Into the Forest
Into the Forest
Book Brief
193
Novel • Fiction
•
Action & AdventureNorthern California • Near Future
1996
YA
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland is a dystopian novel set in Northern California, where teenage sisters Nell and Eva learn to survive on their own after the collapse of civilization. Through Nell's journal entries, the novel reveals their struggles as they ration food, continue personal pursuits from their former lives, and confront harsh realities, ultimately committing to a sustainable existence in the forest. This book contains instances of physical assault and trauma.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Contemplative
Dark
Hopeful
Reviews & Readership
17,545 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland offers a compelling, atmospheric narrative about survival and sisterhood in a post-apocalyptic world. Critics praise its lyrical prose and emotional depth, while some find the pacing slow and the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it's lauded for its vivid storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
Who Should Read Into the Forest?
A reader who enjoys post-apocalyptic narratives with a deep focus on familial bonds and self-reliance will find Into the Forest by Jean Hegland captivating. Fans of The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler will appreciate its evocative storytelling and exploration of survival and sisterhood.
17,545 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jean Hegland's Into the Forest was first self-published in 1996 before being picked up by a major publisher, marking an unusual but successful path to wider recognition.
The novel was adapted into a film in 2015, starring Ellen Page (now Elliot Page) and Evan Rachel Wood, bringing the book's themes to a broader audience.
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Jean Hegland drew inspiration for the novel from her own experiences living off the grid in the woods of Northern California, which adds authenticity to the story's setting and atmosphere.
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193
Novel • Fiction
•
Action & AdventureNorthern California • Near Future
1996
YA
18+ years
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