Willa of the Wood

Have you ever just felt invisible? Meet Willa, a young girl living in the Great Smoky Mountains during the 1900s. She can blend into her surroundings and loves going on adventures. Willa and her grandmother, who live along the Faeran people, are the only ones in their clan that have these magnificent powers. The Faeran people live underground under the control of their leader, the padaran. Willa and the rest of the Faeran children go hunting in packs to look for the day folks treasures. After finding these treasures, the Faeran people must give them to the padaran in return for food.

One night Willa goes hunting alone and ends up in a man’s home. She then steals belongings of his and ends up waking him up. He and his dog end up chasing her through the mountains which sets the scene for the rest of Willa’s adventures throughout the book.

Personally, I am a huge fan of Robert Beatty and all of his books. I really enjoyed this book, as it is a spin-off to his Serafina series. This book has a lot of details and makes you appreciate the scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. Willa of the Wood is a very adventurous and magical novel that is good for readers from 5th to 9th grade. I would recommend this as a class book to teachers and encourage all ages to read it.

Kaden Royse

My daughter is 11 and starts seventh grade; SHE has read the book, and subsequently hidden it from me, so she can reread it before I even read it. She says it was possibly her favorite book all time, that she couldn’t put it down, and she felt like she knew Willa by the end of the book.

In reality, she got the book at 8pm Friday night, and I couldn’t drag her from her bed Saturday morning, even with promises of bacon and donuts, until she finished the book.

I’ve loved he Serafina series, and I cannot wait to meet Willa myself.

Mr. Beatty certainly has a way with descriptive words! In this well written novel, he builds a beautiful, true to life picture of the Smoky Mountains. Then continues on to bring home the realization of the peril this special places continues to be in.

He has created another fascinating, strong young female lead character with hints of interaction with characters from his first series about Serafina. There is strong focus on the value of family connections and what makes up a family.

I do feel there are some segments in the story that may be a little frightening for younger readers.

'Willa of the Woods' is an intriguing mix of history and imaginative storytelling that expands upon the folklore of the Great Smoky Mountains region.

If you are a fan of the Serafina series, you will almost certainly like 'Willa of the Wood' too. Although the characters and immediate setting are new, the story holds the same wonder and magic of wild places just out of reach of us “day-folk”. If you don’t know the Serafina series, not to worry. 'Willa of the Wood' has its own story line, and is not dependent on the earlier books.

The age of the heroine and several of the major characters makes the story very relateable for young adult readers, but adult readers will certainly enjoy the book as well. I enjoyed the book immensely, and I would recommend it to adults and young readers who love a sense of magic and an immersive story.

Full disclosure, I read an advance copy of "Willa of the Wood.”

Robert Beatty does an excellent job intertwining fictional characters and settings with the real topography of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. From the first paragraph, to the last sentence, the book is a relatively easy read, moves at a reasonable pace sufficient to keep the reader engaged, and is full of enough twists and surprises to make it difficult to put down.

Mr Beatty does a splendid job creating fictional creatures, people, and animals, and weaving them into a compelling story of doing what's right, allowing goodness and love to prevail. While written to appeal to children and young adults, readers of any age will find the book entertaining and engaging. I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading Willa of the Wood. The plot moved quickly and I kept reading to find out how Willa would use her smarts and unique special powers to escape from various trials and tribulations in the forests of Western North Carolina. I was also genuinely interested in figuring out the secrets behind her people. The book delves into deeper themes of what it means to belong to a community and how people deal with issues of us vs. them, both of which have resonance with things going on in our world today. I would strongly recommend this book to any reader who likes a mystery with elements of fantasy and a fast moving plot.

This book is amazing and every bit as exciting as the Serafina series. Although, it is a different set of characters, it is also set in the Smokey Mountains during the same time period. You don't need to have read the Serafina series to read this book. Once I picked it up it was hard to put down....

When Willa is shown an unexpected kindness, from the human man she'd just robbed, the course of both their lives is is changed forever.

Willa is a jaetter and trained to give to her clan what she steals from the humans. Her heart knows she is meant for greater things but knowing means death.

Nathaniel is a human man who has recently lost everything and has begun to give in to his hopelessness and anger.

This is a wonderfully woven story about what happens as these two very different characters are rejected by their own people and form an unspoken and very unlikely alliance.

This review is by my 13 year old daughter, Alyssa.

I received an advanced copy of this book, and I was so excited to have this chance since I love all of the Serafina book series by Robert Beatty.

