Plot Summary

Into the Forest

Jean Hegland
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Into the Forest

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1996

Book Brief

Jean Hegland

Into the Forest

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1996
Book Details
Pages

193

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Northern California • Near Future

Publication Year

1996

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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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

4.0

17,545 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

4.0

17,545 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

193

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Northern California • Near Future

Publication Year

1996

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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