The strike almost kills her but once she recovers she realizes it has increased her perception of noises, smells, and thoughts of animals, especially dogs.Ī character from Wolf Hollow shows back up in this book, Andy Woodberry. This book is the next part of her story.Īnnabelle is struck by lightening on her way home from helping her teacher clean up the school in June, after everyone has left to spend the summer working on their farms. In the first book Annabelle is eleven-years-old. This is a coming of age book, set in 1944 in Western Pennsylvania.

As a nurse, it wasn’t too harsh for me, but might be for tender hearts that can’t see or think about blood. In the book, My Own Lightning, there is only one brutal part that involves a dog attack toward the end of the book. They still get to hear a great story, without the parts that might cause trauma depending on their developmental age, that only a parent will fully know. I used to do that with some of the books that I read to my children as they were growing up. It may be a book that you could still read to your 8-12 year olds while editing the graphic parts. I would encourage parents to read the book first, before allowing your children to read it. Although I absolutely loved Wolf Hollow, I would be cautious to recommend it due to the brutality of the bully in that book. This book is a sequel to her Newbery Honor Winner, Wolf Hollow. ‘It is a magical thing to step into a world created by Wolk’ BooklistLauren Wolk is a great, modern day storyteller for middle graders. And when several newcomers arrive in her life – as well as a figure from the past – Annabelle must use her heightened senses to discover the truth about them all.Ī stunning coming of age novel about forgiveness, friendship and our powerful connection with the natural world, from the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of Wolf Hollow, Beyond the Bright Sea and Echo Mountain. To her surprise, Annabelle’s brush with lightning leaves her with a strange and beautiful gift: an uncanny connection with the animals around her, and an ability to understand their deepest fears and feelings. But there is no sign of whoever saved her, and Annabelle cannot understand who would do such a thing and then flee. She wakes with a memory: a fist, pounding on her heart, bringing her back to life. Several months have passed since devastating events changed the sleepy community of Wolf Hollow forever.Īnnabelle, still trying to make sense of her own part in them, is caught in a wild and sudden summer storm – and struck by lightning.

Lauren wolk my own lightning