Don't Let the Forest In

Andrew is a high school student and artist who creates elaborate drawings to contain the violent, supernatural monsters manifesting in the woods behind his school. His childhood friend, Thomas, remains the only person he trusts, yet Thomas carries his own dangerous secrets tied to the spreading rot of the forest. When the boundary between the sketches and reality fails, the boys must confront physical manifestations of their trauma and co-dependency. The plot tracks their desperate attempt to excise the literal thorns and shadows threatening to consume their lives and their relationship.

Readers of dark young adult fiction who value internal psychological struggle paired with external body horror will find this book captures the intensity of adolescent isolation. It serves those interested in the darker side of devotion and the ways youth use creative outlets to process systemic harm. The audience gains a stark look at the cost of protecting someone from their own self-destruction. The story leaves readers with a graphic depiction of how repressed emotions can physically manifest into a hostile environment that demands a heavy sacrifice to survive.