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Alone in the Woods
From the author of The Disaster Days comes a thrilling survival story, and lost in the woods children's book, about two former best friends who must work together to stay alive after getting lost in a remote national forest. Jocelyn and Alex have always been best friends…until they aren't. Jocelyn's not sure what happened, but she hopes the annual joint-family vacation in the isolated north woods will be the perfect spot to rekindle their friendship. But Alex still isn't herself when they get to the cabin. And Jocelyn reaches a breaking point during a rafting trip that goes horribly wrong. When the girls' tube tears it leaves them stranded and alone. And before they know it, the two are hopelessly lost. Wearing swimsuits and water shoes and with only the contents of their wet backpack, the girls face threats from the elements. And as they spend days and nights lost in the wilderness, they'll have to overcome their fractured friendship to make it out of the woods alive. Praise for The Disaster Days : "A realistic, engrossing survival story that's perfect for aspiring babysitters and fans of John Macfarlane's Stormstruck! , Sherry Shahan's Ice Island , or Wesley King's A World Below ."― School Library Journal "The strength of this steadily paced novel that stretches over four days of a scary disaster scenario is that Hannah doesn't figure everything out; she stumbles, doubts, and struggles throughout it all."― The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Fans of survival thrillers in the vein of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet will enjoy this tense, honest tale of bravery...an excellent (and refreshingly not didactic) teaching tool on natural-disaster preparedness."― Booklist "The relentless progression of a variety of disaster scenarios will keep readers turning pages...equally suspenseful and informative."― School Library Connection "Behrens uses immersive details and situations effectively viewed from Hannah's perspective to create a suspenseful, vivid story filled with lessons about responsibility and overcoming adversity."― Publishers Weekly Alone in the Woods is a perfect…
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
49 people are currently reading
749 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Behrens
6 books143 followersRebecca Behrens is the award-winning author of three critically acclaimed middle-grade novels that explore famous historical figures and fascinating places: When Audrey Met Alice, Summer of Lost and Found, and The Last Grand Adventure. Her thrillingly realistic survival story The Disaster Days is a Junior Library Guild selection, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and an ILA Teachers’ Choices selection. Her latest middle-grade adventure, Alone in the Woods, is now available. Rebecca grew up in Wisconsin, studied in Chicago, and now lives with her husband in New York City. You can visit her online to learn more about her books at www.rebeccabehrens.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
October 7, 2020
10/06/2020:
HAPPY PUB DAY! What better way to pass the time in quarantine than reading about getting lost in majestic forests from the comfort of your own home?
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5 stars!
The last time I read a middle-grade survival story was probably Hatchet when I was eleven. Mind you, I really enjoyed Brian's tale—but when I heard about Alone in the Woods, which is about two girls in the midst of a best-friendship-breakup, I was PSYCHED.
Jocelyn and Alex have been best friends their whole lives—until Alex comes back from Spanish camp a totally unrecognizable person. Joss hopes that their families' annual trip to the Northwoods of Wisconsin will be a chance for them to finally figure out what went wrong... Instead, the two friends find themselves lost, alone, hungry, and hurt in the depths of a national forest.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
Alone in the Woods is mostly from Jocelyn's POV in the present day, though a few chapters take place in Alex's head and reveal how the two best friends grew apart. For most of the Jocelyn chapters, I was SO frustrated with how vapid and shallow Alex is: she brings a bag full of makeup when they go tubing, and, at one point, douses herself in mango-scented body spray because it'll "warm her up." As Joss tells it, Alex is more preoccupied with her (broken) cellphone and (chipped) pedicure than with staying alive. Alex whines and pouts and essentially does everything she can to thwart Joss's common sense.
...What???
