The Otherwoods

by Justine Pucella Winans

A Stonewall Honor Winner
Indie Next Pick
PW Best Book of the Year
Booklist Editor's Pick

The Otherwoods is calling. And it won't be ignored.

Some would call River Rydell a 'chosen one': born with the ability to see monsters and travel to a terrifying spirit world called The Otherwoods, they have all the makings of a hero. But River just calls themself unlucky. After all, it's not like anyone actually believes River can see these things-or that anyone even believes monsters exist in the first place. So the way River sees it, it's better to keep their head down and ignore anything Otherwoods related.

But The Otherwoods won't be ignored any longer.

When River's only friend (and crush) Avery is kidnapped and dragged into The Otherwoods by monsters, River has no choice but to confront the world they've seen only in their nightmares-but reality turns out be more horrifying than they could have ever imagined. With only their cat for protection and a wayward teen spirit as their guide, River must face the monsters of The Otherwoods and their own fears to save Avery and become the hero they were (unfortunately) destined to be.

Justine Pucella Winans will have you cowering and cackling as you follow River's reluctant hero's journey, perfect for fans of Doll Bones, Ghost Squad, and Too Bright to See.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Horror, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Audiobook

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Justine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a critically acclaimed and award winning author of queer fiction. They have written a variety of funny and/or scary books across age ranges, receiving accolades such as a Stonewall Honor, Indies Introduce, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and multiple starred reviews. When not writing, she can be found taking too many photos of her cats, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, actively avoiding real life scary situations, and working their true goal of becoming a Pokémon trainer.

Reviews

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

nb main character in a middle grade horror? yessss.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid middlegrade horror. I had a lot of fun with this and I thought River was a great MC. I just don't think this book will be super memorable for me.

[alaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didn't even move once while reading it because it was SO ADDICTIVE!! love love love

[Ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Otherwoods follows non-binary protagonist, River, who can see all of the horrible monsters (even the ones under their bed) as they brave the monstrous "Otherwoods" to rescue their crush who was taken to lure River in.

Kudos to River for being one of the first protagonists in a book who goes on a big adventure to pack things that would actually be useful! Like toilet paper!

This book did a good job of portraying the way deadnaming hurt River, but never actually told us their dead name. I always appreciate stories with trans characters where they are never deadnamed and the author finds a way around having to tell the audience.

I think this is good rep and I'm glad we're getting more diverse stories with non-binary characters, but for me this was just kind of bland. I can't quite put my finger on why exactly, but I think it was just missing some more in depth detail.

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

[Lyra van der Berge · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 - A book with great representation and character growth albeit a somewhat lacklustre and predictable story. Still charming and a lovely MG read. I love that River's assigned sex/gender at birth nor their deadname were ever revealed. The pain that not being seen or believed by those around them caused River, both in relation to their gender identity and magic, was very clearly shown.

As a sidenote, reading through others' comments I was shocked to see someone assign River binary pronouns and complain that use of they/them pronouns disrupted the flow of the text and detracted from River's story. Being non-binary is not a choice and singular they has always existed - I sincerely hope that anyone feeling similarly to this reviewer reflects on what might be causing them to feel uncomfortable with they/them pronouns. They're perfectly grammatically accurate and honestly, the more they are used, the more people will get used to them without feeling that their sense of grammar "disrupts" anything. Also it's not "preferred pronouns" people, it's just pronouns.......

Signed, an agender they/them user who shares River's pain at being misgendered and deadnamed.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really loved the protagonist and the voices for all the characters, but something in the pacing left me feeling like I wished the spirit world(s) were a bit more fleshed out, and that we got a bit more growth out of River that built over the course of the book as opposed to landing all at once. That said, super charming story, and I am a bit misty thinking about how readily accessible books with nonbinary protagonists are.

[Shu Wei Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am starting to really adore middle grade horror, especially when authors compassionately but heartbreakingly portray how often the opinions and feelings of children are neglected by adults.

