*"A captivating, stirring tale of family, friendship, the environment, and our place in the world."--Kirkus (starred review)

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Filled with a compelling mixture of history, mystery, and magic, Robert Beatty's books are loved by readers from 8 to 108.

Grow your middle grade fantasy collection with these best-selling fan favorites:

• Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
• Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty
• If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith
• The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
• The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer