Scan barcode
bickie's review against another edition
3.0
Brown Hannah lives at the edge of the Tanglewood where she is sought out by the villagers for her healing abilities. Each month, she pulls the flowers that grow from her head and uses them to create a special brew for the wizard who lives deep in the Tanglewood and protects its mysterious treasure. Knights often come searching for the treasure, but they are never seen again. One day, Hannah falls in love with one of them and later witnesses his transformation into a fox. Hannah starts to see the wizard in a different light and takes a journey where she discovers both her origins and her vast benevolent power. Best for ages 12+
Spoiler
It turns out she is the treasure, and she is kind of being held captive by the wizard. Hannah, it turns out, is a kind of Demeter-type.erincataldi's review against another edition
4.0
I was in just the right kind of mood for this easy breezy fantasy novel. It's a feel good novel that begs to be read outdoors on a nice spring day.
The story follows Hannah, a young healer of sorts, who lives in the Tanglewood forest under the watchful eye of a conniving wizard. She has no idea how she came to be, what her name is, or why she is different from the village folk who come to her for salves, remedies, and healing. Flowers and vines grow in her hair and she uses them to help makes medicines for the nearby village folk and at the end of every month she pulls them all out of her hair and makes a tea for the wizard. As the story progresses she starts to wonder more about her existence and tries to get her friends, some forest animals (yes she can talk to animals as well), to explain to her the ways of the world and why she has to serve the wizard the way she does but they can't remember anything about their past or future existence either. The story takes an interesting turn when a night enters the forest trying to seek treasure at the heart of the Tanglewood, when he is badly injured Hannah (what the young healer has taken to calling herself) restores his health and starts a quest to find out what the true meaning of her life is.
It's a beautifully written story and you can't help but sympathize with poor Hannah as she tries to find out what her purpose is. It is a cute and easy adventure and I would highly recommend it to anyone :)
The story follows Hannah, a young healer of sorts, who lives in the Tanglewood forest under the watchful eye of a conniving wizard. She has no idea how she came to be, what her name is, or why she is different from the village folk who come to her for salves, remedies, and healing. Flowers and vines grow in her hair and she uses them to help makes medicines for the nearby village folk and at the end of every month she pulls them all out of her hair and makes a tea for the wizard. As the story progresses she starts to wonder more about her existence and tries to get her friends, some forest animals (yes she can talk to animals as well), to explain to her the ways of the world and why she has to serve the wizard the way she does but they can't remember anything about their past or future existence either. The story takes an interesting turn when a night enters the forest trying to seek treasure at the heart of the Tanglewood, when he is badly injured Hannah (what the young healer has taken to calling herself) restores his health and starts a quest to find out what the true meaning of her life is.
It's a beautifully written story and you can't help but sympathize with poor Hannah as she tries to find out what her purpose is. It is a cute and easy adventure and I would highly recommend it to anyone :)
toritoot's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books I wish I had discovered in my youth so I could have loved it for much longer. I would have eaten this story up.
The idea of a heroine with plants magically growing out of her hair that change with the seasons and provide food and healing medicine and are part of a larger magical world around the female lead. Watching as Hannah's journey literally changed the landscape around her, going from drab Winter to crisp Fall to warm Summer to joyous Spring. The magic of the story wove itself into my head and heart and wouldn't let me go.
This is definitely in my list of favorite books of all time.
The idea of a heroine with plants magically growing out of her hair that change with the seasons and provide food and healing medicine and are part of a larger magical world around the female lead. Watching as Hannah's journey literally changed the landscape around her, going from drab Winter to crisp Fall to warm Summer to joyous Spring. The magic of the story wove itself into my head and heart and wouldn't let me go.
This is definitely in my list of favorite books of all time.
ginnikin's review against another edition
2.0
It was fine, no great surprises. The writing was a little flat and a little forced. Oh well.
impreader's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent fairy tale in poetic prose, with a girl at its centre who bends, tholes, grows. Perhaps the language at times caught on itself. But the story, however plain, never lost its presence or charm.
the_daydreamologist's review against another edition
3.0
This would have been a good book except that it was:
1) Too Long For A Tale Where Nothing Much Happens
2) Too Slow ( We Don't Need A Description Of Every Slight Change In The Weather)
3) Too Boring
4)Also, The Ending Was Highly Unsatisfying.
In General, it would have been better if it had been written as a short story .
1) Too Long For A Tale Where Nothing Much Happens
2) Too Slow ( We Don't Need A Description Of Every Slight Change In The Weather)
3) Too Boring
4)Also, The Ending Was Highly Unsatisfying.
In General, it would have been better if it had been written as a short story .
emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood by Meredith Ann Pierce – I think this one was better the second time I read it. The beginning it very slow and menacing, and I had a better appreciation for what was coming the second time. Happy Reading!
yellow_star's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of the best Middlegrade books in my opinion! This book starts with a mystery, then becomes a quest of self understanding. The book was published back when Middlegrade and Young Adult fiction were lumped together so it follows a bit like both age groups of books.
adrienner's review against another edition
3.0
I worked on this book over the past week and a half. It is a fairly short, easy read, as by the description, geared towards teens. I will say I did not necessarily feel like I was reading a book geared towards teens. Sometimes a books is very obviously geared towards an audience that the reader is not a part of, and I did not feel like that at all with this novel.
This is a fun read, albeit a bit predictable. The writing was superb, and I think a little more elegant than most teen novels have. I highly recommend this book to teenage and adult readers.
This is a fun read, albeit a bit predictable. The writing was superb, and I think a little more elegant than most teen novels have. I highly recommend this book to teenage and adult readers.