Marianna Baer

Wolfwood is a vibrant story of personal traumas and healing of a mother and daughter that play out while painting a gruesome story of four girls trapped in a jungle environment called "Wolfwood."

Indigo and her mother, Zoe, have been left nearly homeless due to a multitude of factors, but the key being her mother being a once great artist is no longer able to paint the series that made her famous. Desperate for money and a sense of normalcy, Indigo spends her time working odd jobs to make ends meet. When the gallery that once showed Zoe's paintings wants to resurrect her Wolfwood series, Zoe is unable to meet the demand. Not wanting to lose this opportunity, Indigo begins forging Wolfwood paintings in hopes of being able to make enough money to support both her and her mother.

The story flashes between Indigo's present, Indigo in Wolfwood as "Zoe", and her mother's story leading up to the traumatic event that leads to her painting the Wolfwood series. Throughout the story the characters describe facing homelessness, self-harm and assault, PTSD, addiction and a child having to take on the responsibilities of the parent. Overall, Wolfwood is an interesting read that's like a more gruesome and trippy version of Alice in Wonderland.… (más)

One of the more unusual plot lines I've seen recently. Indigo is trying to keep her and Mom afloat, but is slowly sinking. They live or more accurately, exist in a filthy roach infested basement apartment. In addition to working two jobs while trying to do the cleaning she and her mother are obligated to perform in the apartment house, she's trying to understand her mother's secretiveness. Supposedly, Mom is working on completing a series of graphic and gory paintings featuring four girls fighting off plant monsters in a mythical place called Wolfwood. When she discovers Mom has done no painting, and they owe $18,000 for studio rent, she panics, then bites the bullet and starts painting in Mom's place. The more she paints, the further she's pulled into Wolfwood, until her body begins to show injuries she cannot explain.
What comes after, is at times bizarre, but makes sad and scary sense by the time she's finished the final painting. The interspersed chapters from her mother's time in Mexico, coupled with those while Indigo is 'inside' Wolfwood, make the story crackle.… (más)

A harsh reality mixes with desperation, the art world, and violent, monstrous fantasy to create a unique experience on a journey of self-discovery.

Zoe can't believe her ears, when the art gallery's owner explains she can sell Zoe's mother's paintings for almost $100,000 a piece. After living in a run-down basement with barely enough food to survive while working two jobs, going to school, and repairing the apartments above them, it's a dream come true. But Zoe soon discovers that her mother hasn't painted the rest of the Wolfwood series and refuses to without reason...and that with even more building debt than Zoe even knew. Zoe's desperate, but she doesn't realize what monsters are hiding behind the story Wolfwood portrays...ones which are out for blood.

Zoe's rough life in poverty smashes full force into the high-class world of art, buyers, and galleries. She's been working two jobs to pay the bills, while her mother suffers heavily from depression and other unaddressed mental issues. Zoe's attitude isn't as negative as one might think, but she does wish there was a way to, at least, lighten the load and earn some real meals. It's hard not to feel for her, especially since she doesn't have any lofty desires. Despite the problems, her relationship with her mother is very good. There are some understandable arguments and misunderstandings, but the love between them is golden.

When Zoe hits the rich world, her desire to somewhat fit in builds one aspect of the plot. She tries to hide her situation, but at the same time, doesn't grow obsessed with reaching the same status...which I appreciated. Her goals stay on pulling her and her mother out of their situation. She makes some bad decisions, but even these are understandable. Even the romance end, which taps constantly on her door, plays in the background as her main goal never waivers. So, there isn't a love at first sight or even heavy concentration on this like is found in many young adult novels. It's there, adds a nice subplot, but doesn't overwhelm.

The gem in this tale comes with the whirl of Wolfwood's fantasy with Zoe's reality. Wolfwood has a very heavy story behind it, one which rotates around Zoe's mother. Zoe has no clue about what truly inspired the series, but when she paints, she's drawn into the very violent, plant-eating world with a group of girls, she's determined to save. These scenes are packed with danger and tension of a very different kind. The tale switches back and forth between Zoe's reality and the one in the paintings. Plus, the mother's own history slides in little by little in its own, shorter chapters. It never grows confusing and is very well laid out, so as to lure the reader in little by little. There were a few moments, where I found myself skimming, but it was more out of curiosity of what would happen next than boredom.

The ending leaves some questions unanswered, but I assume that's the intent. This is a tale, which calls food for thought. The ending is heart-wrenching in several ways, and yet, satisfying, too. I received a DRC through Edelweiss and thoroughly enjoyed the original storytelling.… (más)

Last week, in an email from Book Riot, I saw this title in the Cheap Read sections. It was recommended as a creepy, underrated YA book. In the mood for a creepy read featuring a haunted house and some psychological horror, I checked this book out of the library. And it definitely delivered on the creepy part...but not much else.

The plot- Leena is excited to start senior year at Bancroft, living in the Victorian dorm that's captivated her imagination since freshman year with her two best friends. Then, a bombshell drops- Leena is assigned an unexpected roommate- the eccentric, abrasive Celeste Lazer. While Celeste may be unwelcome, her older brother David is not. He and Leena flirt with each other and she debates entering into a relationship with him.

As the school year gets underway, odd things occur in their dorm, named Frost House. Pictures fall off the wall, objects are destroyed, doors lock on their own and mysterious sounds are heard. Celeste is convinced the other housemates are trying to scare her into leaving. Leena tries to keep the peace between her and her friends, while maintaining her school work, college applications, relationship with David and her own fears and anxiety. Leena starts taking increasingly drastic measures to keep herself safe and she's left to wonder if the odd things are coming from Celeste, herself or Frost house itself.

What I liked- The narration. The story is narrated in the first person from Leena's perspective and she's a fantastic unreliable narrator. Until close to the end, I was unaware what was causing the odd instances in Frost House. As you learn more about Leena and the backstories of her, Celeste, David and Frost House, it becomes increasingly hard to figure out what's going on. The house is nice and creepy, a character in itself. The instances that occur in the house are also fun. The mounting dread was also handled well. Marianna Baer has a great writing style when it comes to unreliable narration and suspense.

What I didn't like- the characters. Really, every single character, kids and adults, are pretty one dimensional and not likable. While I did say I liked learning more about the backstories of Leena, Celeste and David, I didn't actually like any of them as people or saw them more as stereotypes; the overachiever close to a breaking point, the artist who is flighty and confrontational and the overprotective boarding on obsessive older brother. The best friends are barely worth mentioning, as they are mainly there to show that Leena has friends and how their relationships become strained due to the odd happenings at Frost House. One of them, Abby, disappears halfway through the book with no real explanation other than "she's mad at Leena." She's not even mentioned again after she bans Leena from her family's Thanksgiving celebration. . There's a concerned headmaster, distant parents and a bunch of other cliches populating the house. Some of the choices the characters make, Leena especially, were frustrating and you're not sure if these choices are because of Frost House, character's personalities or something else.

The characters personally brought this book down a star for me, but I still recommend this title if you're looking for a YA book that's part haunted house, part coming of age and part psychological thriller.… (más)