It felt totally incongruous with the person that Alex is in her own chapters—someone imperfect, but still funny and vibrant. In Jocelyn's chapters, Alex seems unnecessarily (and disbelievingly) petty and superficial, to the point of risking their wellbeing.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
That being said, I thought Alone in the Woods still told a story about friendship I don't see represented nearly enough: that of friends outgrowing each other, and learning to change and adapt—even if that means letting each other go. The ending was particularly bittersweet for me, enough to redeem my previous frustrations with Jocelyn and Alex.
I also loved Rebecca Behrens's descriptions of the Northwoods. Jocelyn's filled with tidbits of ecological knowledge, from the behaviour of wolves and bears (which our protags encounter!!) to symptoms of poison ivy and hypothermia. She can tell you how to remove ticks in your skin, and that you should build a cairn—mound of stones—to mark places you've been.
This book evoked in me that sense of awe unique to vast forests—clearings and thickets filled with moss-covered trees, threaded through with rivers and rapids, and populated by bobcats and eagles and snails.
Frankly, it makes me want to visit the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. And when I do—I'll be sure not to find myself alone in the woods.
🐺 Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
One of the things that defines best friendship, what makes it different than all other friendships... It's that you know all their vulnerabilities, the things that they secretly worry or wonder about, the soft spots that are the most tender when bruised.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨3.5 stars!
The last time I read a middle-grade survival story was probably Hatchet when I was eleven. Mind you, I really enjoyed Brian's tale—but when I heard about Alone in the Woods, which is about two girls in the midst of a best-friendship-breakup, I was PSYCHED.
Jocelyn and Alex have been best friends their whole lives—until Alex comes back from Spanish camp a totally unrecognizable person. Joss hopes that their families' annual trip to the Northwoods of Wisconsin will be a chance for them to finally figure out what went wrong... Instead, the two friends find themselves lost, alone, hungry, and hurt in the depths of a national forest.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
Alone in the Woods is mostly from Jocelyn's POV in the present day, though a few chapters take place in Alex's head and reveal how the two best friends grew apart. For most of the Jocelyn chapters, I was SO frustrated with how vapid and shallow Alex is: she brings a bag full of makeup when they go tubing, and, at one point, douses herself in mango-scented body spray because it'll "warm her up." As Joss tells it, Alex is more preoccupied with her (broken) cellphone and (chipped) pedicure than with staying alive. Alex whines and pouts and essentially does everything she can to thwart Joss's common sense.
...What???
It felt totally incongruous with the person that Alex is in her own chapters—someone imperfect, but still funny and vibrant. In Jocelyn's chapters, Alex seems unnecessarily (and disbelievingly) petty and superficial, to the point of risking their wellbeing.
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
That being said, I thought Alone in the Woods still told a story about friendship I don't see represented nearly enough: that of friends outgrowing each other, and learning to change and adapt—even if that means letting each other go. The ending was particularly bittersweet for me, enough to redeem my previous frustrations with Jocelyn and Alex.
I also loved Rebecca Behrens's descriptions of the Northwoods. Jocelyn's filled with tidbits of ecological knowledge, from the behaviour of wolves and bears (which our protags encounter!!) to symptoms of poison ivy and hypothermia. She can tell you how to remove ticks in your skin, and that you should build a cairn—mound of stones—to mark places you've been.
This book evoked in me that sense of awe unique to vast forests—clearings and thickets filled with moss-covered trees, threaded through with rivers and rapids, and populated by bobcats and eagles and snails.
Frankly, it makes me want to visit the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest. And when I do—I'll be sure not to find myself alone in the woods.
🐺 Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 2, 2021
What happens when two former best friends, Jocelyn (aka Joss and Jallard) and Alex (aka Lexie), find themselves lost in the northwoods of Wisconsin after a tubing mishap? Can they get along enough to use their wits and find a way out?
For those looking for a survival story with a girl instead of a boy as the main character, this is the book.
For those looking for a survival story with a girl instead of a boy as the main character, this is the book.
January 21, 2022
The girls pretty much get saved by dumb luck after making almost every wrong decision along the way that they could make. The relationship story is the better told part of the story and made me remember some of the friendship turmoil I experienced at the same age. On the whole though there was just to much pre-teen angst for my reading pleasure.