I really enjoyed the book Willa of the Woods. It is very action filled and on going. I did not want to stop reading the book. Willa is very brave and is willing to do anything for the good. She cares for her family and friends deeply. Willa would not five up in all cases even if i meant she would have to risk her life for others. This book is another amazing book written by Robert Beatty. I highly encourage you to read the book along with the Serafina series. The Serafina series is action filled as well with a girl and her friend Braeden. They are willing to fight the evilness in the woods. Both characters are willing to do anything but are also filled with love and joy. Willa will be added to my list of favorite books and can't wait to read more books by Robert Beatty.

Robert Beatty has done it again! Willa of the Woods is rich with imagery that takes the reader right to the Great Smoky Mountains. Willa is a strong and resourceful young girl, much like Serafina is in Beatty’s Serafina series. Readers who love Serafina will find a space right alongside her in their hearts for Willa. I loved seeing familiar characters, but really adore the new characters in what will hopefully be another wonderful series. Don’t worry, if you haven’t read his Serafina books you will not be lost. While there are a few familiar characters the strength of Willa will have you yearning for more.

What I like most about Willa is her strength and determination. She has a “never give up, never give in” attitude that serves her well in the Woods. She feels strongly, loves deeply, and fears almost nothing. That attitude is what also brings her to understand the circumstances of her own family.

I can not wait to share Willa with my students and friends.

Beautiful adventure mystery story of Willa of the Wood, a young night-spirit in the Great Smoky Mountains. As a teacher, Mr. Beatty's Serafina series is a go-to for me with dormant readers and I was over the moon to learn that he had a new series coming out to share with my readers. Willa of the Wood most certainly did not disappoint and will be an easy sell for young readers! The way that the story elements are described and short quick chapters that snag you from the get-go make it difficult to put to down... So difficult in fact, that I'd often let my kiddos run around the backyard while I read so that I could find out what happened next! I can't wait to see where the series goes with Willa's story and am even more excited to put this book into the hands of my readers in the fall!

Willa of the Wood is a middle grade fantasy, mystery by Robert Beatty. There is adventure and suspense from the very beginning. Mr. Beatty’s strength lies in his creative storytelling and BEAUTIFUL imagery. He places the reader INTO the pages.

This story blends adventure with positive messages of belonging, kinship, love, compassion, making choices based on what you’ve been taught vs. what you feel is right, and helping others different than yourself. It’s a story of hope. The main character is once again a tough female character (which I love).

Mr. Beatty is able to provide all of those positive messages while telling a fascinating story with like-able characters. I recommend this for young and old alike!

Willa is a night spirit in the Great Smokey Mountains and is trying to be the best thief in her clan. When she sneaks into the home of one of the day-folk, her life changes forever. How she has been taught to perceive these people will cross with her reality. Who are her true enemies? Her true friends? Her connection to the woods itself is a story that takes you to the edge of your seat and touches your soul. I cannot wait to use this in my classroom! Thank you for the opportunity to be an advanced reader!

My daughters and I love Robert Beatty's books and Willa of the Wood was no exception! Here's what my girls had to say about Willa of the Wood:

M, Age 11 - Willa of the Wood is an exciting book full of action and adventure. There are many exciting characters in the book such as Willa, all the different jaetters, and the padaran. In this book Willa must decide what to do, help the day-folk or return to her clan for good, but returning to her clan would include forgetting about how much the day-folk need her!

E, Age 9 - Willa of the Wood is an exciting adventure through the woods and the old ways. It's a very good book. It is sad, happy, and exiting. I loved reading Willa of the Wood so much!

I recieved an advanced copy to read an review.
Fans of the Serafina books will be thrilled with more beautiful description, thrilling action and cliffhanger chapter endings in Willa of the Wood. While the characters are completely different, you might catch some hints of Serafina in the story ;). I loved that it was set in the same land as the Serafina books - the Appalachian Mountains- but at the time when development of the area was just beginning. I think seeing the destruction of the land through Willa's eyes and listening to Nathaniel's explanation of "owning" the land but fighting further destruction can provoke some important conversations about protecting our environment.

Absolutely wonderful! As an adult, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, but I was riveted. Just as good as the Serafina books (maybe even better?). I loved the fantasy and magic in this book. Also a wonderful story for young adult readers. Beatty's descriptions of woods, forests, mountains, rivers, made you feel like you were there - I could smell the dirt! And there was an unbelievable amount of tension - kept having to read more to find out what happened next. I can't wait for the further adventures of Willa!