[Miss Syreena]

Cute middle grade adventure featuring an NB protagonist.

[charlotte, · Rating 3 out of 5]

read my review on reads rainbow

Rep: nonbinary mc, Mexican American sapphic li, lesbian side character

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 Stonewall Honor Book for Children’s Literature

Must admit I am not enjoying this book. I’m usually very open to most genres. However I don’t enjoy scary, and non-binary River Rydell’s life is one of unmitigated terror. His parents love him, but don’t understand that he can see monsters and spirits trying to lure him into the Otherwoods. Only when monsters kidnap his new friend Avery does River get up the gumption to go and rescue her, aided by his cat Mr. Fluffy Pancakes.

The constant use of River’s preferred pronouns, they/them, actively disrupts the flow of the narrative. I don’t know how to solve that problem, but know that it distracts my attention and focuses it on non-binary rather than a middle schooler trying to confront their fears and nightmares rather than ducking their head and trying to be invisible, unnoticed.
Yes, every child needs to see themselves in the books they read, and adolescence is the really rough journey of self discovery, but The Otherwoods doesn’t work for me. I hope it does for preteens on the their journeys.

[lyraand]

"Pitched as Too Bright to See meets Doll Bones, the middle grade novel follows River, who can see monsters and enter a spirit world called The Otherwoods—but would rather avoid both at all costs. When their crush is kidnapped and taken to the Otherwoods, River must face their fears and find the confidence to believe in themself in order to save her."

[seasalted.citrus (Topaz, Oliver) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will be marking this as 4.25 stars in StoryGraph. “The Otherwoods” is my second middle grade book (that I’ve read outside of elementary/middle school, lol), and I couldn’t have wished for a better experience!! I loved Justine Pucella Winans’ YA debut, “Bianca Torre Is Afraid Of Everything”, and this was no different. This was a blast. Dare I say that MG fantasy suits Winans’ writing style a lot more than I expected it to?!? River was a nonbinary protagonist that, while not an exact reflection of my personality from around their age, I wish I got to have when I was younger, and I really rooted for because Winans has a knack for writing anxious enby kids god bless. Their dynamic with Xavier was super cute, I thought their accidental “found family” relationship was earned, and I’m still in a little pain from that twist oof!

Also, (MR FLUFFY) PANCAKES <3!!! I already love cats, but I’m glad that we got to have an alive emotional support one for the duration of this eerie story. The way he was in-tune with River’s emotions, but also realistically catlike in his own wants/goals sometimes, reminded me of my own cat. (Sadie dearest, that’s why I’d put down my book just to pet you more times than the usual)

And as a fantasy, I can totally see the target demographic (middle schoolers and older elementary schoolers) eating this up! I love the descriptions for each fantastical part of The Otherwoods, and as an adventure with some creepy parts to it(not anything *scary*, but the Centertrees were a little horrifying!!), this was fun enough that I whizzed through the pages past the first quarter. That first 25% is a little rough because of all the gaslighting. (The consequences of being the only kid to see spirits and monsters…)

If you’re into middle grades and you like casual queer rep PLEASE check this one out!!

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dig this cover so much. And I have so many ideas of ways to booktalk this plot.

River can see monsters. Monsters that are invisible to most people. River can see them, but through trial and error, they've learned that if they show the monsters that they can see them, the monsters then gain the ability to touch them, to hurt them.
So River has to ignore the monsters. Hide their fear and feelings about being surprised by the sight of terrifying grotesque creatures everywhere they go. That no one else can see.
Lately, River has been seeing portals open up to the place the monsters come from. And one day, something terrible happens, and River has to go into one of those portals.

Creepy, heartfelt, magical cat. Nonbinary allegory and queerness. Very good yes please.

