their emotions.After getting into a fight at school and then another with her sister, Willow storms off into the woods with Chicory, her dog. Trying to keep her feelings bottled up, she wanders the woods and listens to the calming sounds. She stumbles upon the lost and crying Pilu, a girl of the woods with leaves for hair. It seems Pilu is from the same magnolia tree grove that Willow's recently deceased mother once took her to. Pilu doesn't want to go home because she feels her mother doesn't love her. Willow is still upset at her sister, especially when she acts like a mom. As the girls walk toward the grove, they slowly form a friendship and help each other confront their negative feelings and fears. In a deft touch, Willow's emotions are depicted as little waterlike monsters that greatly exacerbate her anger, sadness, and self-doubt and that she tries to literally keep in jars. Nguyen has created a beautiful full-colored graphic novel, with bold colors, intricate linework, and deft shifts between reality and memory. Different typefaces are used to create nature's sounds and movement, bringing the graphics to life. Her visual representation of hard-to-process events and feelings can help kids navigate their own emotions. Willow and Pilu both have pale skin; Willow's hair is black, and Pilu's is green.A lovely graphic novel focusing on confronting our inner feelings and how we express them. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

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April 15, 2019
Grades 2-5 Willow is struggling to cope after her mother's death, especially when it comes to dealing with her older sister, Linnea. After yet another fight, she runs into the woods, her favorite place, where she meets a strange girl, Pilu, whose head sprouts leaves. Pilu is similarly on the run?her mom won't let her go exploring beyond their grove?and she and Willow begin to bond over the hard feelings of conflict with family as they trudge through the forest toward Pilu's home. As the girls walk, they talk about how they deal with their feelings. Willow's been bottling hers up, a habit that's depicted as blobby monsters trapped in jars, and she gradually realizes it's not working. The soft, muted colors are a perfect match to the sylvan atmosphere, and Nguyen's rounded, thick-lined cartoon artwork is cheerful enough to temper the message about grief and loss. The heavier aspects of Willow's experiences are very nicely handled, and though some kids might find the metaphor of the monsters a bit puzzling, the resolution should be crystal clear.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)