Kerry and the Knight of the Forest

April 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-The Forest of Shadows stands between Kerry, who needs to deliver medicine to his ailing parents, and his home. From the moment the boy enters this malevolent, enchanted world, he's led into danger by ill-intentioned animals and spirits at every turn. Upon meeting the Waystone, also known as the Knight of the Road, Kerry thinks he is safe at last but finds his journey is as perilous as ever. Despite Kerry's top billing in the title, the Waystone proves to have the more complex backstory. The character design is low on detail yet still highly expressive. Watson relies on a wonderful array of contrasting textures and hatching techniques that punctuate the soft watermelon hues with a jarring black. When the hatching is combined with long and sweeping curves, they create a vivid world, despite most panels maintaining tight focus on Kerry and his immediate surroundings. The story steadily builds suspense as readers inch closer to discovering who or what is haunting the forest. Dungeons & Dragons-style character sheets and early renditions of the art are included in the back matter. VERDICT An infectiously fun adventure that hints at danger without crossing the line into frightening. Put this into the hands of "Hildafolk" fans.-Alea Perez, Elmhurst Public Library, IL

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 25, 2020
On his way to bring lifesaving medicine to his parents, Kerry is lured into the Forest of Shadows by a mysterious girl who promises that it is the fastest route home, then vanishes. Soon lost, Kerry wanders alone before encountering the Knight of the Road, a sentient Waystone whose duty it is to help travelers through the woods. Along the way, they encounter obstacles and forest denizens, almost all seemingly intent on capturing Kerry at the command of a powerful and malevolent spirit. While blending unique creatures and elements into a plot that feels well-trod, Watson retains a distinct feel and a funny voice (“How do you tell a dell from a hollow?” Kerry asks in one scene). Simply drawn art, elevated through deep textures and a shadowy, subtly changing forest palette, imbues the story with a moody atmosphere. A winning protagonist, Kerry is helpful and persistent, believing the best of others, and his optimism offers ballast to the story’s darker elements and the melancholic, surprisingly emotive Waystone. A timeless and immersive fantasy. Ages 8–12.

June 1, 2020
Grades 3-6 As Kerry races through the countryside, bearing precious medicine for his sick parents, he comes upon a looming forest, where a mysterious figure lures him in with the promise of a shortcut. Of course, Kerry is soon lost in a dark, labyrinthine wood that has fallen under the control of a malevolent spirit. It's only with the help of an ancient, grouchy Waystone?a floating, one-eyed boulder dubbed the Old Knight of the Road?that Kerry can win freedom, for himself as well as the forest's other captives. Though Watson pulls from classic woodland-fantasy tropes, it's a pleasure?especially in the age of sprawling series?to cozy up with an engaging yet uncomplicated adventure, told well and in full. There's a beauty to the simple characterizations and plot, though they're not without their twists and turns, thanks to clever storytelling. Thick, patterned textures add a density to the forest setting without overcomplicating the panels, and Kerry's long, angular limbs, always in motion, reinforce a general video-game aesthetic that permeates the tale. A boon for Ben Hatke fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)