July 24, 2020
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the switching perspectives throughout the read. The reader gets to read about Jocelyn’s present-day perspective, which gives us a good idea of the type of person she is. Then, periodically, the author switches to Alex’s perspective of events that lead up to their close friendship growing apart. Both perspectives give readers the chance to learn about the two girls, their thoughts, and feelings.
While getting to know each protagonist, the author provoked some of my feelings toward the two. I felt sympathy toward sweet Jocelyn while I was impatient and even annoyed with Alex for most of the book. However, reflecting back both personalities and the decisions they make are very realistic for preteens. Some preteens just want their best friends to stay the same, while others want to be accepted by more of their classmates, especially if these classmates are considered “cool.” It was also great to see that even Alex’s decisions, she also had some guilt toward some of her actions. This part of her is also very realistic.
Looking at the plot, I found myself interested the entire time while reading. Perhaps it’s because I work with preteens or because the way the author wrote the story, but I really wanted to know what happened to these two girls’ seemingly strong friendship. Then, when the two become lost together in the woods, it was extremely easy to picture the difficulties and frightening moments they experienced together. I could visualize what the girls were seeing and experiencing (the weather, the bugs, thirst, hunger, injuries, wild animals, etc.), so much so that I would never want to get lost in the woods…
The arch of Alex and Jocelyn’s friendship was done well. The author clearly shows that they had a strong friendship prior to the events of the story by using memories and Alex’s past perspective chapters. Then, the struggle the two face as their families go on their annual end-of-summer vacation seemed realistic. Lastly, when they had to rely on each other for survival, and their barriers started to break, it was something I appreciated reading.
Overall, Alone in the Woods was a book that I simply enjoyed. Not only can I see middle grade readers enjoying the read, but also relating to the friendship struggles Jocelyn and Alex go through. I would recommend this book to preteens who enjoy a read about friendship and survival in the woods.
Thank you to the NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Alone in the Woods. My opinions are my own.
https://bookloverblogs.com/2020/07/24...
While getting to know each protagonist, the author provoked some of my feelings toward the two. I felt sympathy toward sweet Jocelyn while I was impatient and even annoyed with Alex for most of the book. However, reflecting back both personalities and the decisions they make are very realistic for preteens. Some preteens just want their best friends to stay the same, while others want to be accepted by more of their classmates, especially if these classmates are considered “cool.” It was also great to see that even Alex’s decisions, she also had some guilt toward some of her actions. This part of her is also very realistic.
Looking at the plot, I found myself interested the entire time while reading. Perhaps it’s because I work with preteens or because the way the author wrote the story, but I really wanted to know what happened to these two girls’ seemingly strong friendship. Then, when the two become lost together in the woods, it was extremely easy to picture the difficulties and frightening moments they experienced together. I could visualize what the girls were seeing and experiencing (the weather, the bugs, thirst, hunger, injuries, wild animals, etc.), so much so that I would never want to get lost in the woods…
The arch of Alex and Jocelyn’s friendship was done well. The author clearly shows that they had a strong friendship prior to the events of the story by using memories and Alex’s past perspective chapters. Then, the struggle the two face as their families go on their annual end-of-summer vacation seemed realistic. Lastly, when they had to rely on each other for survival, and their barriers started to break, it was something I appreciated reading.
Overall, Alone in the Woods was a book that I simply enjoyed. Not only can I see middle grade readers enjoying the read, but also relating to the friendship struggles Jocelyn and Alex go through. I would recommend this book to preteens who enjoy a read about friendship and survival in the woods.
Thank you to the NetGalley and Sourcebooks Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Alone in the Woods. My opinions are my own.
https://bookloverblogs.com/2020/07/24...
