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Elemental beings live within The Crooked Forest, and among the best known are the fairy-like Willow and her fateful canine companion, Sir Gyzmo. When Willow becomes separated from her mother, Luna, following an assault by the sheepherder Aidan, she must find the courage inside to remain compassionate towards others in need as she searches for her loved one. Her compassion becomes especially important in helping Wynter, a woman who marries and then leaves Aidan after she discovers his deceptive nature, and Pickletoe, a stone troll who has trouble associating with other trolls. Drawing on her own experiences, Willow helps several of her newfound friends in The Crooked Forest to seek out their own happiness, getting rewarded for her own efforts in the end.
This fully illustrated tale is sweet and imaginative. Some of the most important lessons it teaches include being respectful of nature, being open and honest with others, and showing compassion and forgiveness even during difficult times. The sheepherder Aidan, for instance, selfishly seeks to drain precious water from The Crooked Forest so he can get viewed as a hero in his hometown of Flowerville but instead gets his community cursed with a severe drought. Later, he lies to his wife, Wynter, about his past and mistreats her, which leads to her leaving him. He winds up alone in the end. In contrast, Willow seeks to be understanding and honest with everyone she comes across and eventually gets reunited with her mother. Such parallels make for a very interesting read.