By Eliza Wass (author)
Paperback Print on Demand / Special Order £7.99 £7.19
View All Editions (1)
May 2016 Debut of the Month Haunting coming-of-age page-turner about 16 year-old Castley’s battle to break free from her father’s repressive religious mania.
The five Cresswell siblings and their broken, doll-like mum live in the foreboding shadow of their abusive dad, who uses God as a weapon of control and has brought them up to believe that they’re “the only pure people left on earth”. The family live deep in the woods, physically and ideologically isolated from the outside world, which, their father preaches, is not the real world. According to him, the sooner they’re all in heaven, the better.
Although their father considers school to be for the wicked, he’s obliged to send his children, and it’s there that Castley’s life begins to change. At school, her mind, body and soul are awakened to real-life revelations, like “the freedom of living inside a kiss”.
She realises that “sometimes you need other people to taste the stars”, and longs to live as a normal teenager who hangs out with friends and wears cutoff jeans. Then, as Castley’s world opens up, so her father’s fervor to reach heaven escalates, and she must summon the strength to be true to herself and fight back. ~ Joanne Owen
Castley Cresswell is sixteen. She lives with her three brothers and two sisters in a big house in the woods. Her mom doesn't speak and her dad keeps telling her that God hates the world.
Read the full description
Castley can't bring herself to hate the world. She likes the woods, for one thing. School can be fun, sometimes.
And then there's boys. God definitely hates fun and boys. Castley loves her brothers and sisters, too.
Even if they annoy her. Even if they are scared to death of Father. Even if they're too scared to run.
Father wants Castley and her siblings to stay in the family forever. And he'll do whatever it takes to keep them there, even if it means the Cresswell kids never get to grow up at all ...What if survival means Castley must leave her brothers and sisters behind?
'Haunting, unexpected, beautifully written. One of the best books I've read this year.' -- Louise O'Neill
Eliza Wass is a freelance writer, editor and journalist. She comes from Southern California, where she was one of nine perfect children with two perfect parents. She has thousands of friends, all of whom either arrive inside dust jackets or post obsessively on Twitter. Eliza spent 7 years in London with the most amazing man in the world, her late husband, Alan Wass of Alan Wass and The Tourniquet, who inspired her to pursue her dreams and live every day of her life.
the best books for teenagers
Castley Cresswell is sixteen. She lives with her three brothers and two sisters in a big house in the woods.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed In the Dark, in the Woods and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
In the Dark, in the Woods features in the following genres: Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Featured Books for Young Adults, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 13+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. Print on Demand / Special Order.
In the Dark, in the Woods was written by Eliza Wass and published by Quercus Children's Books an imprint of Hachette Children's Group
In the Dark, in the Woods has 288 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. Print on Demand / Special Order.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.