[Natalie Sypeck]

Audiobook; DNF at 37%

Very disappointed that this didn't work for me. I was so excited to read a spooky middle grade with a non-binary MC. Unfortunately, I just felt this story dragged. I didn't feel any desire to pick up the book after putting it down. I didn't click with the MC and not even the cat could increase my interest in the story. I figured once they entered the Otherwoods things would pick up. But everything felt a little flat.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this spooky, queer, supernatural middle grade because I’m taking over our Tween Book Group at work. I enjoyed the way River’s identity and insecurities were explained for readers & the idea of River being a reluctant hero. So curious to find out what the kids thought tomorrow!

[Jordan Justice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book started strong but got pretty, meh? over the rest of it. Loved River over coming their fear throughout the journey, but would almost give it 2.5 stars if it weren’t for our kids getting such a kick out of Mr Fluffy Pancakes (River’s cat who tags along).

[Lizzy (reviewsshewrote) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved River, loved the adventure and world building, loved the message, just wanted a bit more ~feeling~, more oomf

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: Transphobia and misgendering (non-specific)

[Brandi Rae Fong]

Solid fantasy with portals, monsters, a nonbinary main character and a sidekick cat named Mr. Fluffy Pancakes. Hand to kids who like their scary stuff on the lighter side.

[Mercy Nurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so wholesome, omg.

[Birdie Schae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justine Pucella Winans is one of the best children's authors out there and I will die on that hill

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley provided me a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but I ABSOLUTELY requested an ARC of this solely on how amazing the artwork is. I got immediate Alice's Adventures in Wonderland vibes and was not disappointed.

Not only is this a spooky riff on the traditional Alice story, but our MC is non-binary. Oh, and can see monsters and spirits even though nobody believes them. Including one named Charles that lives under their bed and may or may not be trying to kill them.

It sounds ridiculous, I know--but there is a great balance of absurd and scary in this story. Honestly my only complaint is mostly due to the intended audience, but middle grade readers won't notice or care about some of the things I questioned as a adult reader...things that just didn't make sense and needed more explanation.

But the pacing is frantic and there are plenty of hold-your-breath moments--not to mention a grumpy-but-heroic cat named Mr. Fluffy Pancakes.

[KatieLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

a gently spooky book that follows 12-year-old River Rydell and their terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. they can see spirits (human ghosts ofc but also horrifying spectral critters) and have been able to since they were a little baby. unfortunately, nobody has ever believed them, so as they grew up they got better at pretending like nothing was there.

The Otherwoods (capital The) is an alternate(?) world where magic lives. it overlaps our own and is also full of monsters. portals to this world frequently open up around River to try to tempt them through, but they've been dodging this persistent invite since they were a toddler so they're quite adept at it. they don't interact with the spirits at all because Anxiety but they especially don't interact with the monsters. if monsters know you can see them they can touch you, which really is a horrible loophole.

River is somewhat of a loner at school, both because they struggle to hold 'normal' conversation (try to imagine how distracting it would be to watch an enormous wet slug monster go creepy-crawling behind someone you were chatting to) and because there's a homophobic teacher who refuses to use River's correct pronouns and name. they're quiet and frequently withdrawn but for the exception of one girl: Avery Davis, who corrects said teacher repeatedly and is friendly with River no matter what.

very, very slowly, they start becoming actual friends. Avery is pan and wants River's advice on how to come out to her parents; River just really wants a friend who doesn't think they're a freak. unfortunately, Avery gets yoinked by a monster and dragged through one of The Otherwoods portals, and River has no choice but to nut up or shut up. after packing a bag, saying goodbye to the (literal) monster under their bed, and tucking their cat Mr. Fluffy Pancakes under their arm, they venture into The Otherwoods to see about bringing Avery home.

the aesthetic vibes of this book are top-notch and I loved the visuals I was getting for the inhabited parts of The Otherwoods. Pancakes served as much needed comic relief and River themself was a superb mc. Winans has got a great handle on the "anxious loner kid" character and did phenomenal work with River. I think this book will make a great recommendation for younger audiences looking for "scary" books but not wanting something as scary as Stine or Scary Stores to Tell in the Dark. I look forward to reccing this book out to patrons very soon 😊


4.5, rounding up

rep - nonbinary (they/them) mc, pansexual love interest
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc ✨

[ferdi &#x1f349; · Rating 2 out of 5]

alright time to do what I do best and leave a terrible review on a seemingly harmless book.

