What do you think?
Rate this book
Samantha Titan
A story of loss, friendship, and the courage to choose life. Samantha has always stood out—her green hair, mismatched clothes, and quiet defiance make her an outsider. After her father’s death and her mother’s deepening depression, Samantha finds comfort only in her sketchbook… until Harrison arrives.
With mismatched eyes and a secret world hidden in the woods, Harrison shows Samantha a place where they can transform into forest titans—wild, magical beings free from judgment and pain. But suffering from a terminal illness, Harrison’s time is running out, and he offers Samantha a escape into a world beyond illness, or stay and face the life waiting for her.
Poignant and powerful, Samantha Titan is a middle-grade novel about grief, resilience, and the bonds that carry us forward. Perfect for readers who love Katherine Applegate and Kelly Barnhill, this story will linger long after the final page.
With mismatched eyes and a secret world hidden in the woods, Harrison shows Samantha a place where they can transform into forest titans—wild, magical beings free from judgment and pain. But suffering from a terminal illness, Harrison’s time is running out, and he offers Samantha a escape into a world beyond illness, or stay and face the life waiting for her.
Poignant and powerful, Samantha Titan is a middle-grade novel about grief, resilience, and the bonds that carry us forward. Perfect for readers who love Katherine Applegate and Kelly Barnhill, this story will linger long after the final page.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2025
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 15, 2026
"Samantha Titan" is a poignant and emotionally heavy middle-grade novel that explores grief, depression, and the fragile but life-saving power of human connection. It is a story that doesn’t shy away from pain - and because of that, it lingers long after the final page.
Samantha is a girl who has always existed on the margins. With her green hair, mismatched clothes, and quiet defiance, she stands apart from her peers, but it’s the loss of her father and her mother’s deepening depression that truly isolates her. Samantha retreats inward, finding her only solace in her sketchbook and in the walls she builds to keep the world at bay. D. H. Berce captures Samantha’s internal world with remarkable precision. Her thoughts, emotions, and inner conflicts are rendered so vividly that it feels as though the reader comes to know her completely. This deep emotional intimacy is one of the novel’s greatest strengths - and also what makes it such a challenging read.
The arrival of Harrison shifts Samantha’s world. With his mismatched eyes, terminal illness, and secret forest refuge where they can transform into powerful forest titans, Harrison offers Samantha an escape from grief, judgment, and pain. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the story, reinforcing Berce’s central theme: that connection - real, human connection - is what can pull us back from the darkest places. Even amid overwhelming loss and depression, it is the people around us who can save us, if we allow them in.
One of the most striking - and at times unsettling - choices Berce makes is the near-total absence of dialogue from Samantha. People speak to her, but she does not respond aloud; her voice exists almost entirely within her thoughts. This stylistic decision is likely intentional, reflecting how deeply Samantha has buried herself behind emotional walls. While this approach often works - because the reader is so deeply immersed in her inner world - it can also be confusing and emotionally complex, especially for a tween audience. When Samantha opens up to Harrison, it happens largely through emotion rather than words, which feels powerful yet difficult to fully believe at times. It leaves the reader torn between admiration for the bold narrative choice and uncertainty about its effectiveness for younger readers.
The weight of this story cannot be overstated. Because of the deep connection formed with Samantha, her depression and grief feel almost personal, as though the reader is carrying them too. At one point, the narrative becomes so heavy that it raises genuine fear about where the story might lead - particularly the possibility that Harrison might convince Samantha to choose death over life. While the novel ultimately steers away from this outcome, it is a close and nerve-wracking journey to get there.
"Samantha Titan" is powerful, beautifully written, and deeply affecting—but it is also highly triggering. This is not a book that should be handed to a 12-year-old without care, guidance, and thoughtful discussion. Themes of depression, grief, and suicidal ideation require context and support, and this story demands to be read alongside meaningful conversations.
For readers who appreciate emotionally intense middle-grade novels, "Samantha Titan" offers a raw and unforgettable experience. It is a testament to resilience, the courage to choose life, and the bonds that carry us forward—but it is one that should be approached with intention, empathy, and care.
Samantha is a girl who has always existed on the margins. With her green hair, mismatched clothes, and quiet defiance, she stands apart from her peers, but it’s the loss of her father and her mother’s deepening depression that truly isolates her. Samantha retreats inward, finding her only solace in her sketchbook and in the walls she builds to keep the world at bay. D. H. Berce captures Samantha’s internal world with remarkable precision. Her thoughts, emotions, and inner conflicts are rendered so vividly that it feels as though the reader comes to know her completely. This deep emotional intimacy is one of the novel’s greatest strengths - and also what makes it such a challenging read.
The arrival of Harrison shifts Samantha’s world. With his mismatched eyes, terminal illness, and secret forest refuge where they can transform into powerful forest titans, Harrison offers Samantha an escape from grief, judgment, and pain. Their bond becomes the emotional core of the story, reinforcing Berce’s central theme: that connection - real, human connection - is what can pull us back from the darkest places. Even amid overwhelming loss and depression, it is the people around us who can save us, if we allow them in.
One of the most striking - and at times unsettling - choices Berce makes is the near-total absence of dialogue from Samantha. People speak to her, but she does not respond aloud; her voice exists almost entirely within her thoughts. This stylistic decision is likely intentional, reflecting how deeply Samantha has buried herself behind emotional walls. While this approach often works - because the reader is so deeply immersed in her inner world - it can also be confusing and emotionally complex, especially for a tween audience. When Samantha opens up to Harrison, it happens largely through emotion rather than words, which feels powerful yet difficult to fully believe at times. It leaves the reader torn between admiration for the bold narrative choice and uncertainty about its effectiveness for younger readers.
The weight of this story cannot be overstated. Because of the deep connection formed with Samantha, her depression and grief feel almost personal, as though the reader is carrying them too. At one point, the narrative becomes so heavy that it raises genuine fear about where the story might lead - particularly the possibility that Harrison might convince Samantha to choose death over life. While the novel ultimately steers away from this outcome, it is a close and nerve-wracking journey to get there.
"Samantha Titan" is powerful, beautifully written, and deeply affecting—but it is also highly triggering. This is not a book that should be handed to a 12-year-old without care, guidance, and thoughtful discussion. Themes of depression, grief, and suicidal ideation require context and support, and this story demands to be read alongside meaningful conversations.
For readers who appreciate emotionally intense middle-grade novels, "Samantha Titan" offers a raw and unforgettable experience. It is a testament to resilience, the courage to choose life, and the bonds that carry us forward—but it is one that should be approached with intention, empathy, and care.
Displaying 1 of 1 review