Many go into the forest. Only one comes back. 1989, Soviet Estonia. In sixteen-year-old Vik’s village—and the cursed forest that looms beyond—danger is everywhere. Soldiers threaten those who so much as dream of dissent. The villagers’ words are sharp with accusations of witchcraft. And deep in the heart of the wood, a lantern-eyed spirit lies in wait to disappear those who wander too far past the trees. Vik knows because five years ago, she led her little sister Anna over that invisible line—and never saw her again. The only thing Vik has wished for since then is her sister’s safe return. So when Anna stumbles back through the tree line on the anniversary of her disappearance, it’s a miracle… Or is it a lie? As unsettling inconsistencies between this girl and the one who vanished reveal themselves, Vik starts to doubt whether this Anna is her Anna—or something else entirely. Whoever she is, one thing is clear: she was never meant to escape the trees. And unless Vik can uncover the secrets of the forest, it’s going to take her back. Rooted in real history with a speculative twist, the horrors of And The Trees Stare Back are the ones we already know: existing as a marginalized person under a hostile state. Raising powerful questions about whose humanity counts and how to survive if the governing body decides yours doesn't, this politically incisive folk-horror irresistibly explores ever-relevant legacies of activism and solidarity. A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Title A CCBC Choice Book In this politically astute story filled with skillfully incorporated background information about a fascinating and complex historical period, Vik’s quest authentically and thoroughly incorporates her struggles with OCD and complex PTSD. . . . This gripping, deeply human, and eerie mystery has parallels to current events that will provoke readers to think. Speculative, unsettling, and intensely emotional. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) The setting effectively uses both the inherent creepiness of an insular town given to supernatural beliefs and the menacing Soviet presence to maximize tension and scares. . . A bit of sci-fi and political intrigue makes this changeling tale a compelling genre mash-up with a broad audience. —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books For teens seeking thrills, this book will keep them up at night; those seeking to learn about an inspiring historical moment of resistance to totalitarianism will also gain something. This tale of creepy disappearances in the last days of a despotic regime combines the elemental terror of a fairy tale with historical fact. —School Library Journal Gigi Griffis is the author of the Netflix tie-in novel The Empress and creepy YA horror The Wicked Unseen (2023), We Are The Beasts (2024), and And The Trees Stare Back (2025), among other things. She’s a sucker for little-known histories, “unlikable” female characters, and all things Europe. After almost ten years of semi-nomadic life, she now lives in Portugal with an opinionated Yorkie-mix named Luna and a collection of very nerdy books. Gigi’s work has been translated into 19+ languages, and she has been featured in Teen Vogue , Netflix Tudum , The New York Times , Salon , Gay Times , and more.