Willow and Twig

Willow and her younger brother Twig (who has hearing loss and developmental delays) have spent their lives in urban poverty, often left alone by their mother. When their mother disappears, they are sent to live with their estranged grandmother in rural Ontario. The story follows Willow as she lets go of her hyper-vigilance and Twig as he flourishes in a stable, nurturing environment. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals directly with parental neglect and abandonment. It is secular in tone and deeply realistic. The resolution is hopeful but honest: the mother does not magically change, but the children find permanent safety with their grandmother. EMOTIONAL ARC: The narrative begins with high tension and a sense of survivalist grit. As the setting shifts to the grandmother's house, the pace slows, mirroring the children's gradual emotional thaw. It ends on a note of hard won stability. IDEAL READER: A 10-year-old child who feels the weight of adult responsibilities or a child in a foster or kinship care situation who needs to see their hyper-awareness validated and eventually eased. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might choose this after seeing a child struggle to 'turn off' their worry or seeing a child act out because they don't believe a new living situation is permanent. PARENT PREP: Parents should be aware of the early scenes of neglect, including the children being left alone in a city apartment. These scenes are essential for the arc but may be intense for sensitive readers. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers (9) will focus on the survival aspect and the change in scenery. Older readers (11 to 12) will better grasp the nuance of the mother's character flaws and Willow's internal burden of caretaking. DIFFERENTIATOR: Jean Little's hallmark is her unsentimental, honest portrayal of disability and 'invisible' children, making this far more grounded than typical 'city kid moves to the country' tropes.