A review by bunnieslikediamonds
Into the Trees by Robert Williams

3.0

This was inexplicably shelved as YA at the library, and that combined with the first chapters skewed my expectations. It starts out fablelike, with a crying baby who will only stop crying in the deep forest. Sleep deprivation is a strong motivator, so the parents move to an old barn in the woods, and finally get a good night's sleep. As they settle in, we are also introduced to Raymond, a painfully shy giant of a man who works at a nearby farm, and Keith, a low-life neighbour from town. Then a crime is committed. The novel takes a different path, and becomes a bleak drama about four people fighting for their way of life. There is depth to the characters, and an ominous atmosphere that kept me reading. The ending was satisfying and quite hopeful, but I pity the teenager who picks up this gloomy tale.