Bree and Polly had always felt at home in the woods playing at their games, Bree as the princess in need of rescuing and Polly as her woodland fairy always the one there for her, that is until Bree decided she was too old to play such childish games, too old to be running about the woods. But when Bree ran away to the woods leaving behind a broken family and a lost little sister, Polly was a little jealous that she had not thought to flee into the woods first.

With her sister missing, her parents separated and her best friend abandoning her when she needs a friend the most, Polly turns to the one person in her life who is always there for her, her grandmother Baba. It was Baba who first taught Polly about the woods and its magic, but it was not until Bree left that Polly discovered the secret hidden away at the heart of the woods, a place of enchantment and hope. Only in Girlwood could Polly hold onto her belief that things would work out. But then the chainsaws moved in...

Girlwood is a story of the woods; a story of family and friendships; a story of two sisters, the one who left to save herself and one who was left behind to save everyone else. Polly's world is full of the impossible, auras, faeries, wolves and an old witch whom she loves very much. But she is struggling to hold on to all the magic of childhood that she so strongly believes in in the face of cold reality that comes with growing up. A blend of fairytale, contemporary fiction, botany and magic, Girlwood has a unique charm that will pull at your heartstrings. ( )

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

One night, Polly is awakened from a sound sleep to find her older sister, Bree, kissing her. As Bree's blood red aura trails behind her like the tattered wings of a ruined fairy, she tells Polly that she's leaving for the woods, so that she can try to be alright again. Half asleep, and not sure if she's really seeing her emaciated, drugged out sister or an actual fairy, Polly lets her go, with no argument over how much Bree has destroyed since she started using drugs.

No one believes her when she tells them Bree has run to the woods, so it's up to Polly to provide everything her sister will need. Winter is almost there, and a developer is coming soon to trade out the trees for a housing development. Following the guidance of her grandmother, Baba, Polly knows that she could rely on herself to survive alone in the forest, and, with her help, so can Bree.

Luckily, Polly finds that she doesn't have to be alone. Others may not be able to see the colorful bands of light around each other that display exactly who they are inside, but they will believe her. Under the protection of the hidden grove that Baba has shown her, Polly and her friends will learn that, with a little magic and a little faith, anything is possible.

Beautifully written and with vibrant imagery, this book will strike a chord with anyone who has found magic and solace in their own secluded spot of wilderness. The explanations that head each chapter of the different wildflowers and their medicinal uses are also fascinating, as is the descriptions of various auras and what they mean. The back cover states that the author wrote this as a gift for her daughter, and she will be writing one for her son next. I'll be looking forward to reading that. ( )