This was one of the most amazing journeys I've taken through a book since I stepped through the closet into Narnia back in fourth grade. Well, it was amazing up until the part that I realized the author had fallen in with the crowd and decided to make it A TRILOGY. 
 But I digress. 
 So, the girl's name is Pru. She has a mom and dad and a drooling, but adorable, little brother named Mac. They have lovely times together - up until the point that Mac is swooped upon by a murder of crows and taken off to destinations unknown. 
 Then the ball really gets rolling. 
 To me, Pru was an awesome middle-grade heroine. She's smart, loves her family, and is determined to set things right at all costs. Curtis is your typical, awkward outsider - nerdy and obsessed with his comic book characters, but loyal to a fault...and sometimes, a bit too trusting, but that's another story. (It's also a bit amusing, and kinda cute, to note that Pru and Curtis look awfully like Colin and Carson.) 
 The entire story reads like a blend of all those magical childhood stories and fairy tales (and even a little bit of Robin Hood to sweeten the deal), and a bunch of awesome illustrations that really bring the book to life. At the risk of completely embarrassing myself by overly gushing, this is the type of story I hope that I'll be able to write someday. 
 If my recommendation isn't enough to sell you on this...for all you die-hard Series of Unfortunate Events fans (like moi), Lemony Snicket has a blurb on the back cover. Oh, yeah. You need to read it. 
 And if you're a Narnia purist? If C.S. Lewis were still around, I have a feeling he'd have written a blurb too. 
 Warnings: Some thematic violence...I guess. And maybe a few crude scenarios that come about when a kid is stranded in the woods without any chances of civilization. But nothing too bad, really. 
 Final verdict: Yes. And let's throw in a "gah this is on my wishlist PLEASE GET IT FOR ME" as well. 
 (Also featured here on my blog)