My daughter read this book, and this is her analysis:
This book is PHENOMENAL!!! It is about a girl named Willa who is a nightspirit that steals from the day folk and is the best thief in her clan. I love this book because Willa is very courageous throughout difficult times. That is one reason why I think she is truly inspirational. Willa shows me to never give up, but to continue plowing through the hard times. I get a thrill out of this book because it is plentiful with adventure. I also enjoyed the book because I found it immensely touching. Once you start this book, you will NEVER want to set it down! It is beautifully written, and you can envision the story excellently. I recommend this magnificent book to people aged nine and older, as there are some mentions of blood and violence. - Lilly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beatty has created a new and fantastical world in the Great Smoky Mountains for his new book Willa of the Wood. Willa is--well, what exactly is Willa? A fairy? A sprite? A magical being of another type? I'll leave it to the reader to decide exactly what Willa is---perhaps Willa herself doesn't even know! She faces challenges as she learns things about the leader of her people that she wishes she didn't know. Willa is part of a group that must go out and steal items of value from their surroundings. However, she takes more chances than she should and gets entangled with a human and his sadness. As she works to help him, she endangers herself and risks her life to make things right. Beatty also gives us a few hints that he will be bringing in some of our favorites from his Serafina series, too. Looking forward to book number 2 in the Willa series for sure!

I received an advanced copy of this adventure and was as delighted as I figured I would...
Willa is an interesting young lady with an old soul type spirit about her that will immediately connect the reader to her. Her fascinating “being” is described gently over the entire story and she evolves into an interesting individual as her circumstances play out.
Since I have, indeed, read the Serafina books it was a delight to catch little glimpses of characters from that collection. Although they have not been named formally, there are little hints allowed to get a loyal readers interest piqued!
I enjoyed this story and look forward to its future. This author does not disappoint and he doesn’t let his characters either!

Our family absolutely devours all of Robert Beattys books, but we were nervous to delve into a new story line, without our beloved Serafina.

We were crazy to doubt his talents, because he has written yet another heart thumping tale that leaves the children in the family banging their hands on the table during read aloud because they can't stand to wait for an additional chapter!

Robert Beatty leaves you thinking, hanging, on his every beautifully written word. The story comes to life in your minds eye!!

This is a thrilling story about a take charge girl, in a book filled with imagery that allows you to step into Willas amazing point of view of the world surrounding her.

5 stars!!!!!!

“The world was neither flat nor round. It was mountains.”
Love that opener!
Robert Beatty really captivated me with this brave little spirit girl, Willa of the Wood!
Willa is such a strong courageous character and from the moment you are introduced to her, you won’t be able to stop turning the page to see what she will be doing next.
I love how these books (Serafina series and Willa of the wood) appeal to all ages. It is such a well written book that I enjoy reading it, and my teenage son is engaged with them as well. Can’t wait for my daughter to get a little older so that she can discover all about Serafina and Willa!

My daughter and I both read this book. Her review is first.
The book was different from the Serafina series, Serafina used physical strength to win. Willa used her intelligence, kindness, and knowledge of the forest to achieve her goal. The book is filled with many triumphs of Willa but it had some sad times too. I stayed up past midnight reading this book. I didn't want to stop reading. I would recommend this to other middle school readers.
My review is below.
Robert Beatty did a great job explaining the perspective of Willa. Especially when explaining how connected she was to the trees and animals. In Beatty's Serafina Series the main challenge in the story was immediately known. In this book it took a while to figure it out. Willa had a number of smaller challenges and obstacles throughout the book. Beatty did a good job of connecting all the details in the end.

Set in the Great Smoky Mountains, readers will grow to love Willa, the brave and mystical protagonist who must call upon the ancient powers of the forest to overcome the forces of the evil Padaran, the self-appointed leader of the endangered Faeran people. Will she survive in an ever- changing and dangerous world?
This action-packed novel will keep readers turning pages from beginning to end.

Magic is alive and living in the Great Smoky Mountains and in Robert Beatty's new book, Willa of the Wood. Once again this author paints a beautiful picture of a young girl who is full of mystery and magic. Willa has a sense of pride in her heritage but with a heavy dose of right and wrong. She must make hard choices and find her way in the world believing in herself and in the mystical knowledge taught by her ancestors.
Once again, Robert Beatty provides a roller coaster ride of happiness, joy, grief, betrayal, and heartbreak. For Willa, there is no place like home. For the rest of us, there is no place like a comfortable chair, a cup of tea and a Robert Beatty book.
I'm so very excited to add Willa of the Wood to my classroom library.

My daughter and I were both excited to read Willa of the Wood! After reading Serafina together we were excited to read this book together as well. First of all, you do not have to have read the Serafina Series first. This is a separate book from Serafina, however I do hope that in future books that their worlds will meet :) Willa of the Wood was a page turner for me. Once I started it, it was hard to put it down and I looked forward to coming home each day and reading it. Willa is a strong and brave young girl. Willa learns so much about herself and her people during this book, but most importantly she learns about love and trust. There is such a sweetness and innocence of Willa that touched me and brought tears to my eyes. This book is one of my favorite books and I look forward to reading more of Willa's story!

