Don’t Let the Forest In

Gr 9 Up–Returning to Wickwood Academy isn’t easy, but it’s the only choice Andrew has, because that’s where Thomas is. Thomas doesn’t know how Andrew really feels about him, but that’s no matter—there’s absolutely nothing Andrew wouldn’t do for him, anyway. NOTHING. Andrew’s twin sister, Dove, was also close to Thomas until last year’s mysterious happenings; her current distance is unfathomable and weighing on Andrew, but he can’t seem to find a way to get close to her. Andrew discovers that Thomas’s haunting illustrations, inspired by Andrew’s own darkly fantastic stories, seem to be triggering something monstrous in the off-limit woods behind the academy. Despite knowing better, Andrew can’t help but follow Thomas into a dangerous, violent battle with forces neither of them really understands and the highest stakes imaginable. In the darkness, ink and blood are increasingly hard to tell apart, and the lines between the boys’ imaginations and reality are, too. This psychological struggle between variations on sanity will have readers on the very edge of their seats all the way through. Beautifully emotional despite much physical and mental brutality, Drews’s debut skillfully touches on asexuality, eating disorders, abuse, various mental health conditions, grief, and more. Clearly rendered characters with intense, explosive feelings navigate a creatively violent scenario; impossible to look away from.