Wolf Hollow (novel) facts for kids
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| Author | Lauren Wolk |
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| Language | English |
| Set in | Autumn 1943, rural western Pennsylvania |
| Publisher | Dutton Children's Books |
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Publication date
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May 3, 2016 |
| Pages | 304 |
| Awards | 2017 Newbery Honor |
| ISBN | 9781101994849 |
Wolf Hollow is a young adult novel written by Lauren Wolk. It was published by Dutton Children's Books in 2016. The story takes place in rural western Pennsylvania during the autumn of 1943. It follows a girl named Annabelle as she learns important lessons about truth and consequences. She faces challenges from a bully named Betty Glengarry and a mysterious drifter named Toby. The book was recognized as a Newbery Honor book in 2016.
Contents
The Story of Annabelle and Wolf Hollow
The story begins in 1943. Annabelle, who is eleven years old, lives in the small town of Wolf Hollow, Pennsylvania. She lives with her parents, grandparents, Aunt Lily, and two younger brothers.
Toby, the Quiet Veteran
A quiet man named Toby lives nearby in an old smokehouse. He is a veteran from World War I. Annabelle's mother feels sympathy for Toby. He often carries three guns and seems troubled, but he is harmless. Annabelle's mother sometimes leaves food for him. She even lends him a camera because he seems very interested in photography. Annabelle and Toby often see each other, but they do not talk much.
Betty, the New Bully
One day, a 14-year-old girl named Betty Glengarry moves to Wolf Hollow. She comes to stay with her grandparents. Betty is very mean to all the children. She especially targets Annabelle because she thinks Annabelle is rich. Betty waits for Annabelle on her way home from school. She threatens to hurt Annabelle and her brothers if Annabelle does not bring her something valuable.
Annabelle is scared of Betty. She decides to deal with the problem herself without telling her parents. Annabelle does not bring anything for Betty. So, Betty continues to bother her. One day, Betty hits Annabelle with a stick. Another time, Betty hurts a bird right in front of Annabelle to upset her.
Toby Steps In
Toby appears and tells Betty to leave Annabelle alone. Betty falls into some poison ivy and gets a bad rash. Annabelle and her mother try to help Betty by bringing her medicine. But Betty is still very angry with Annabelle.
A Mysterious Accident
After Betty gets better, she returns to school. She starts spending time with a boy named Andy. They often leave school together. One day, Annabelle is talking to Mr. Ansel, who drives by in his cart. Annabelle's friend Ruth is standing nearby. Suddenly, a rock is thrown from a hill hidden by trees. The rock hits Ruth in the eye, causing her to lose her sight in that eye forever. People later think the rock might have been meant for Mr. Ansel because he was of German heritage.
Annabelle tells her father what she saw. He tries to find out who threw the rock. Betty blames Toby. However, as Annabelle investigates, Betty seems more and more like the real person who threw it. Annabelle trusts Betty even less when she and her brothers find a sharp wire stretched across their path home from school.
Annabelle Tells Her Parents
Annabelle finally tells her parents about Betty's bullying. They take Annabelle to the Glengarrys' house to talk to Betty's grandparents. Betty denies everything Annabelle says. She blames Toby again for the rock incident.
Annabelle knows the police plan to question Toby. She goes to his smokehouse and tells him he needs to leave right away. She hides him in the loft of her family's barn. She brings him food and clothes. She even cuts his hair and beard so he looks different.
Toby's Secrets and Betty's Disappearance
Toby starts to tell Annabelle about the terrible things he saw during the war. He also tells her about a photograph he took the day Ruth was hit by the rock. Toby saw Betty throw it, but he could not quite capture the moment on camera.
Betty goes missing, and the search for Toby becomes more intense. Annabelle knows Toby has been in the barn and could not have taken Betty. Annabelle then realizes Betty might have fallen into an old well near Toby's smokehouse. She leads the police and searchers to the well. She also urges Toby, who now looks like a stranger, to show up and rescue Betty.
The Rescue and Sad Ending
Toby volunteers to go into the well. He finds Betty, who is badly hurt. He pulls her out. She had been stuck in the cold well for several days. Sadly, Betty does not survive. Even as she is dying, she blames Toby for the harm she caused others.
Annabelle's mother recognizes the stranger as Toby. She and Annabelle's father try to help him. But the police are getting closer to catching him. Toby decides the only way to keep Annabelle and her family safe is to run away. Later, Toby sadly passes away while trying to escape. Annabelle's parents pay for Toby's funeral and burial.
