Don't Let the Forest In

Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him.

High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more.

But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions. Stranger still, Thomas is haunted by something, and he seems to have lost interest in his artwork—whimsically macabre sketches of the monsters from Andrew's wicked stories.

Desperate to figure out what's wrong with his friend, Andrew follows Thomas into the off-limits forest one night and catches him fighting a nightmarish monster—Thomas's drawings have come to life and are killing anyone close to him. To make sure no one else dies, the boys battle the monsters every night. But as their obsession with each other grows stronger, so do the monsters, and Andrew begins to fear that the only way to stop the creatures might be to destroy their creator...

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Publishing.

Book club questions for Don't Let the Forest In by CG Drews

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

The book interweaves Andrew's original fairy tales throughout the narrative. How do these stories-within-the-story reflect his internal struggles and relationships? What significance do you find in the specific fairy tale about cutting out one's heart?

Thomas is portrayed as 'a wild machete with blazing emotions...brilliant, terrible, and unmanageable.' How does his volatile nature amplify both the horror elements and the story's emotional depth?

The novel explores Andrew's journey of understanding his asexual identity while developing intense feelings for Thomas. How does the author handle this complex dynamic, and what does it reveal about different forms of love and attraction?

Consider the symbolism of the forest in this story. How does it function both as a physical space and a metaphor for the characters' inner darkness? What makes it particularly effective as a horror setting?

The relationship between Andrew and his twin sister Dove shows a mysterious distance. How does this strained sibling relationship affect Andrew's dependency on Thomas, and what might it reveal about family dynamics in the story?

The monsters in the story are literally brought to life through Thomas's art of Andrew's words. How does this creative collaboration between the two boys serve as both a connection and a source of danger? What might this suggest about the power of art and storytelling?

Discuss the significance of the Antler King as an antagonist. How does this character represent the broader themes of the novel, particularly regarding internal versus external monsters?

The story takes place at Wickwood Academy, a boarding school setting. How does this isolated environment enhance both the horror elements and the intensity of the relationships between characters?

The reviews describe the prose as "lush" and "evocative." Choose a particular scene or description that stood out to you and discuss how the writing style contributes to the overall atmosphere of the story.

Consider the role of bullying in the story. How does it interact with the supernatural threats, and what does this suggest about different forms of violence and trauma?

Don't Let the Forest In Book Club Questions PDF

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