February 28, 2021
This marvelous book is about two girls named Joclene and Alex. They use to be friends. Until Jocelyn’s interests got between her and Alex’s friendship. Those interests seemed dorky to Alex and their friendship was ruined… Alex is popular by having a friend named Laura and she prefered popularity to dorkiness. Meanwhile, Joclene is a nice girl who isn’t as popular as Alex but she still sticks to her beliefs. However, one day Alex had a choice. Be Dorky with Jocelyn or be popular with Laura. She became popular and left Jocelyn alone. While they were riding a boat from summer camp as an activity they crashed and walked into the woods hoping to find camp. Getting bug bites, bruises, and ticks, will they be saved? Will the challenges restore their friendship? Do they have what it takes to survive the elements? Read the book to find out!!!
My favorite part in this incredible book was when in the forest they apologized to each other and got over their history. This was relieving and heartwarming. Additionally, they were helping each other on the way back to camp therefore they were rebuilding their friendship and the unforgivable past seemed like just an illusion.
If I could change one thing in this amazing book it would be to make it longer! WAY LONGER!!! When I finished it I just wish it had at least five more chapters. Especially in a book that you love. I LOVED the book Alone In The Woods and I just wish it was longer.
My favorite part in this incredible book was when in the forest they apologized to each other and got over their history. This was relieving and heartwarming. Additionally, they were helping each other on the way back to camp therefore they were rebuilding their friendship and the unforgivable past seemed like just an illusion.
If I could change one thing in this amazing book it would be to make it longer! WAY LONGER!!! When I finished it I just wish it had at least five more chapters. Especially in a book that you love. I LOVED the book Alone In The Woods and I just wish it was longer.
September 1, 2025
Exciting and high stakes adventure. Good balance of flashbacks to slowly reveal the background of the characters’s friendship drama versus main timeline survival drama.
July 9, 2020
Rebecca Behrens always keeps me on the edge of my seat while reading. Once I start one of her novels, I don't want to put it down and am sad when the end happens. Alone in the Woods was no different. I had to know what was going to happen next in this action-packed middle grade novel about survival, adventure, friendships, "cool kids", change and just making it through.
Joss and Alex have been best friends for forever, but when middle school hits, they both have different ideas about school, friendship and pretty much everything. Their families are still best friends and travel to the Northwoods of Wisconsin together and the two have to figure it out. As soon as they get separated from their group, you won't want to stop turning pages until the adventure is complete.
Joss and Alex have been best friends for forever, but when middle school hits, they both have different ideas about school, friendship and pretty much everything. Their families are still best friends and travel to the Northwoods of Wisconsin together and the two have to figure it out. As soon as they get separated from their group, you won't want to stop turning pages until the adventure is complete.
July 4, 2021
Behrens crafted such an intense friendship and survival story that left me in pain, agony, and the desire to reach out and help Jocelyn and Alex.
Jocelyn and Alex were the best of friends, but that was before Alex befriended the sixth grade’s most popular girl, Laura. So everything was a little “off” between Joss and Alex on their traditional summer vacation trip with their families. And, it was quite awkward. It got even worse when they were floating downstream with their families and soon they were detached and… lost. A survival story that will leave you desperately wanting to help and hoping that the two can become friends again and make it alive.
Jocelyn and Alex were the best of friends, but that was before Alex befriended the sixth grade’s most popular girl, Laura. So everything was a little “off” between Joss and Alex on their traditional summer vacation trip with their families. And, it was quite awkward. It got even worse when they were floating downstream with their families and soon they were detached and… lost. A survival story that will leave you desperately wanting to help and hoping that the two can become friends again and make it alive.
January 2, 2021
It's good but I don't like alex
June 30, 2021
I loved this book. It was included in a Literati box for my boys, but after they turned it down, I read the summary and decided to keep it for myself. I'm so glad I did! It was a riveting story of two 12-year-old girls who are working through major issues in their friendship as they start growing up. They go on an annual combined family vacation together when the unthinkable happens and they get lost. The character details, little real moments as the story flashes back to them at school and hanging out, and the fact that they are both right and wrong and likable and not is so real! I am looking forward to reading more by Rebecca Behrens. Who says young adult books aren't suitable for adults?