I absolutely fell in love with the character of Willa and this wonderful world that Mr. Beatty created. Once again, he has seamlessly fused an incredible world of magic and mystical creatures with the historical world of western North Carolina. It was very interestingly to see our world through Willa's faeran eyes. This book of course, has action and adventure, not to mention dangers for our heroine to face and overcome. But it also has so much heart. I feel the author has a genuine gift for depicting love and what a family truly is. Willa show such fierce determination and courage, while also maintaining a tenderness to her character. Like the Serafina books, I look forward to reading Willa's adventures to my daughter someday!

This book is pretty great; it has an interesting protagonist, an immersive plot, as well as a lil’ reference to Robert Beatty’s previous trilogy, “The Serafina series.” Yet, after finishing the book I was yearning for more, it felt a bit too short, and the ending was sweet, but also made me feel like this is going to be a stand alone book, which adds to my “I want more!” Feeling. All in all, it is a riveting, heart wrenching, yet equally heart warming read. Willa is a wonderful character to follow, and the descriptions of the world around her are exquisite, almost surpassing that of the book’s predecessor. To sum it all up, it was a joy to read and a sorrow when I reached the end. I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel so I can once again read of the unique little forest girl, Willa.

Magic is alive and living in the Great Smoky Mountains and in Robert Beatty's new book, Willa of the Wood. Once again this author paints a beautiful picture of a young girl who is full of mystery and magic. Willa has a sense of pride in her heritage but with a heavy dose of right and wrong. She must make hard choices and find her way in the world believing in herself and in the mystical knowledge taught by her ancestors.
Once again, Robert Beatty provides a roller coaster ride of happiness, joy, grief, betrayal, and heartbreak. For Willa, there is no place like home. For the rest of us, there is no place like a comfortable chair, a cup of tea and a Robert Beatty book.
I'm so very excited to add Willa of the Wood to my classroom library.

My daughter and I were both excited to read Willa of the Wood! After reading Serafina together we were excited to read this book together as well. First of all, you do not have to have read the Serafina Series first. This is a separate book from Serafina, however I do hope that in future books that their worlds will meet :) Willa of the Wood was a page turner for me. Once I started it, it was hard to put it down and I looked forward to coming home each day and reading it. Willa is a strong and brave young girl. Willa learns so much about herself and her people during this book, but most importantly she learns about love and trust. There is such a sweetness and innocence of Willa that touched me and brought tears to my eyes. This book is one of my favorite books and I look forward to reading more of Willa's story!

I absolutely fell in love with the character of Willa and this wonderful world that Mr. Beatty created. Once again, he has seamlessly fused an incredible world of magic and mystical creatures with the historical world of western North Carolina. It was very interestingly to see our world through Willa's faeran eyes. This book of course, has action and adventure, not to mention dangers for our heroine to face and overcome. But it also has so much heart. I feel the author has a genuine gift for depicting love and what a family truly is. Willa show such fierce determination and courage, while also maintaining a tenderness to her character. Like the Serafina books, I look forward to reading Willa's adventures to my daughter someday!

This book is pretty great; it has an interesting protagonist, an immersive plot, as well as a lil’ reference to Robert Beatty’s previous trilogy, “The Serafina series.” Yet, after finishing the book I was yearning for more, it felt a bit too short, and the ending was sweet, but also made me feel like this is going to be a stand alone book, which adds to my “I want more!” Feeling. All in all, it is a riveting, heart wrenching, yet equally heart warming read. Willa is a wonderful character to follow, and the descriptions of the world around her are exquisite, almost surpassing that of the book’s predecessor. To sum it all up, it was a joy to read and a sorrow when I reached the end. I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel so I can once again read of the unique little forest girl, Willa.

Once again Robert Beatty has portrayed his heroine as possessing skill, stamina, compassion and insight with again a touch of the mystical. Even with the vulnerability of her youth, she rises up against the forces of evil in her world with her grandmother's abiding love and words of wisdom to guide her. The forest is truly magical here in even more profound ways than simply the beautiful Biltmore Forest of my experience. This could be a visually beautiful film with a compelling heroine possessing extraordinary physical skills aligning herself with the mystery and power of the forest.

I love the way Willa and her world are described. It took me a little while to really get hooked to this one. I gave the book 5 stars because once Willa met the human, I literally could not lay the book down until it was finished. I think it would be interesting to see Willa and Serafina woven into the same story. We got a glimpse of Serafina but they are both series worthy in their own right!

