Susan Murray

A very enjoyable and well written story with a great mixture of interesting characters, dangers, fun and tender moments. A page turner and highly recommended. ARC review. Five stars.

Susan Murray

Julia Moore

Stikki the Squirrel: Tree Spirits

Stikki the Squirrel: Tree Spirits is a story from a different age and another world. From the longlegs of the humans to the Tree Spirits and all the inhabitants of the wild woods – both good and bad, this is an adventure and near disaster for the family of squirrels – Stikki, his partner Rella and their four kits and the support they receive from the animal kingdom, especially from Brodboar, the badger. The two stories concerning the battle to find food and each other in the depths of winter, intertwined with the ups and downs of Sophie and her family as Christmas approaches, demonstrate not only the difficulties faced by both animals and humans but also kindness, care and hope. The mystical, sacred ash tree, central to the woods, brings an intriguing spiritual quality to the development of the story.

The descriptive language will encourage all readers to expand their vocabulary. The simple but very effective and beautifully executed line drawings add to the narrative and are especially helpful for younger readers who will enjoy exploring the story with an adult. 

*This is an ARC free review copy with no obligation to read or review it for the author or publisher.

5 Stars.

Julia Moore.

Rebecca Pells

ARC Review.  This is such a charming book, and although the second in the series it stands on it's own two feet - or should that be paws! I have not read the first book, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment, I was easily able to slip into the beautifully described woodland world of Stikki and his family, friends and foes. The author has managed to create and convey personalities for all the different animal characters, who are delightfully illustrated throughout the book by her own hand. The storylines move at a good pace, carrying a degree of tension, between animals and the 'longlegs' humans, right until the final page.  An entertaining read for children and adults, but also showing the importance of respecting wildlife and how to overcome adversity by working together. A delight to read as an adult and I think this will be a big winner with children! 

5 Stars.

Rebecca  Pells.

Bernard Jan

Winter is not my favorite season. Winter is my most abhorred season. Its coldness, its grayness and lack of color, its cruelty to those who are homeless and have difficulties getting food which jeopardizes their survival. It shows no mercy to human and non-human animals alike. It bares only its white, sharp teeth, ready to dig them into your body and extracts your juices, your life out of you. Like it almost happened to Stikki and Rella, like it happens to many unknown animals not mentioned in this beautiful children story, a successful sequel to Stikki the Squirrel.

The only kind of winter’s beauty I can see in Jane H. Wood’s writing, and not from the reasons mentioned above. Just like in her YA fantastic duology, GoldenEars, beauty of winter lies in those who are willing to risk everything, even their lives, to help those troubled and needed. Friendship, camaraderie, selflessness, and kindness, among other virtues, are the most beautiful winter moments. And what’s even more beautiful is that they are not limited to a certain species, they know no boundaries, they are universal. So is cruelty, true, but Stikki the Squirrel: Tree Spirits is not a story about cruelty of predators to their victims; it is the story of giving, helping, sacrificing, and sharing with other fellow creatures of one big, magnificent family.

I thank the author for letting me read an advance review copy at no cost and with no obligations toward the author, and I also thank her for the gorgeous illustrations which make the story even more appealing and adorable, just like its protagonists are.

5 Stars.

Victoria S. Crosby

Stikki the Squirrel Tree Spirits by Jane H. Wood is a delightful story for the whole family. I enjoyed seeing the character Stikki go from young squirrel in the first book to a father and mate in this family-oriented action story for kids. The adventure that Stikki goes on foraging for food turns into a quest to find the way back home, facing danger and unexpected friends. The author cleverly shows life and priorities from a squirrel’s perspective on everything from birds, foxes, to even humans. The wrap up at the end hints at more adventures to come for Stikki, Rella, and the squirrel children! Enjoyable from start to finish. 

5 Stars.

 

 

K. D. Sherrinford

Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits is the second book in the Stikki the Squirrel Series, written and illustrated by author Jane H. Wood.

The story centres around Stikki, and his friends and family, as the author transports readers back to the magnificent Hazy Hills Wood, to find our intrepid hero and his beloved wife Rella, being pursued by a pack of hungry foxes. The pair have a narrow escape, saved in the nick of time by two longlegs, (humans) twelve-year-old, Sophie and her father Evan Davis.