September 16, 2021
Alex and Joss are best friends forever, until they aren't. And it's during the summer before their eighth grade year that they find themselves drifting apart. Joss is hopeful that their annual summer trip to the lake will reset them. When a tubing trip goes wrong, and the girls find themselves alone in the woods, they must learn to overcome their differences and rely on each other to make it out.
A pretty fast-paced and edge of your seat adventure that features the north woods of Wisconsin, this book is a great ride, and a great story about enduring friendships. This book is also on the Maine Student Book Award list for 2020-2021.
A pretty fast-paced and edge of your seat adventure that features the north woods of Wisconsin, this book is a great ride, and a great story about enduring friendships. This book is also on the Maine Student Book Award list for 2020-2021.
August 7, 2023
I am obsessed with this book!! It was the perfect middle grade summer read. Best friends Joss and Alex are growing up and drifting apart. They are ending a strange summer of hurt feelings with their families up in the north woods of Michigan like they always do, but things just don't feel the same. When their tube pops on a river trip and they are separated from their families, the girls have to rely on each other to survive. I was so invested not only in if they would survive the woods, but would their friendship survive the summer? I loved that the story was told from both girls POV. The setting was amazing - it felt like it could easily be New Hampshire where I live. The ending was pitch perfect! Such a great middle grade story!
July 8, 2020
This is an interesting take on the classic story of surviving with what you know, out int he woods. It is not two friends that get separated from their family but two former friends.
As the story progresses, we learn why they are no longer friends, and what happened, all while they try to survive in the woods with little in the way of supplies.
The author said she has been in these wood, so she knows of where she speaks.
A good adventure story, so good that I took a longer than usual lunch break to finish it.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
As the story progresses, we learn why they are no longer friends, and what happened, all while they try to survive in the woods with little in the way of supplies.
The author said she has been in these wood, so she knows of where she speaks.
A good adventure story, so good that I took a longer than usual lunch break to finish it.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 3, 2020
review to come!
March 10, 2021
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read!
March 21, 2021
I loved this so much. A story of changing friendship, growth, Wisconsin forests, and survival!
April 2, 2021
Payton said this was the best book she has ever read, so I had to read it too. Great story and lots of good talking points on how friendships change as we grow up and how to still be a good friend.
November 9, 2021
I enjoyed this middle grade survival story focused on relationships. Looking forward to sharing it with my students with a first chapter read-aloud.
June 21, 2021
This book was really good! It was very action packed! If you want a quick read, then I would totally recommend this!
April 16, 2025
I would be best friends with Jocelyn.
May 6, 2025
Super good book set in the outdoors of Wisconsin. An adventure and a coming of ages book. Read this with 5th graders and they and I really enjoyed it.
February 6, 2021
From SRSC, age 7: The book is about two eighth graders who are childhood best friends. One of them does not get good enough grades and has to go to Spanish camp. There, the girl meets another eighth grader and eventually they become best friends. The eighth grader and her other friend go up north every summer. This summer was different! They get lost in the woods. This book is very interesting. I guess I would recommend it to other kids. I liked the parts in the woods.
From ALM, age 42: A thoughtful middle-years read that can captivate the interest of younger readers as a family read-aloud. Bonus points for being set in Madison and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests and filled with WI references. Two plots alternate throughout the book: the breakdown of a lifelong best-friendship, hampered by popularity, technology and income disparities between the two eight-grade protagonists and their days-long trek through the wild Wisconsin woods after a family out goes awry. One of the best depictions I’ve read of how young friendships inevitably, sometimes painfully change. While the protagonists’ internal monologues are hard to track via the read-aloud format and the lost-in-the-woods details can feel repetitive at times, reading this book with SRC was suspenseful, not too scary and thought provoking. It gave him renewed appreciation for the simple comforts of a fresh donut, peanut butter and water. Proofreaders in the room might notice a typo or two, which always makes us feel smart! See you in the woods.
