My dear bookish friends!
I’m just drying the last tears this book gave me towards to end so I can write my review. What a ride! A huge thank you to LiterallyPR, Hashtag Press, and the author for my copy of The Twig Man and my spot on the blog tour! This book is the perfect read for spooky season, so read on to find out what it’s about, and for my detailed review!
The Blurb
Beware The Twig Man, the Twig Man’s hex. Beware the Twig Man or you’ll be NEXT!
It’s been a year since nearly twelve-year-old Ari’s older sister, Lana, ran away, except Ari knows what happened. She was taken by the Twig Man, the creepy monster that’s haunted the woods for a hundred years. No one else will listen so it’s up to Ari to save her but he had better hurry, as Ari finds himself next on the Twig Man’s list…
My Review
It’s been a year since Ari’s sister Lana disappeared, and nothing has been the same since. His parents think she left to travel through Europe, or that she made bad friends and left her family behind on purpose. Only Ari knows this isn’t true; his sister was his best friend and would never leave him!
I felt with Ari from page one. It must have been so frustrating for him to feel it in his heart and bones that his sister was still close by and that something else must have happened to her, but his parents never seemed to listen. Of course, as an adult, I can see their side of the coin too – and why they want to do everything in their might to protect Ari and keep him away from danger. Only that way, they don’t give him much chance at a normal life.
In the beginning, Ari doesn’t really believe in the urban legend of his hometown Hanging Hills: the Twig Man – a monster who supposedly pulls children into his dark lair in the woods, for them never to be seen again. But then he hears more and more children talk about the story again and wonders… what if the Twig Man took Lana?
Haven’t you figured out by now? Nothing is impossible if you truly believe!
When Ari makes a friend in the woods of all places and he warns him of the Twig Man’s awakening, Ari is sure: he needs to brave his deepest, darkest fears in order to get his sister back! Even if that means fighting the monster itself!
‘Confession time,’ he whispers in my ear. ‘I didn’t have any friends either, but don’t be sad, Ari. When you make a true friend, you never really say goodbye.’
I loved the friendship that blossomed between Ari and Timmy, and it was good to see Ari having a chance at something like a ‘normal’ childhood while the two were together (if hunting a monster can be called normal!!). I did guess parts of Timmy’s secrets before they were revealed, but the actual revelation made me tear up so much!! It was so emotional!
I’m not really a hugging kind of person, but I’m going to do it more often now that I have the chance; I shouldn’t have to wait for birthdays and other special occassions to show the people I care about how much they mean to me. Dad says a hug is a silent way of saying I love you. He’s so corny, it’s unreal!
I also loved the blend of elements of adventure, horror, fantasy, and, in a way, a coming-of-age story all in one that the author managed to link here. It’s the perfect Halloween read, but I think children will enjoy this book all year round.
The reason why I have to take off one star is because some things were left unexplained in the end.
SPOILER WARNING – don’t read on here if you don’t want any spoilers but jump down to the end!!!
During the final showdown with the Twig Man we learn that all the children the monster took still looked like children but also very old (because the monster was feeding off their energy). It was then said they would go to the police to find their families, but with so many years that passed since some of their disappearences, how will they explain to the police that they are still so young? And while I was happy that Timmy came back to Ari in the end, it didn’t really seem fitting (as he was supposed to move on after saving his sister).
SPOILER-FREE ZONE continues below!
Other than these few unexplained questions though I can say I really enjoyed this book! The Twig Man was a super quick read that pulled me in from page one! Seriously, read the first page and try to stop – I tell you now you won’t be able to!!! Perfect Halloween read, but also super deep and emotional!
4.5 stars from me!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you all so much for reading!
Xoxo
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Perfect Halloweeny middle grade!
