Title: The Crooked Forest: Beyond
Author: Joni Franks
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 979-8-3964-2540-4
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pages: 70
Reviewed by: Ella Vincent

Read Book Review

The Crooked Forest: Beyond is an enchanting story about the inhabitants of a magical
forest. Award winning author Joni Franks has written a book that will delight readers.
The Crooked Forest Beyond tells the story of Wynter, a woman who left Snowdonia to
go to Crooked Forest after her marriage to Aiden ended. While she’s in the forest, she is
saved from a falling tree by Kai, a hare. After eating dinner at the home of Pumpkin
Berry, the fairy, she finds a lucky coin during the Samhain holiday. However, the coin
soon brings her unwanted attention from the Old Mother Troll. Meanwhile, Aidan takes
out his anger at splitting with Wynter on Luna, a little person and her daughter, Willow.
They soon create a family with Sir Gyzmo, a dog that interacts with Old Mother Troll that
changes their fates forever.

The Crooked Forest: Beyond has so many compelling characters that drive the novel.
Wynter is a relatable protagonist that is rebuilding her life after being sequestered in
Snowdonia and feeling betrayed by Aidan. She finds a new chosen family with Luna
and Willow and wants to establish a new identity. Luna and Willow are sympathetic
characters that are welcoming to Wynter and navigate their own troubles with Aidan, the
antagonist that almost broke Wynter’s faith in love and endangers Luna and Willow. The
OId Mother Troll is also a delightfully tricky villain in this book as well.

Franks’ writing is so relatable and mystical at the same time that kids and adults will
love the story. The Crooked Forest Beyond mentions the magical power of mistletoe
along with the realistic problems of loneliness and betrayal. The book is also
interspersed with poems that express the love throughout the novel: “I built a special
place/ in the corner of my heart/Keeping faith that you’ll stay safe/Please stay and don’t
depart.” The illustrations of the characters in the novel are beautiful and add more value
to the novel.

The Crooked Forest Beyond would be best for readers that want to read fantasy novels
about forests like The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis or Uprooted by Naomi Novik.
The book would also be best for readers who want to read about fairies and animals
that have magical powers. Franks’ writing would also be best for readers who want to
read a short novel with a powerful story. The Crooked Forest: Beyond is an unforgettable
novel that will leave readers wanting to return to the magical forest.