From ALM, age 42: A thoughtful middle-years read that can captivate the interest of younger readers as a family read-aloud. Bonus points for being set in Madison and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests and filled with WI references. Two plots alternate throughout the book: the breakdown of a lifelong best-friendship, hampered by popularity, technology and income disparities between the two eight-grade protagonists and their days-long trek through the wild Wisconsin woods after a family out goes awry. One of the best depictions I’ve read of how young friendships inevitably, sometimes painfully change. While the protagonists’ internal monologues are hard to track via the read-aloud format and the lost-in-the-woods details can feel repetitive at times, reading this book with SRC was suspenseful, not too scary and thought provoking. It gave him renewed appreciation for the simple comforts of a fresh donut, peanut butter and water. Proofreaders in the room might notice a typo or two, which always makes us feel smart! See you in the woods.
February 5, 2021
This contemporary survival/adventure story takes places in the north woods of Wisconsin. Joss and her best Alex families are spending their annual end of summer vacation together. As the trip begins all is not right between the two girls as Alex seems more interested texting on her phone than participating in the girls usual vacation rituals. Everything comes to a head when Alex and Joss become separated from the rest of their family on a river tubing trip. With deflated innertube and very few supplies Alex and Joss need to figure out how to survive in the woods and get back to their families. Joss is the primary narrator, but their are flashback chapters told from Alex's point of view that illuminate why she has become less interested in Joss and their friendship. The author is originally from Wisconsin so some of the sites and locations are actual places. This is a perfect read for 10 to 12 year olds who like contemporary friendship fiction with some realistic survival adventure thrown in the mix.
February 12, 2021
I really enjoyed The Disaster Days that has the dubious distinction of being the first book I finished at the start of pandemic lockdown. This one does not disappoint, friendship story combined with a river float trip gone wrong. I want a lupine lover sweatshirt! My only beef is with the cover art - the girls were lost in the woods dressed in swim attire, not jeans and T-shirts.
September 14, 2020
Lost in the Words by Rebecca Behrens is a middle grade novel about survival and friendship.
Jocelyn and Alex have been friends since they were young children, but during the summer before this novel starts they had a breakup in their friendship. This is a realistic and sad reality that is often overshadowed in fiction in favor of romantic breakups, so I enjoyed that representation. Jocelyn pointed out all the little ways that Alex had changed over the summer after being away at camp and not seeing her for the whole summer.
I loved this novel and raced through it because I wanted to know how they would survive, but the character of Alex frustrated me a lot.I wanted to say that this was because the novel was from Jocelyn's point of view, and Jocelyn currently has a negative view of her friend. But even when we see from Alex's point of view, I couldn't agree with her actions. I suppose I had hoped that there were going to be two sides to the story of the friend breakup, but Alex was clearly in the wrong, in my opinion, and didn't have a right to treat Jocelyn that way. Though they did forgive each other and Alex acknowledged that she was in the wrong, there were points in the novel where I in no way wanted Jocelyn to forgive Alex.
Though it was frustrating to watch them walk into the forest when they should have stayed by the edge of the river, I also understand that there wouldn't have been a novel that way, and that they are also young kids.
I really enjoyed the writing style, and each of the characters felt fully formed with little things that they liked, even the side characters. I will be recommending this book at my library to any kids that want more survival books, books about friendship or wilderness, and think it will be an excellent addition to our shelves.
Jocelyn and Alex have been friends since they were young children, but during the summer before this novel starts they had a breakup in their friendship. This is a realistic and sad reality that is often overshadowed in fiction in favor of romantic breakups, so I enjoyed that representation. Jocelyn pointed out all the little ways that Alex had changed over the summer after being away at camp and not seeing her for the whole summer.
