My Own Lightning
Closure is an ever-moving target in Lauren Wolk’s sequel to Wolf Hollow. After a tragic death, eleven-year-old Annabelle struggles to fit into her idyllic life on her family’s beautiful farm in Western Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1944, readers find Annabelle volunteering her time at the schoolhouse, attending to her farm chores, and struggling to let go of profound regret. We see Annabelle slip further away from the life she loves until a storm abruptly restores her fearlessness and kind heart.
The storm also brings several lost dogs and the school bully, Andy Woodberry, into Annabelle’s world. As the two work to rescue these animals and escape a dangerous stranger, Annabelle learns that forgiving Andy might be the path to self-compassion.
Along with many emotionally charged moments, this novel is rich with sensory details. Wolk’s work transports readers to the beauty of another time, complete with descriptions of farm-to-table meals that will make readers drool. Many of these scenes reminded me of the beloved Little House on the Prairie series. Much like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s work, Wolk’s story captures the sights, sounds, and smells of rural life and keeps young readers transfixed. Unlike Wilder, Wolk shares the complicated inner struggle of her protagonist as she fights to understand acts of cruelty far worse than anything Nellie Oleson ever imagined.
Wolf Hollow and My Own Lightning make excellent additions to any classroom library. While these novels do not expand representation or challenge social norms, My Own Lightning teaches young readers that although tragedy shapes us, it does not have to define us. Highly recommended for ages ten and up.
