Into the Forest

Jean Hegland

Into the Forest is Jean Hegland's first attempt at fiction. It's the story of two sisters, aged 17 and 18, and how being homeschooled saved their lives. Okay, maybe it's about more than that, but when a distant war cuts off their ties to civilization and all their technological luxuries, their independence pays off big time. Nell has her encyclopedia and Eva her metronome, and together they forge a new life. It's an interesting story of how they adapt, and how we could all perhaps go back to our simpler roots, although the author has chosen her characters well; city-dwellers may not have even made it past the first power bump. At turns hopeful and heartbreaking, the story of Nell and Eva will pull you into the forest along with them. Enjoy the hike, but watch your back.