I loved this novel and raced through it because I wanted to know how they would survive, but the character of Alex frustrated me a lot.I wanted to say that this was because the novel was from Jocelyn's point of view, and Jocelyn currently has a negative view of her friend. But even when we see from Alex's point of view, I couldn't agree with her actions. I suppose I had hoped that there were going to be two sides to the story of the friend breakup, but Alex was clearly in the wrong, in my opinion, and didn't have a right to treat Jocelyn that way. Though they did forgive each other and Alex acknowledged that she was in the wrong, there were points in the novel where I in no way wanted Jocelyn to forgive Alex.
Though it was frustrating to watch them walk into the forest when they should have stayed by the edge of the river, I also understand that there wouldn't have been a novel that way, and that they are also young kids.
I really enjoyed the writing style, and each of the characters felt fully formed with little things that they liked, even the side characters. I will be recommending this book at my library to any kids that want more survival books, books about friendship or wilderness, and think it will be an excellent addition to our shelves.
September 14, 2020
@KidLitExchange
Thank you to @sourcebookskids for sharing an advance copy of Alone in the Woods by @rebeccabehrensbooks with the #kidlitexchange network. This MG novel will go on sale in October 2020. All opinions are my own.
Jocelyn & Alex have been best friends forever, but it's clear that things have changed. Since her return from summer camp and her new found friendship with Laura, Alex's relationship with Jocelyn has been strained. Jocelyn hopes they will reconnect during their annual joint family camping trip, but even after they arrive at the Lake, Alex doesn't seem interested in being there. She is tied to her cellphone and not giving Jocelyn the time of day. During a family tubing trip, the girls share a tube and after a series of unfortunate events, Alex's phone ends up in the river and their girls end up separated from their family. Now, they're alone in the woods with limited supplies. As days and nights pass, they will need to mend their broken friends hip in order to survive.
Alone in the Woods is a suspenseful and tense book about friendship and change. The narrative is well-written and moves at a quick pace. While there are some action events, most of the suspense and tension is emotional. Behrens does an excellent job of bringing the Wisconsin wilderness to life and evoking the fear the girls feel. There are two major conflicts in the novel (being lost and the broken friendship) and the two enhance each other rather than detract from one another. I love that this book will appeal to so many different types of readers. It has action and survival, but is also emotionally tense and will appeal to those who enjoy books with drama. I can't wait to add a copy to my classroom library as I see it being a hit with my students.
Thank you to @sourcebookskids for sharing an advance copy of Alone in the Woods by @rebeccabehrensbooks with the #kidlitexchange network. This MG novel will go on sale in October 2020. All opinions are my own.
Jocelyn & Alex have been best friends forever, but it's clear that things have changed. Since her return from summer camp and her new found friendship with Laura, Alex's relationship with Jocelyn has been strained. Jocelyn hopes they will reconnect during their annual joint family camping trip, but even after they arrive at the Lake, Alex doesn't seem interested in being there. She is tied to her cellphone and not giving Jocelyn the time of day. During a family tubing trip, the girls share a tube and after a series of unfortunate events, Alex's phone ends up in the river and their girls end up separated from their family. Now, they're alone in the woods with limited supplies. As days and nights pass, they will need to mend their broken friends hip in order to survive.
Alone in the Woods is a suspenseful and tense book about friendship and change. The narrative is well-written and moves at a quick pace. While there are some action events, most of the suspense and tension is emotional. Behrens does an excellent job of bringing the Wisconsin wilderness to life and evoking the fear the girls feel. There are two major conflicts in the novel (being lost and the broken friendship) and the two enhance each other rather than detract from one another. I love that this book will appeal to so many different types of readers. It has action and survival, but is also emotionally tense and will appeal to those who enjoy books with drama. I can't wait to add a copy to my classroom library as I see it being a hit with my students.
January 21, 2021
At the start of this middle grade novel, it’s the summer between 7th and 8th grade and things are awkward between former best friends Jocelyn and Alex when their families go on their traditional vacation to the woods of Wisconsin. But when the girls get separated from their families while on a rafting trip and get lost in the woods, it’s not just their friendship that is challenged but their survival.
