We’re delighted to be sharing Laura’s thoughts about The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee and illustrator Freda Chiu.
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The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee
- Category: Children’s Fiction
- Publisher : Pushkin Children’s Books (3 Aug. 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 288 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1782694137
- ISBN-13 : 978-1782694137
- Pushkin Press | Amazon | Waterstones | Goodreads
The Wrath of the Woolmington Wyrm Summary
There are those that hunt monsters to harm them and there are those that hunt monsters to help them. Which one are you?
Dressed in sparkly red shoes and carrying her strawberry-scented notebook, Mary-Kate accompanies her archaeologist mother to the quiet English countryside to investigate some unusual bones found in an old well.
But soon she realises that the village of Woolington is not as peaceful as it seems; the ground trembles beneath them, there are mysterious noises, and the locals are obsessed with a terrifying old legend.
Could there be any truth in the myth of the beast who lives in the ancient well? With the help of a new friend, Mary-Kate starts getting to the bottom of this monstrous mystery.
The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm Review
A great read for young mystery readers.
Miss Mary-Kate Martin is a fabulous character and I thoroughly enjoyed her adventure in the strange town of Woolington.
Mary-Kate accompanied her mother on her first archaeological dig. She usually enjoys staying with her Granny however circumstances change so Mary-Kate travelled by train with her mother.
On arrival to Woolington, Mary-Kate notices a sleepy reception and strangely, saucers of milk outside every front door. During her initial investigation, Mary-Kate hears tales of the wyrm of Woolington, a monster that likes to eat children.
With the help of Lady Arabella will the girls discover the secret to the tales?
Mary-Kate allows the reader to understand her anxieties; the word slime, brown crayons and small talk. Nearly ten, she visits a counsellor who has provided Mary-Kate with strategies of grounding and breathing techniques to support her anxieties.
I loved her quirks and her confidence in admitting to her anxieties and how she helps herself and other people. She is brave, intuitive and kind. A wonderful role model for young readers.
I enjoyed this book with well-written characters and an interesting plot.
About the Author
Karen Foxlee was born in Mount Isa, Australia. She trained and worked as a nurse before studying for a degree in creative writing at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is the author of five books, including The Anatomy of Wings, which won the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Best First Book in the South East Asia and South Pacific region, and the Carnegie Medal-longlisted Lenny’s Book of Everything, which is also published by Pushkin Children’s Books.
Instagram @karenfoxleeauthor