A review by Holly_Gonzalez

I adore a good Western, and nothing's better than a Western with a speculative twist. I loved "Little House On The Prairie" and many other books set in the Old West when I was young. This was one of the first great Western stories I found here on Wattpad, and I've loved it ever since. 

True Westerns are hard to come by on this site, unfortunately. By a true Western, I mean one that doesn't just take place in an Old West setting, but that brings the era to life in vivid, often gritty detail. "Oakwood Grange" is a YA fantasy/weird western which hails to all of the classic Westerns I remember as a kid, with a dream-like whimsy making it impossible to resist. Readers are quickly drawn in by the realistic yet sensual details of the world, the captivating dialogue and dynamic characters, and the sinister happenings terrifying the citizens of a remote frontier town. "Oakwood Grange" is a unique cross-genre tale, blending magic, faerie lore and mythology, mystery, action, and even horror.

Our heroine is a spunky young girl named Mae, who lives alone with her father, a quiet yet respectable man named Gord. They move onto a new farm called Oakwood Grange, which has been neglected for some time, and are doing their best to fix it up. The story begins with a crisis when their horse Stormy breaks a leg while pulling out a big tree stump. Gord says the horse will have to be put down, but Mae insists they spare him just a while longer. That's when an unexpected and eccentric stranger shows up. A little girl, with no name and no clothing, who speaks of things which at first make no sense to Mae. This child claims that the oak tree Gord chopped down was her home. Given the name 'Autumn',  the young stranger turns out to be none other than a dryad.

Despite her wild wit and ignorance of social propriety, Autumn is a kind sprite who brings new life to Oakwood Grange with her powerful magic, even healing their beloved horse. When children in the nearby town start turning up dead--half eaten at that--Autumn and Mae learn of a riddle which leads them on a fascinating, treacherous quest to find the source of the evil, before it's too late.

What really sets this story apart for me is the imagery, the lyrical quality of the prose, and the lifelike, amusing characters. The writing style has a classic literary feel, attentive to the smallest details of all senses. The characters are interesting and lovable. One of my favorite scenes takes place in the schoolyard, when Autumn 'punishes' a boy for bullying another child.

The words on these pages paint unforgettable pictures in the reader's mind. Though it's written in a way that young readers can enjoy, this book nonetheless contains many intense and even frightening themes which will entertain all ages. It's easy to see why this won a Watty. Do yourself a favor. Curl up by the campfire, and lasso this amazing story. It will take you to another world, thrill you, make you laugh, and maybe even cry. Beautiful and brilliant.