Gone from These Woods

Daniel Sartain is a keenly sensitive and mature 11-year-old living in rural Georgia. His youthful and fun-loving Uncle Clay decides Daniel is old enough to learn to hunt rabbits, as well as shake off his vegetarian tendencies. On their hunting trip, though, Daniel accidentally shoots Clay and is traumatized ("I tried to wipe my brain clean. Like my brain was a computer that had nothing but errors"). Daniel is beset with guilt over his role in his uncle's death, and his drunken father's violent behavior doesn't help. As a result of the emotional turmoil, and despite the efforts of his guidance counselor, Daniel contemplates running away, as well as suicide. In this slow-paced but wrenching story about the grueling process of grief and the pain produced from a life ended too early, the dynamics of the Sartain family are well-developed and genuine as a result of Daniel's authentic first-person narration. Statistics about children and gun violence are included in an appendix. Seagraves's debut should leave readers weighing death, guilt and forgiveness. Ages 9â12.

September 1, 2009
Gr 4-6-Daniel's nickname, D-Man, came from his Uncle Clay, who has been more of a father to him than the boy's mean, beer-drinking, cigarette-smoking dad. One fall morning, Clay gives his nephew his Granddaddy's shotgun and they go out to bag a few rabbits. Daniel's queasiness about hunting is embarrassing, so he tries to mask his qualms, and, concentrating only on his relief at escaping detection, inadvertently shoots Clay. The 11-year-old's first-person narrative of the ensuing trauma describes a community doing its best to understand the accident and support the boy, except for his abusive father. Even as his mother, teacher, neighbor, school counselor, and friends attempt to help Daniel return to normal, guilt overwhelms him. Metaphors and similes abound, in fitting with the folksy rural Georgia setting but never outstripping the logical vocabulary of a kid, and giving the narrative a somewhat ordinary flavor despite the horrific events. Understanding or coping with an accidental death is seldom so directly connected to real responsibility or the need to make peace with such a mistake. Seagraves shows the best way for support to be given as well as how hard it is to forgive. These are tough topics to read about, but the book will bring up many discussions. An appendix provides statistics on gun violence and a list of sources to contact for more information."Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, CO"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Though Daniel can't imagine shooting a living creature, he agrees to accompany his beloved uncle Clay on an early morning hunt. A tragic accident ensues, leaving Daniel guilt-ridden and emotionally scarred. Tensions erupt between family members (including Daniel's alcoholic father) and within Daniel himself as he deals with the aftermath. Seagraves's writing is powerful in its depiction of a family in turmoil.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)