Customer Reviews

Gone from These Woods

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Readers (9-12 and beyond) can find a way to relate to this story even if you are not a hunter, avid comic book reader or an 11 year old boy. Most of us will have to endure losing close loved ones within our lifetimes and this book teaches you how to keep going and rise up out of grief and despair when faced with that situation. In Daniel's case it happens to him at a very young age and as a tragic accident involving himself, a .410 shotgun, his favorite person in the world, Uncle Clay and a rabbit rather than with the usual progression of time. Donny Bailey Seagraves has mastered character development - there are moments in the book where I am very worried for Daniel and on the edge of my seat wanting to tell him to never point that gun at himself. There are also moments where the sadness of the accident and his family situation bring me to tears. I'm relieved to know that he has such a wonderful, supportive mom that is his guardian who will stop at nothing to make sure her child finds a way to make it through this tough time. I am also very impressed with how the school guidance counselor interacts with Daniel to help him work through the stages of grief. Even at Daniel's young age, he is wise enough to make the choice to be like his role model, Uncle Clay rather than his mean alcoholic father, Ray.

The North Georgia woods where the accident happens and also where Daniel escapes from his abusive dad while fighting off villainous despair are a character too. I hear, smell and see them all at once throughout the story.

Honestly, it's really hard to put this one down once you begin reading. I urge you to begin and see what bits of powerful wisdom you can take away from this worthwhile read.

This is a story that will remain in your head and heart, after you turn the last page: How does a child find the courage to live through the worst that can happen?
In her gripping debut novel, author Donny Bailey Seagraves introduces Daniel Sartain, a good-natured fifth-grader living in the rural South. Daniel reluctantly agrees to learn to hunt because he wants to be a "real" Sartain man to please his fun-loving uncle, Clay. But when Daniel finds a small rabbit in the family forest, he cannot force himself to pull the trigger, even though he knows he's disappointing his uncle. For a deadly second, Daniel forgets the rules of safe hunting that Clay taught him, and he staggers to his feet with the loaded shotgun in his arms. The gun discharges, and a pellet penetrates Clay's heart, instantly killing him.
Awash in grief and guilt, Daniel tries to process this terrible event, with the support of his loving mom and an understanding school counselor. But his alcoholic father - miserable and mean because of his own guilty feelings about a deadly car accident - taunts the boy until Daniel decides to commit suicide rather than risk becoming an abusive, hateful man like his dad.
In the end, Daniel is rescued by the strength that he finds in his own heart. This is a thoughtful story that will leave the reader with a deeper understanding of life's painful moments and how a person summons the wisdom to handle them. Quake!: Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 [QUAKE]

An excellent read! A hard subject handled wonderfully . . . i like that the author doesn't shy away from the topic of Daniel's depression and his thoughts of suicide . . . A great read and an important read for young adults. Teacher should embrace this book, the teaching/school community is wonderfully portrayed, very supportive of what Daniel is going through. You can tell that Ms Seagraves is from the Young Adult Education world. Highly recommended!!!

This is Donny Bailey Seagraves' first published book and after you read it you're going to want to read everything she publishes!

The story is very well written. I was crying at the first part of the book because I felt so bad for the main character (don't want to give anything away) and at the end of the book because it had such a great resolution.

Ms. Seagraves captures rural Georgia to a tee and you'd think she actually was an eleven year old boy the way she describes him and expresses his emotions.

Gone From These Woods is a must read! A book that you need on your bookshelf.

Seagraves tackles the tough issues of accidental death, guilt,forgiveness, and contemplation of suicide, and does it in a very thoughtful and sensitive way. Her characters are true to life, and her plot suspenseful. This would make a wonderful teaching tool at the middle school level, and would promote lively class discussions.

Eleven-year-old Daniel "D-Man" Sartain would do anything to please his favorite uncle, his friend. Even get up early on a cold November morning and traipse through the thick Georgian woods, a .410 shotgun in his trembling hands. Uncle Clay says it is time for D-Man to learn to hunt. D-Man's not so sure. Still, he doesn't want to disappoint his uncle and the many other male Sartain ancestors who had once hunted in these same piney woods. D-Man tries to act tough; he takes aim and prepares to fire. His first hunt. His first kill. But then things go dreadfully wrong, changing his life forever.

Donny Bailey Seagraves's debut novel is riveting. The emotional struggles that the tormented eleven-year-old boy must cope with will resonate with young readers. It is the type of book that boys and girls will not want to stop reading until it is finished.

How refreshing to find a novel that young people can read that doesn't contain wizards or fantastical creatures who may or may not help kids learn to successfully navigate our complex modern world.

Gone From These Woods takes a difficult family situation that turns even worse through accidental gun violence, and makes sense of how to manage hard issues and come out with liveable solutions in the end. In America we prize our guns yet we often give little attention to what happens when things go horribly wrong with unintended consequences - especially for our young folk.

Having read before a few of Ms. Seagraves magazine articles, I was interested to see how she would treat this complicated, sad subject matter in the longer form of a novel, and I'm pleased to say that pre-teens and teens, parents, and teachers can take away much practical advice and hope from this well-told tale.

My 10 year old son and I enthusiastically read this book together in no time! He absolutely loved it and would read ahead; so I would have to catch up. We could not wait to see what happen next. As a matter of fact, my son said, "When is the sequel coming out!!" I found myself completely wrapped up with this young boy. Gone from these Woods is truly a heart felt story of overcoming loss and tragedy. We loved it!

The book cover captures your attention right away and after reading this book you look back at the cover and empathize with the young man and know what he must be thinking as he gazes into the woods from the trail. Daniel is a boy, not unlike any other boy who grows up in the rural south. But, one single tragedy, one single unexpected event changes him forever. The story is powerful but the beauty of this book is found in the excellent character development and the revealing, illuminative dialogue. Donny has created a story that fits into the young adult genre but most certainly can be read and enjoyed by a wide range of ages. I found myself thinking about the underlying implications of the tragedy and how the event will shape Daniel, his family, and the relationships among the family members for years to come. Somehow the reader knows that the story is not over for all who share in the event and for this reason will leave the reader wanting to check in on the family in the years to come.

Donny Bailey Seagraves' GONE FROM THESE WOODS tells of pre-teen Daniel whose uncle dies during a rabbit hunting trip in the woods. Daniel tries to survive the loss of his role model and best friend - and must find a way to go on in this poignant saga.