My 7th grader was assigned this for a school book club so I read it along with him, and I think I may have even enjoyed it more than he did.
My 7th grader was assigned this for a school book club so I read it along with him, and I think I may have even enjoyed it more than he did.
October 15, 2020
I love middle-grade adventure books and this one is full of tension and heart.
The core of the story is about two friends who are growing apart and struggling to figure out who they are to each other anymore. Completely relatable, especially at that age. I think we all went through this as tweens/teens.
Add in getting lost in the woods and the stakes go through the roof.
The author’s descriptions were fantastic. I felt like I was right there with the girls, struggling through the overgrown woods, slapping away mosquitos, and holding my breath for what would happen next.
Another thing I loved were the little doses of humor (and educational tidbits), like this line on page 105:
…wild parsnip – which sounds like something you might even want to eat, but it actually creates severe blisters if it so much as touches your skin. I wondered why the person who named that plant didn’t go with poison parsnip or something even more descriptive, like DANGER DANGER BLISTER WEED…
That was from Jocelyn’s POV and I appreciated knowing both perspectives of the friendship break-up. And it was great to see how they both brought strengths to the situation.
I highly recommend this to fans of adventure, the great outdoors, or books about friendship.
The core of the story is about two friends who are growing apart and struggling to figure out who they are to each other anymore. Completely relatable, especially at that age. I think we all went through this as tweens/teens.
Add in getting lost in the woods and the stakes go through the roof.
The author’s descriptions were fantastic. I felt like I was right there with the girls, struggling through the overgrown woods, slapping away mosquitos, and holding my breath for what would happen next.
Another thing I loved were the little doses of humor (and educational tidbits), like this line on page 105:
…wild parsnip – which sounds like something you might even want to eat, but it actually creates severe blisters if it so much as touches your skin. I wondered why the person who named that plant didn’t go with poison parsnip or something even more descriptive, like DANGER DANGER BLISTER WEED…
That was from Jocelyn’s POV and I appreciated knowing both perspectives of the friendship break-up. And it was great to see how they both brought strengths to the situation.
I highly recommend this to fans of adventure, the great outdoors, or books about friendship.
November 17, 2020
When I was a kid, I loved survival tales like Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain, but female readers like me never really saw themselves in the story. That's what I liked about Rebecca Behrens' Alone in the Woods.
She presents the story told between the voices of Alex and Joss. Behrens does this so realistically, that the characters become true to the reader. I can really see readers feeling the emotions presented here. As a middle school teacher of ten years, I can say just how true to life their voices are. Alex and Joss have fallen on a rough patch, a growing apart, although even their families are close, going on vacation together. At camp, Alex found a new friend, but is there still room in her heart for Joss and their friendship? Put this together with a dynamic story about getting lost and relying on themselves for survival.
Behrens really gets that middle school voice and tells a fast paced tale that students will enjoy. Teachers shouldn't hesitate to stock this in the class library as it will be well-loved and worn out before you know it. For readers that love books like Paulsen's and George's, it is a new voice more representative of the students in the classroom.
She presents the story told between the voices of Alex and Joss. Behrens does this so realistically, that the characters become true to the reader. I can really see readers feeling the emotions presented here. As a middle school teacher of ten years, I can say just how true to life their voices are. Alex and Joss have fallen on a rough patch, a growing apart, although even their families are close, going on vacation together. At camp, Alex found a new friend, but is there still room in her heart for Joss and their friendship? Put this together with a dynamic story about getting lost and relying on themselves for survival.
Behrens really gets that middle school voice and tells a fast paced tale that students will enjoy. Teachers shouldn't hesitate to stock this in the class library as it will be well-loved and worn out before you know it. For readers that love books like Paulsen's and George's, it is a new voice more representative of the students in the classroom.
January 21, 2021
3.5 Stars
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