Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest (Hardcover)

by Matt Haig (Author) "The tree trunks lying on the back of the truck were stacked up like a pyramid, and fastened with three gray straps..." (more)
Key Phrases: brown cheese, white wooden house, other rabbits, Shadow Witch, Truth Pixie, Snow Witch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“This is an outstanding piece of literature.” —London Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Aunt Eda’s Rule #9: NEVER—UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES— GO INTO THE FOREST.

Samuel and Martha have just moved to Norway to live with their aunt Eda, and she’s taking some getting used to. She has too many rules, no TV, and insists that they eat local delicacies like brown cheese and reindeer soup. And then there’s the most peculiar thing about her—her irrational fear of her own backyard. Sure, Uncle Henrik hasn’t been heard from since he disappeared into it ten years ago, but that can’t be the forest’s fault . . . can it?

Samuel is skeptical, until he disobeys Rule #1—Never go up to the attic—and finds an unusual book: The Creatures of Shadow Forest, which gives scary descriptions of the fantastic creatures supposedly living in the forest. So when Sam starts seeing strange things venture past the treeline after dark, he can’t help wondering . . . could Aunt Eda be right, and what really happened to Uncle Henrik?

This highly inventive fantasy is full of amazing characters and unexpected twists that will elicit both laughter and chills.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (June 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399247394
• ISBN-13: 978-0399247392
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #814,869 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn't go much under ten for the reader's age, March 8, 2008

By	Holiday Adair - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I started to read this to my 6 year old and though she liked it, she said to stop reading it even before the boy enters the forest - too scary and sad (the parents die in a car wreck, sister becomes an elective mute, Samuel hates his aunt who lost her husband to the forest) and the forest is described in scary terms. I continued to read it to myself and thought it was a great boook (I read the end to my daughter and she liked that).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just won Nestle Award in UK, December 19, 2007

By	Rose Paulsen "rosie310003" (NY) - See all my reviews

This has just won the award the used to be called the Smarties Award -- where kids pick their favorite book (that's how a book called Harry Potter got started!) This one reminds me of Roald Dahl-- fantastic imagery and fast-paced fun!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great read!!, November 15, 2007

By	big readers "boy's mom" (nyc) - See all my reviews

My nine-year-old couldn't put this book down--it is well-written and interesting, with just enough suspense and comedy for a boy this age.