A Look into Lauren Wolk’s Wolf Hollow
Note: The following article is a personal review and analysis of Wolf Hollow, focusing on various characters and places that caught the blogger’s interest. Illustrations inspired by the book (drawn by the blogger) are present, and may differ from the actual text. Both illustrations and writing may contain spoilers.
It was the first day of November when I read Wolf Hollow, an autumn day just like Annabelle’s. Unlike the bustling heart of Seoul however, her story takes place in the quiet countryside of 1943 Pennsylvania. Away from the brunt of Word War II, Annabelle enjoys the relative peace and quiet that country life gives, until the day Betty Glengarry arrives.
At first glance Betty seems to be your average school bully, tormenting the younger children and threatening Annabelle to “bring her something”. However there are also hints of something sinister in this blonde city girl. A few days later, Betty kills a quail in front of Annabelle for apparently no reason.
Betty’s brutality doesn’t end there. Once Toby steps in to defend Annabelle, Betty begins a chain of events that pit villagers against each other, start a manhunt, and test Annabelle’s boundary of what is right and wrong.
Where a person lives influences how they think, and Annabelle is often seen using animals to describe the people around her. Aunt Lily has a “birdlike head”, Betty’s poison ivy rash is reminiscent of ”a bullfrog in full croak”, and Toby is like a wolf that is “torn between the need to fight and the urge to live”. As an artist heavily inspired by animals, Annabelle’s (and ultimately the author’s) description of people makes for delightful art.
Toby is an interesting character. Unless you know him personally, like Annabelle, he is what many people will regard as suspicious; a recluse who carries around three guns and refuses to answer personal questions. Add the fact that he might also be taking pictures of you when you’re not looking, and many people today might call the police. Annabelle likened Toby to that of a wolf. Wolves were often negatively portrayed, the classic Little Red Riding Hood being a prime example. Toby’s predicament is similar. As Betty goes missing Toby’s lone wolf personality makes him the prime suspect, with only Annabelle and her parents giving him the benefit of doubt. During his disguise as ‘Jordan’, his mingling with the troopers brings to mind the wolf in sheep’s clothing, or in this case, wolf in hound’s clothing.
One other character that I found as aggravating as Betty was Aunt Lily. While her role in the story was essential for providing conflict, her assumption of people based on their appearance is personally teeth-grinding. It is highlighted when she alternates between talking about Toby and ‘Jordan’. Being my least favorite character in the story, it was almost cathartic, watching her dig her own grave as she mistakenly rebukes Annabelle for lying;
“She hit me hard enough to leave a black bruise the size of a cucumber,” I said. “No way I could exaggerate black.”
Aunt Lily sat up straighter. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,” she said sharply.
But though it had been some time since Betty had swung that stick, I stood up and bared my hip right there for everyone and let them see the mark that was still visible. Still ugly enough.
(Wolf Hollow, Chapter 10)
The Turtle Stone was a location that caught my eye. A large boulder in Wolf Hollow, Annabelle describes it as “a pretty place, but serious too”. Descriptions of it make it seem almost sacred, especially with lines like “It was in a little clearing as if the trees had not dared to get too close”, and how Annabelle hypothesized that the Indians might have used it for their ceremonies. Turtles are known for their long life span, and their association with wisdom and tranquility might have been what prompted the author to use the turtle imagery for this particular location.
Wolf Hollow reminds me of nature, the wilderness that can frighten, but also bring forth the more daring side of oneself. The stark, yet hopeful undertone of the story gives me my own sort of hope, to face the difficulties of the present and reach out to those around me. Of those who find themselves reading Wolf Hollow, I wish that you too find the same courage and inspiration.
Korean ver. in Naver blog
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Publisher: Corgi Childrens (2016. 6. 30)
Cover art: Gelrev Ongbico (2016)
[Personal Illustrations inspired by book]
Titles: “Betty Glengarry“, “In the Hayloft“, “Among the Hounds“, “The Wolf enters the Hollow“, and “Turtle Stone“
Artist: Sotdae / Sotdaescape (Suyung Cho)
