Wildwood Book by Colin Meloy: Series Order, Age Range and Is It Worth Reading Before the Movie?
The Wildwood book is a 2011 middle-grade fantasy novel by Colin Meloy, lead singer of The Decemberists. It has 85 illustrations made by his wife Carson Ellis. It's the first of three Wildwood Chronicles books, and it’s recommended for ages 9 and up.
LAIKA's stop-motion film of it, from the studio behind Coraline, opened in US and UK cinemas on 23 October 2026. So, if you want to read the books before movies, here's the reading order, who it suits, and how LAIKA's PG-13 film changes the story.
Table of Contents
Wildwood book series in order
The trilogy is finished, so you won't be left waiting for another book.
- Wildwood: 30 August 2011
- Under Wildwood: 25 September 2012
- Wildwood Imperium: 4 February 2014
You can also get all three in a box set (ISBN 9780062465894). The film only covers book one.
What is Wildwood about?
Twelve-year-old Prue McKeel is in seventh grade in Portland, Oregon. One day a murder of crows carries off her baby brother, Mac, and flies into the Impassable Wilderness. That's a magical forest based on Portland's real Forest Park. Prue goes in after him, and her classmate Curtis follows her. Inside they find talking animals, warring factions, bandits and a villain called the Dowager Governess Alexandra.
What age is the Wildwood book for?
The publisher says 9+, and it's generally shelved as middle-grade. It won the 2012 E.B. White Read Aloud Award (Middle Reader, joint winner), and I think it works best as a read-aloud. The vocabulary is rich and the chapters are long.
A note for parents: the film is rated PG-13 in the US for strong fantasy violence, bloody images, suicide-related material, brief partial nudity and language. It also runs 132 minutes. A 9-year-old who loved the book may find the film a lot darker.
Is it worth reading?
For the right reader, yes. Carson Ellis's illustrations are gorgeous, and the world feels handmade in the best way, a bit like Narnia set among Pacific Northwest pine trees. Prue is a brave, stubborn heroine, and I love that.
However, at 541 pages, it's longer than it needs to be. The old-fashioned style is charming at first but can be heavy going for reluctant readers.
If your child likes The Hobbit-style slow-burn adventures, it's a good fit. If they want something fast-paced, maybe not.
Wildwood book vs movie: key differences (spoilers)
These come from book-vs-film breakdowns by The Direct and Books of Brilliance:
- The opening: the film starts with the death of a character called Alexei. The book starts with Prue's everyday life and the kidnapping.
- Curtis: in the book he stays in the forest with the bandits. In the film he goes home to Portland with Prue.
- Alexandra and Mac: in the film, Alexandra lies that Mac is dead. In the book, she promises to search for him herself.
- The ivy: in the book, after Alexandra dies, Brendan takes control of the ivy and orders it to sleep. The film handles this differently.
- The ending: the film is a self-contained story. The book sets up two sequels.
Do you need to read it first? No. But reading the book first means the film's changes won't spoil books two and three for you.
Looking for more read-alouds that look beautiful on the page? Check my Boy, Mole, Fox and Horse review or my 2026 book recommendations, or have a look around Book Blabber.
Have you read Wildwood, or seen the film? Tell me in the comments which one you preferred. Happy reading!
FAQs about Wildwood book
Q. Is Wildwood a book or just a movie?
Wildwood is a book first. Colin Meloy wrote it and Carson Ellis illustrated it, and HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray published it on 30 August 2011. LAIKA's stop-motion film adaptation opened in US and UK cinemas on 23 October 2026. LAIKA optioned the book back in 2011.
Q. How many Wildwood books are there?
There are three books in the complete Wildwood Chronicles trilogy. In order, they are Wildwood (2011), Under Wildwood (2012) and Wildwood Imperium (2014). A three-book box set is also available. The 2026 film adapts only the first book and ends as a self-contained story.
Q. What age is the Wildwood book suitable for?
The publisher recommends it for ages 9 and up, and it's generally treated as middle-grade fiction. It won the 2012 E.B. White Read Aloud Award. The film is rated PG-13 in the US for fantasy violence, bloody images and suicide-related material, so it's darker than the book.
Q. Is the Wildwood movie faithful to the book?
Mostly, but it makes some notable changes. The film opens differently, sends Curtis home to Portland rather than leaving him with the bandits, has Alexandra lie that Mac is dead, and handles the ivy and Alexandra's fate differently. It also ends without setting up the two sequels.
Q. Is Wildwood by the same studio as Coraline?
Yes. LAIKA, the stop-motion studio behind Coraline, made the Wildwood film. Travis Knight directed it and Chris Butler wrote the screenplay. Fathom distributes it in the US, and FilmNation handles international sales.
Q. When is the Wildwood movie releasing in India?
As of 31 October 2026, there's no confirmed India release date or Indian distributor. Disc and digital pre-orders opened on 23 October 2026, but no home release date has been announced. Check the official Wildwood movie website for updates.
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