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kailey_luminouslibro 's review for:

The Willows and Beyond by Horwood, William Horwood
5.0

The River Bank friends are getting older, and begin to pass the torch to the younger generation. Badger has his long-lost Grandson, Toad has adopted a distant toad cousin from France as his ward, and Mole has his Nephew to carry on the family traditions. Now Rat hears from an old friend from long ago, the Sea Rat, who needs his help, and all Rat's old feelings of wanting to travel and explore the world come back to haunt him. The River itself is undergoing changes as the modern world begins to encroach on the peaceful river banks.

My heart is too full. This book broke my heart! Seeing these dear characters, Mole and Ratty, Otter, Toad, and Badger all getting old and frail was so difficult, but a fitting end to their charming stories. And I loved seeing how they pass on their wisdom to the younger folks, and rejoice to see the young people thriving and carrying on the heritage of the River Bank.

I just adore the writing style, which is so similar to Kenneth Grahame's story-telling style that I can barely tell the difference. It's all old-fashioned charm and grace!

I love the plot and the new stories for all the River Bankers as they navigate through a new set of problems and adventures. Every plot line kept me interested and engaged with the story!

I love this whole series so much!