Unbeknown to Sophie, and her father, their act of kindness has devastating consequences, as Stikki and Rella's Kits are left alone in Hazy Hills Wood to fend for themselves.

Jane Wood's beautiful story is characterised by its lucidity and endearing charm, her wonderful characters such as Stikki, Rella, Brodboar, Cecilpeck, Coppertail and Rosehip, are relatable and extremely well-drawn.

The group of Woodland friends, steadfast in their comradery and endearing love for each other, face adversity and adventures with moral dilemmas that will resonate with readers of all ages, especially children. The tale is beautifully written, crafted with wonderful prose, subtle humour and beautiful illustrations, that bring the characters and settings to life. Any child would be proud to have this book in their collection. I'm buying a paperback copy for my granddaughter Emily, who adores this series.

Highly recommended. It's Five-Stars from me, and Emily.

Judith Thomson

An exciting story that will delight and excite young readers. Beautifully illustrated by author Jane Wood it follows further adventures of Stikki the Squirrel and his little family and tells of what happens when there is danger in the wood and they encounter some longlegs! A thrilling tale your children will love.

Reviewed by Literary Titan

Stikki the Squirrel follows a young grey squirrel who tumbles his way through one adventure after another. The story starts with his birth and early life high in the sycamore tree, then quickly spins into a mix of funny accidents, curious discoveries, close calls, family trouble, and moments of surprising bravery. Stikki explores gardens, meets odd critters, picks fights with birds, gets stuck in nearly everything, battles winter storms, saves his sisters, confronts dangerous cats, and even wanders far past home, where he meets new friends and learns how big and strange the world can be. It’s a lively travelogue of a squirrel who never stops bouncing from one situation to the next...

Read the full review at Literary Titan.

Reviewed by James Murray

Stikki the Squirrel is a heartwarming, wholesome YA adventure story that will appeal to young and old alike. I wish I had this one to read to my grandchildren when they were younger, and I’m sure they would have re-read it after they had mastered that skill themselves.

Stikki is such a mischievous character who gets into trouble often with his inquisitive squirrel nature but has the best luck and skill for surviving those adventures unscathed.

I loved how author Jane Wood used her drawing talents along with her writing skills to illustrate the chapters along the way to enjoy the story even more.

It was interesting how the author brought each animal character to life with their very distinctive personalities, and I loved the imaginative names the author gave to each of the animal characters. The names made me smile and even chuckle at times.

I highly recommend this adventure to stimulate, educate, and entertain the young mind as well us older folks who are still young at heart.

Reviewed by Gail McGuire

A charming adventure. Jane Wood’s stories that take readers into the hearts and minds of animals are not to be missed. I found Stikki’s story that followed him from childhood and time with his sweet family to the wild adventures of him making his way in the wider world to be engaging and charming. The heartwarming tale swept me up and kept me intrigued to the end. The world building immersed me in Stikki’s world and I could picture each vivid scene. Even though the book is aimed at younger audiences it is a delightful read for anyone.

Reviewed by Daisy White, Author.

A delightful little middle grade tale with exquisite illustrations, Stikki the Squirrel will be sure to appeal to fans of Colin Dann and Wilson Rawls. The story follows the seasons and the life of a family of squirrels. Stikki encounters many dangerous and entertaining situations as he grows to adulthood. The author clearly has a great love of nature and animals, and her descriptions are quite beautiful.

Reviewed by Billy Bob Buttons for The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

A sweet, coming-of-age tale of a young squirrel and all the crazy antics he gets up to. There were a number of elements to this smartly plotted story I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, I loved Stikki; he’s so full of energy and so wanting to know what everything is and how everything works, the perfect protagonist for this sort of story. Secondly, there’s a good flow to the writing style; not only that, but the vocabulary is also well-chosen, making this accessible to the reading age. And thirdly, it’s all so very innocent. Yes, there’s danger, but it’s mostly the exciting sort, and nothing too terrible happens. So, if you are a grandparent, parent or school looking for a ‘safe’, classic-feeling chapter book for 7 – 11-year-olds, you can’t go far wrong with Stikki the Squirrel. It’s a fun story filled with all sorts of twists and turns, and I suspect most readers will enjoy getting to know Stikki and rooting for him.

