Blog Tour: Wonder Light by R R Russell Review + Q&A (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 

 January 2014, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 320 pages, Paperback Ebook, Review copy (PDF)

Themes: adventure, false accusations, secrets, unicorns, ponies, getting away from it all, friendship, hot chocolate with cream, love, war

 

Content: some humour, moderate to major peril, tissues needed

Summary from Sourcebooks

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.

Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for “troubled” girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.

Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island’s mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig’s to care for. 

That she needs Twig’s love and protection. Because there’s something out there in the deep, dense shadows that’s hunting for them…

 

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.
Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for “troubled” girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.
A baby unicorn.
Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island’s mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig’s to care for. That she needs Twig’s love and protection. Because there’s something out there in the deep, dense shadows that’s hunting for them…
- See more at: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/wonder-light.html#sthash.w7ZbdfyT.dpuf

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.
Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for “troubled” girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.
A baby unicorn.
Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island’s mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig’s to care for. That she needs Twig’s love and protection. Because there’s something out there in the deep, dense shadows that’s hunting for them…
- See more at: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/wonder-light.html#sthash.w7ZbdfyT.dpuf

Nayuleska's thoughts

The only reason Twig's story doesn't get full marks is because there was a bit too much of a dark undertone to the story. When I think unicorns I think gentle, lovable creatures, not ones who can turnwild and have a taste for killing. Those parts of the book were gruesome and extremely scary. The softer side of unicorns does get some page time - I was captivated by how much Wild/Wonder Light trusts and loves Twig. She is exactly what Twig needed at a time when her family life was wrecked. Through her 4 legged charge Twig regains courage and confidence within herself, she starts becoming someone others want to know. She makes mistakes and gets punished for them in her temporary new home with sumptuous food and delicious hot chocolate with cream.

It was frustrating in a good way that Twig's alleged reason for being sent away was revealed a snippet at a time. I wanted to know what she did from the start, and got more into the story the madder I got about not knowing. The relationships that Twig develops with Mr and Mrs Murley is touching, as is her friendship with little Casey which made me go aww in several places, and laugh a lot when Casey had to lie for Twig and the lie was inventive!

I hope that later books touch more on what life was like for Twig when she was with her mother, as it's an intriguing part of her life. At the moment I'm honestly not sure I will read any further books, as I feel life is going to get darker rather than lighter for Twig, and although there are odd moments of humour there aren't enough to balance out the dark side of the novel which is too much for me at the moment. That was how I felt at the end of book one, but I forgot the dark parts and happily read book 2 which is ACE & is being reviewed here as part of a blog tour on May 12th! So do check it out. 

You can find out more on R R Russell's website.

Suggested read

For more stories about a girl who raises a pony from a foal check out Katy's Wild Foal by Victoria Eveleigh (Children's, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

Questions & Answers with R R Russell!  

 

Nabbed from R R Russell's website

It is with great pleasure that I can present the Q&A I did with R R Russell which gives a little more insight about Wonder Light and glorious hot chocolate! Thank you R R for creating such a fun series which I'm sure many will enjoy.

Nayu 1) I have a preconceived idea of unicorns as being loving, gentle creatures. Wonder Light explores the possibility that they aren't exactly like that - can you tell us about your decision to write about them in such a way?  

R R Russell: Well, for one thing, what’s an adventure story without danger? Howling creatures lurking in the woods! Battle! But on a more serious note, I wanted this book to be more than just a fun book about unicorns. I enjoyed exploring the capacity for change in my characters—change for the better as well as change for the worse. I felt that Twig could really learn something about herself as she discovered how the violent herd on Lonehorn Island had changed, and as she dared to hope that even they could become the beautiful creatures they were meant to be again. The herd’s story is one of the parallel stories of redemption in Wonder Light. 

Nayu 2) Twig and the rest of the gang aren't exactly 100% balanced teens. What gave you the idea to create the island retreat as a place filled with love and hard work? 

Twig’s character and the idea of an isolated island—with the last herd of wild unicorns—came to me before the ranch and the foster family, the Murleys. I soon realized that Twig needed people who she learned to love, people she’d be driven to protect. The Murleys, the ponies, and the girls of Island Ranch were just what Twig needed. 

Nayu (possibly the most important question of them all!) 3) As a hot chocolate fan I have to ask - is the hot chocolate with cream based on a specific type in real life? I kept waiting to see it appear in Twig's life after she first has it!  

R R Russell Yes! All you need for delicious homemade hot chocolate is hot milk, baking cocoa, and sugar. You can also add a drop of mint, orange, or raspberry flavoring. My kids are hot chocolate connoisseurs. They’ve created all kinds of yummy concoctions. Of course, they always top theirs with whipped cream. Sometimes they add peppermint marshmallows instead of sprinkles. 

Nayu 4) Any hints as to what's in store for book 2, due out in May (with a review and stop on your tour here on NRC!)  

R R Russell: Adventure, treachery, secrets, and giant swamp lizards! Here’s a link to a sneak peek: 

Nayu 5) Is there any particular food/drink you like to have when working on a novel? 

R R Russell COFFEE! And M&M’s. Pretzel M&M’s, coconut M&M’s, mint M&M’s, orange M&m’s…do you think they’re looking for a spokesperson? Nayu: Probably not, but I wish they did for Lindt!! Never tried all those M&M's flavours, sound delicious!