I am so so so excited to share It Came From the Tress by Ally Russell with you!!! You can check out the full book tour here!
Summary:
The legend of Bigfoot gets a bone-chilling update in this scary story about a young girl and her scout troop who are willing to brave the woods to find her missing friend when no one else will. Perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!
The wilderness is in Jenna’s blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she’s never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don’t believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn’t connecting the dots between Reese’s disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.
When the troop stumbles across suspicious huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie—who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese—believe her?
After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night.
Content Warning: microaggressions, racism
Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound
My Thoughts:
I love reading horror, so I was delighted to discover It Came From the Trees! It Came from the Trees is a middle grade horror, which falls along the line of Goosebumps.
I loved it. I simply loved it. It Came From the Trees is perfect for younger readers who are interesting in spooky stories and older readers who want a fresh take on the nostalgia of Goosebumps. I have been chasing the Goosebumps and Fear Street high since childhood, and Ally Russell delivered.
Russell crafts a tale that is not only spooky, but emotionally complex touching on the horrors that present themselves within our day to day lives. From racist interactions, searching for truth and trust, and coping with the emotions that come with a missing persons case Russell hits on many things that trouble a community beyond a monster. These interactions not only flow wonderfully with the events taking place in It Came From the Trees, but also can offered a great discussion while reading.
Jenna, the main character, is well developed and is a strong character. I enjoyed her journey through the story. I loved that she was scared but tackled this fear. A powerful lesson for young readers.
Something that really makes It Came From the Trees stand out from other young adult/middle grade horror is the articles, blog post, and other media sprinkled throughout the chapters. It adds a modern elements readers can connect to and provides another perspective of the events unfolding. Not only that, but Russell has included all of the elements of a great summer horror: camping, there the unknown of the outdoors, cryptids, missing people, and an amazing lead girlie.
Russel brings the terror of woods to a new generation of readers! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. I cannot recommend It Came From the Trees enough!!!
About the Author:
Ally grew up on a steady diet of Halloween parties, horror films, Unsolved Mysteries, and Goosebumps books. She has always loved scary stories, and got her MFA from Simmons University and, eventually, a job working in children’s publishing. She hails from Pittsburgh—ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Ally lives with her husband and her two black cats, Nox and Fury. She’s afraid of the woods, the dark, and heights. It Came from the Trees is her debut novel.
Lit Lemon Books 