Reviewed by Bernice Leahy

Enchanting Story.

I bought this book and Stikki the Squirrel for my grandchildren and ended up reading them myself after my granddaughter Emily told me how engaging the stories were.

The book is beautifully written; I love how the author effortlessly interacts with the human characters and animals in this enthralling, well-crafted, delightful tale that will entertain adults and children alike.

Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lisa

Gripping Tale of Man and Nature.

An entertaining and page-turning adventure book for all ages. Jane Wood enchants the reader with thrilling, fast-moving scenes and vivid descriptions.

“GoldenEars,” is a fictional “behind-the-scenes” look at the lives of wolf packs. It is made more poignant by experiencing much of the story through the eyes of the animals.

This is a heartwarming and sometimes terrifying story that should open readers’ minds and hearts to the plight of the wolves caught in a continuous vicious cycle as they struggle to survive in a world where humans are encroaching on their territory.

Jane Wood’s brilliant writing kept this reader transfixed and made me acutely aware of the importance of supporting those who are protecting our precious wildlife.

Reviewed by Susanne Perry

GoldenEars is a lovely read geared toward the YA audience. Breaking out of that nutshell, however, let me emphasize the book involves much more than that simple assessment. Well-researched and well-written, the book is the story of a young man named Edmund, trying to find himself and his purpose as young people do. On a weeks-long camping trip in the wilds of Alberta, Canada, Edmund develops an unlikely friendship with a runt wolf pup named Kegg – with odd golden tips to his ears – and it changes his life. One of my favourite aspects of this book is the alternating perspective between the wolves and the humans. Reading in the voices of the pack enriched the story in a brilliant way.

While any YA reader who loves animals and nature will enjoy this book, adult readers will enjoy it too and appreciate the firm stance it takes on nature conservation, wildlife protection, and ecological thinking.

Reviewed by Brigitte Morse-Starkenburg

If you love stories about animals you will absolutely adore this story. You can identify with Edmund as he passionately defends his love for the wolf pup he encountered and has formed an inexplicably strong bond with. Hints of some supernatural influences become clear at the end, which makes the story all the more enticing. Parts of the story were seen through the eyes of the wolves which were my absolute favourite. You really get an insight into their lives and I felt completely invested in their plight and adventures. Great for kids and adults.

Reviewed by Caroline Hurry

Oh my, talk about another gripping instalment! The strong bond between Edmund and the wolf cub Kegg that developed in Whispering Mountain deepens in The Pale Skulls.

Now a full-time ranger, Edmund meets Joe, a Native American who shares his passion and knowledge of wolf legends. Together, they embark on a dangerous, supernatural journey into the wolf’s spirit world.

Author Jane H. Wood weaves suspense, intrigue, and compelling characters into the Canadian wilderness setting, her evocative descriptions with Native American culture, friendship and loyalty, adding a rich layer to the narrative.

Reviewed by Jeanette Taylor Ford

The first book was unexpected, and this one is really exciting, as Edmund first has to rescue the wolves from the murky ‘after life’ and then they have the challenge of how to get rid of the extremely scary ‘Pale Skulls’, which they name the almost invisible but highly dangerous dead-but-not-dead beasts which have escaped when the wolves left the After Life. Think vampire animals here, for that’s how I imagined them, except a bite from one of them meant death from a vicious poison. I found this book to be one that I had to keep reading, and all the time worrying for both people and wolves.

Reviewed by Sherri Moorer

The Pale Skulls have all the elements of a great story: suspense, intrigue, and compelling characters, and even a supernatural element. I especially like how Jane H. Wood focuses on the bonds not only between Edmund and Kegg/GoldenEars, but amongst all of the characters, from family to friendships. This story has wonderful depth that you can take from the book to real-life with you as it helps you to realise that good, pure, balanced relationships are truly the most important thing in life. Plus, you get the added bonus of learning about Native American culture and spirituality from a new friend that Edmund crosses paths with on his journey.

Reviewed by Suzanne Stephenson

While being a fantasy it is sympathetic to wolves in the wild. The main thing to mention is it has a very visual quality. I like books where I can see the adventure as I read them. I think it would make a fantastic fantasy film for young adults if combined with aspects of book one to give it context to the narrative. Read both books…you won’t be disappointed.