If you’re going to suggest a book to your kids, you ought to know what’s in it! Because of that, Boardwell Books Publications would like to offer you a spoiler-free parents’ guide for Julia Witmer’s novel A Wilted Willow: A Land Lost, but Not Forgotten – specifically, the revised edition.
Basic Summary
A Wilted Willow: A Land Lost but not Forgotten is a Young Adult Gaslamp Fantasy novel aimed for ages 13+. However, this is just a suggestion, as the book does include some topics and content that may be intense for some younger readers.
Day one in fifteen-year-old Mira Miller’s new home, and a strange man steps through a door that should lead to nowhere. Informing her that a nation from another world needs help defeating a tyrant king with an insatiable taste for power, he presents her a choice: come with him and help, or stay behind and miss out on a chance for adventure
Cadmus Clark, a quiet boy her age who’s more than happy sitting at home all day, reluctantly agrees to join Mira’s escapade after she arrives in his world. Faced with training for battle, a magical assassin, and worst of all, extended time with bossy Mira, Cadmus is certain he’ll regret his choice to help her.
Mira has a new skill to master. Cadmus has a stubborn girl to deal with. And together they have a war to win. They might just be in over their heads.
. . . But Mira would never admit that.
Inclusion of Faith
A Wilted Willow contains more obvious faith-based messaging and themes. If you are not interested in faith-based content, this particular book might not be best fit for you.
Content Warnings
This book contains some depictions of violence, fantasy magic, war, and death. Nothing is described in gruesome detail, although there are some mentions of blood and the methods by which characters die. The story also includes fantasy creatures whose descriptions may be frightening to younger readers. The book contains no inappropriate language or graphic scenes.
Age Guidelines
This book is a Young Adult fantasy novel, and therefore may be best suited for readers ages 13+. However, as mentioned above, some content may be “too much” for some 13+ readers, while some other younger readers may be safe to read the book’s content.
Overall, A Wilted Willow: A Land Lost but Not Forgotten is a novel aimed for older readers, that can be enjoyed by younger readers who are capable of handling some of the more difficult content.
Have any questions? Please feel free to leave them in the comments down below!