The Secrets of Underhill
Kali Wallace
Verdict:
A vivid, charming eco-fantasy with mysterious elements and lively characters, this middle grade book offers rich topics of discussion.
What is it about?
The Secrets of Underhill follows a young girl named Nick in her quest to solve the problem of a deadly blight in the magical ironwood trees. She and her mother and their horse-pulled traveling wagon go to the source of the trees, where they hope to find the root of the problem. In the town of Mistwood, Nick enlists the help of family and friends to investigate the problem and seek solutions.
Our take:
From the earliest pages, this book — equal parts adventure and mystery — manages to engage. We want to know the solutions to this world’s plights, its magical trees, as well as the choices its arborist hero will make. The characters are lively, the problem unique, and the setting just magical enough. The story is ecology-minded, offering opportunites for discussion about the balance between preserving and using natural materials. While certain topics may have benefited from more page time, and certain choices are dealt with somewhat too efficiently, this is a charming, thought-provoking middle-grade read, sure to keep both listeners and independent readers engaged.
Perfect fit for:
This book is a good read-aloud option for a family with early teens and younger, or for an elementary classroom. The story offers visual descriptions begging for creative illustrations, ethical problems to debate, and jumping-off points for designing a magical land, or unusual means of transportation. It also invites plenty of discussion, such as how to fit many people in a limited space, what it takes to solve a mystery, or how much one should communicate.
Conversation Starters
When you see something puzzling, a mystery, do you want to solve it? Why? What sorts of questions would you like to solve?
Rank — in order of best to worst — the ways you would like to get places.
How important are trees to the world?
Who should you talk to about things you are working on? How much should you tell?
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