Winter Wood

June 1, 2009
Gr 6-9-In this concluding volume, Midge is called upon once more by the Various, who are in difficult times and see the Orbis as the answer to their troubles. Midge's skills are needed to find her Great-Great-Aunt Celandine and learn about what happened to the Orbis so many years before. With tensions at the breaking point, finding the Orbis and reuniting it with the Touchstone is the only way the Various see for an end to their plight. Once again readers will be captivated by Augarde's wonderful descriptions of the English countryside and the emotions of the characters. Through Midge's fast-paced detective work, much of the backstory is filled in and it is easy for readers to pick up on what's happening, but familiarity with the previous two books is suggested, especially the first one, "The Various" (Random, 2004). All of the interconnected threads and subplots are neatly tied up in this title, and the questions raised in the previous books are answered in a satisfactory manner."Dylan Thomarie, Johnstown High School, NY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2009
Grades 7-10 In this stirring conclusion to The Various (2004) and Celandine (2006), Midge and her family are movingto Mill Farm, where Midge cherishes a photograph of her great-aunt Celandine and wisps of memory of the Various, little winged folk, engaged in fierce disagreement over an ancient pair of artifacts, the Orbis and Touchstone. Midge discovers Celandine still alive in a local nursing home, where sheskept the all-but-forgotten Orbis.As thewee folk deal with wild passion and difficult politics, Midge tries to find aconnection with them. A tender love story between members of two rival Variousgroups makes a powerful and occasionally grim subplot.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)