I loved the Seraphina books and was hoping to see a bit more of her in this book. However, once I got into the story it was so good on its own that I didn't miss Seraphina. Willa is not human, but what she IS is somewhat difficult to explain. I would love to know if Mr. Beatty is basing his stories on Smokey Mountain legends. This book really emphasizes care for the environment, at first I was somewhat put off by Willa talking to the trees but I got used to it after awhile. All in all, a fantastic book. I ended the story with a smile a face!

Robert Beatty has done it again! Willa of the Wood is a riveting page turner written with exquisite descriptive language and unexpected depth of meaning. Fear not Serafina fans, she is not forgotten. I can't wait to read the next book in the series! (Recommended for middle grades and higher.)

Another entertaining adventure into the historical fantasy world of Serafina. Willa lives in the Great Smoky Mountains, and they come alive beautifully in Beatty's descriptions. Willa's story is in some ways quieter than Serafina's although she, too, must fight hard to overcome a great evil.

Can a few moments change your life forever? Willa, a night-spirit, pushes the boundaries of her clan’s rules about stealing from the day-folk as her curiosity about the unknown world of a settler in the Great Smoky Mountains takes over. Robert Beatty explores how Willa deals with the fragility of nature in an ever-changing world, her bonds with the way she was raised, and who she must become. Willa is a brave soul who sees kindness in another and fights for what is right. Robert Beatty creates a magical world full of adventure again in Willa of the Wood. I will be buying several copies for my classroom and the brave girls in my life.

Willa of the Wood, Robert Beatty's fourth novel is just as awe inspiring as the first three novels. In this book Mr. Beatty introduces readers to a new heroine, Willa. Willa faces many struggles throughout the story, each of which propels the action forward offering exciting twists and turns throughout to keep the reader engaged from start to finish. I was especially pleased with the setting of the story and the impeccable way that Mr. Beatty has of bringing the mountains of Western North Carolina to life. I highly recommend Willa of the Wood and anxiously await the second novel in the Willa series.

Willa of the Wood is another great middle grades adventure story by Robert Beatty. If you enjoyed the Serafina series you should definitely give this one a try. I love Willa as a protagonist and the setting is wonderful. I hope to see more of Willa in the future!

I absolutely loved the book! The style of writing is very detailed which was great, and I loved how it was an action packed book! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I just wanted to keep reading more and more. Willa is now one of my favorite books and I’m excited to read it again! I would definitely recommend this book and hope that there will be another Willa Book! Julia

If you like the Sarafina series, you are going to love Willa of the Woods. I have enjoyed each book written by Robert Beatty.I love the way the author uses places of history in both the Serafina series and in Willa of the Woods. The book will place you into the story and will connect with you through the characters many adventures with, humans, the earth, and different types of animals. It is a great fantasy book for all ages. Each one of these books leave me wanting more stories.

I love the Serafina Series and was anxious to get my hands on a copy of Willa. Beatty did not disappoint. Beatty’s style of writing is an easy and pleasant read. He leaves you wanting more at the end of each chapter, which makes the book near impossible to put down. Willa is a new beloved character in my home and I know my 5th grade students will be excited to meet her. It captures the attention of adults as well as kids. The lessons of unlikely friendship will stick with readers long after the last chapter.

This magical adventure is filled with vivid imagery, suspense, and culminates with a great ending. Robert Beatty does not disappoint with this new installment. It’s not necessary to have read the Serafina series, but if you have (if not I suggest you do!) it helps with the subtle nuances of this story. Great for all ages, but parents will have to read to young ones and keep in mind that some parts might be a little intense. I can’t wait for the next installment!

If you like Robert Beatty’s other books you will Love Willa of the Wood! His use of descriptive language will make you feel you are actually a part of the story and know the characters personally! You will look at nature differently after becoming a part of Willa’s world. I love that the story takes place in areas near where i live. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

Wonderful! My daughters (7 and 10) were already Serafina fans and were reluctant to try a new character, but Willa does not disappoint. It has themes of family, right vs wrong, and adventure, strong female leaders plus the Beaty twists and turns you would want to find. A must read for any adolescent reader.

Fantastic book! I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait for book two to come out. My children and I loved the Serefina series and were excited to meet Willa and join in on her adventures. She is a loyal, loving character who has a strong oneness with and appreciation of nature. I strongly recommend this book.

Loved this book! Parts of it reminded me of Tolkien ("The Hobbit"). Willa's connection with and reverence for nature as well as her ability to harness its awesome power made for a truly suspenseful, compelling story. We desperately need books like this in a country where our leaders deny climate change and seem determined to dismantle all environmental protections.