*sigh*

this book was actually super interesting in the beginning and had me invested to the point where i refused to sleep in order to get far enough into it. the fact that the main character is trans/nonbinary was what initially caught my eye, followed by the description of the "other woods" and this MC who could see them and talk to them—like that was so cool. if i had read a middle-grade book like this one back when I was in middle school, i would've been elated as a kid who was still figuring out their gender identity. so im glad that representation in media like this exists right now so others get that sort of opportunity. sadly, though, this book really sucked.

maybe it's because middle-grade is just not the genre for me or maybe it's the author's clunky writing, unnecessary descriptions, and their lack of consistency. the plot felt linear right at the beginning but soon delved into a pot of ideas that the author seemingly didn't know what to do about. it's like they had way too many ideas, but not enough time or space to develop them. they introduce us to this super cool magic system with various worlds and creatures and then they leave it at nothing. like straight up nothing. no explanations, no meeting these other creatures, no nothing. we dont even get to see river's magic, only at the very freaking end. there was also a line in the book that was never explained about river's magic and the author just left it as a loose-end. and i dont know, it feels like the author is really underestimating their own target audience.

anyway, aside from that, the author tried wayyyy too hard to make this "realistic" and there was an uncomfortable amount of times where the MC's body fluids and excrement were...everywhere. let's be honest, nobody rlly cares abt that. if the MC is fighting monsters and trying to save their friends, trust me, nobody cares or wants to read a description of them going to a tree in the woods and taking a shit on the ground. like sorry, this is a fantasy book, let's keep the fantasy element that nobody actually goes to the bathroom or gets scared shitless during a fight to the point where they piss themselves.

this book had a lot of potential, but the author was weird and tried too hard. if this had gotten fleshed out into several books, maybe it would have been better, but since this is a standalone...well, yeah. 2/5 stars.

oh also, that was the most underwhelming and predictable plot-twist of the century. everybody saw it coming from the very beginning. again, i feel like the author is just underestimating their target audience at this point.

[Raaven&#x1f496; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved Justine’s debut book and was so excited to read this one. I’m not one for middle grade books but this one was actually super interesting and had my attention the whole time. I even wanted to shed a tear or 2 at the end. More and more middle grade books are coming out that explore gender identity and I’m so glad that trans kids are getting more representation. I feel like now more then ever it’s so important.
Justine’s brand of humor is great and they have the “awkward loner kid” character down perfectly. Bianca and River both resonated with me.

Of course my favorite character was Pancakes. He’s so cute on the cover! I loved him! I also really loved River. Every character tugged at my heart honesty. I feel like these books are so good because I would have loved to have had them when I was in middle school. I would have loved to have a friend like River and a book like this where I could see different types of kids being the hero for once. The subtle horror would have also held my attention when I was a kid. I also got heavy Studio Ghibli vibes from the spirit world scene which Justine told me was a heavy influence for them. I loved that!

I think that everyone who has been different and wanted to see themselves as the hero should check this book out. Even if you aren’t a middle schooler, the themes are very relatable for all ages. I highly recommend this to all readers!

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun Middle Grade Fantasy. I enjoyed following River on their adventure through a creepy world filled with monsters. This one is perfect to read around Halloween.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.

[Rebecca Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Otherwoods" is a captivating fantasy novel centered around River Rydell, a young person born with the unique ability to see monsters and access a terrifying spirit world known as The Otherwoods. While some might consider River a 'chosen one' destined to be a hero, River feels more unlucky than special, especially since no one else believes in the existence of these monsters.

