Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood
	Author:	Pierce, Meredith Ann
	Date Published:	2001
	Genre:	Fantasy
	Grade Level:	6 - 12
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
Dark, deep and mysterious, the Tanglewood rose from the scrub barrens to the north and the moorland to the southeast. A few poor cottars made a meager living in the area, but were ignored by the Tanglewood along with the handful of fisherfolk that dwelled on its western shore. Brown Hannah had dwelt at the verge of the Tanglewood for as long as she could remember, never straying far from the margin of the wood. Occasionally, a few timid souls from the village would visit her at the forest's edge to hurriedly snatch her remedies before hastening away, their luck charms and crossed fingers evidence of their discomfort. Hannah's only real companions were Magpie, Badger, and the fox puppies, all of whom she had known since she could remember. Occasionally, Hannah would spot one of the young knights who would periodically visit the woods looking for the fabulous treasure that was said to lie at the heart of the Tanglewood. They would disappear into the heart of the woods, never to be seen again, apparently victims of the giant Golden Boar that was said to guard the treasure. After awhile, Hannah gave up trying to dissuade them from their helpless task as they never relented, and would often not even listen to her. Once a month, Hannah would pick certain of the blossoms that grew from her hair, and brew a broth. The broth she would then deliver to the wizard who lived in the depths of the wood. He would always tell her not to talk to the folk that came to visit her, nor to give them cures. After all, he said "they're witless brutes." But, Hannah was a generous, caring soul and continued to help the villagers, even though they were unable to even converse with animals. Further, Hannah always refused payment as the woods always provided whatever she needed. One day, however, one of the villagers left Hannah some stores in payment and hurried away despite Hanna's objection that she had no need of them. Hannah was curious about the villagers, the treasure, the young men who disappeared, the Golden Boar, and about her origins. For, no matter how often they tried, neither she, nor any of her companions had any recollection of their beginnings, although occasionally they felt as if there was something familiar, which they should remember. So, Hannah visited the village to return their offerings, and hopefully, to find some answers to her questions. She was met with disappointment and fear by the villagers who asked her to leave them be and return to her wood. Finally she returned to her home. She was late to visit the wizard, and had forgotten to fix his draught. Enraged, he told her the knights who entered his Wood always fared safely on their way and that tales of a Golden Boar were but mere fantasy. Then, he held her down while he viciously pulled the shoots and stalks from her hair despite the obvious pain it caused. "Your own fault. If only you'd culled them before as I'd bidden, you wouldn't be in this misery," he chastised. He fixed the draught himself and drank it straight down. When done, he tossed Hannah the goblet and sent her off. Disoriented and weakened by the pain he had caused, Hannah lost her way in the gathering mist. She soon found herself in a part of the wood where she had never been before. Then, she found a place littered with bones, heaps of gold, precious copper cups with silver and jewels. Huge cloven tracks marred the earth, and skeletons of slain knights and their horses were strewn around. The wizard had lied about the knights. What else had he lied about? Had Hannah found the Treasure at the Heart of the Tanglewood?