Black, H. (2015). The darkest part of the forest. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.Hazel and Ben are red-haired siblings who find that they are the only two people who can save their somewhat enchanted town of Fairfold from a monster that lives in the nearby faerie-infested forest. With the help of their friend Jack (a faerie person living amongst the humans), they put together the pieces of the puzzle until they discover that Hazel has been fighting for the ruler of the faerie realm while she sleeps each night. Eventually, a trip to the forest during a the faerie festival gives the trio the opportunity to supplant the faerie king and appease the monster.
The secrets that Hazel, Ben, and Jack all harbor will keep middle and high school readers glued to the book. Black's writing reminds me of my beloved Neil Gaiman, in particular his book Stardust, because of the relationship between the town of Wall and the faerie town of Stormhold. Black's attention to details create a believable setting for her story. Her understanding of faerie lore is such that she was able to create a place in which the humans live mostly harmoniously with the faerie world just along the edges. It just makes sense and that is why the reader dives in to this book so deeply and won't let it go until he/she knows the fate of the people of this town. Even told in third-person Black manages to endear the characters of Hazel, Ben, Jack, and the faerie characters to readers. We care about them and want everything to work out for them in this strange existence they live.
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