River tries to ignore their connection to The Otherwoods, keeping their head down to avoid unwanted attention. However, their life takes a dramatic turn when their only friend and crush, Avery, is kidnapped and taken into The Otherwoods by monsters. With no one else to turn to, River is forced to confront the reality of this nightmare world. Accompanied only by their loyal cat and guided by a wayward teen spirit, River must face the terrifying creatures of The Otherwoods and their own fears to rescue Avery and possibly embrace their destiny as a hero.

I genuinely enjoyed "The Otherwoods." The plot is well-constructed, with a resolution that feels satisfying and not overly fantastical. The characters are well-developed, making it easy to invest in their journeys and struggles. River's experience with The Otherwoods and the challenges they face are compelling and well-written, keeping the story engaging from start to finish.

While there is some discussion of gender identity and sexuality, which may be considered a bit heavy-handed at times, it is handled in an age-appropriate manner that adds depth to the characters and their experiences. This aspect of the story enriches the narrative, making it relatable and meaningful for readers.

Overall, "The Otherwoods" offers a well-rounded fantasy adventure with a strong emotional core. It's a story about facing fears, embracing one's identity, and discovering the strength to become a hero, even when it feels like the world is against you.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I selected this book because it's a Rhode Island Middle School Book Award nominee for 2025. I listened to the audiobook.

I disliked this from the beginning. I only kept with it because I thought, at first, that it was a "me" problem. The story is told from the first-person POV of a nonbinary middle schooler, and I struggled with the first-person plural pronouns in the storytelling and need to get used to this.

That wasn't the issue. The writing is just not good. There are two climactic sections toward the end that read pretty well, and some of the dialogue is decent. Otherwise, it reminded me quite a bit of the writing my children did for NaNoWriMo in 7th grade. Take for example that the woods are populated with terrifying monsters of all sorts. They are referred to solely as "monsters" repeatedly. Over and over. Nothing more creative. Just monsters.

I enjoy horror as a genre and did not find this successful. There wasn't really a psychological aspect. It didn't build. It didn't have a point. All of a sudden a grotesque, unnecessarily frightening description of a thing would appear.

I genuinely can't tell if the Otherwoods (the book, the place) is meant to be a metaphor. I waffled on this. The protagonist's special identity as having some magic power definitely can be read as a metaphor for their queer identity, but if so, it's not a positive one.

This was a hate read from beginning to end.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Otherwoods is an incredibly engaging novel about a young person, River, who, in addition to trying to navigate the world as non-binary, also sees monsters....and spirits. For most of their life, River has been trying to avoid the portals that would suck him to a place where spirits and monsters rule supreme. Up until now, they have been successful in avoiding being drawn into these portals, steering away from any place that looks weird and definitely doesn't acknowledge or making eye contact with any spirits or monsters at school or at home, which is almost impossible to do when one of them lives under your bed. When River's crush gets sucked into a portal and "the Otherwoods", River has to be brave and enter a world they have been spending their entire life trying to avoid.
I found this novel almost allegorical, with the Otherwoods representing the real world filled with the "monsters" our LGBTQIA2S+ young people face. The character of River, their fears hurts, and loneliness creates empathy in the reader, and one can't help but root for River's defeat of not only the monsters but their insecurities.
An important addition to any middle school library and classroom.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Children's and Netgalley for the free copy.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulously spooky middle grade story and a perfect back-to-school read! River is just trying to survive the school year...and the monsters that lurk everywhere from under their bed to the woods in town that no one else can see. When their new friend (and potential crush!) is captured, River must decide whether facing their greatest fears and becoming the hero they never imagined is worth risking their own life to save someone else. What follows is a thrilling, scary, and at times laugh-out-loud quest full of spirits, monsters, and the true heroes of our world--cats. Justine Pucella Winans has crafted a classic middle grade horror that delves into our greatest fears about death, loneliness, and the unknown in a fresh way that also examines gender and what it means to belong and be understood for who you are. Make sure you are sitting down for that third act! I was not ready for the twists and turns this fantastic tale took! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this chance to read early. Highly recommend!