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The Forest of a Thousand Eye pictures a decaying community at the mercy of nature, and one girl plunged into a desperate situation.
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge, illustrated by Emily Gravett. Amulet (Abrams), 2025. 120 pages.
- Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
- Recommended For: ages 10-15
Feather is a forager along the wall of Greyman’s Gate, a small community barricaded against the ravages of the all-consuming Forest. Some civilization in some time out of memory must have constructed the Wall, but great breaches have appeared and greenery has taken over. No one dares to explore beyond that crumbling barrier, lest they fall prey to vipers, human-sized insects, poisoned seeds, or giant eagles. It’s dangerous enough for foragers, but Feather has a secret.
She’s found a Stranger who seems to know something of the world beyond, and if she can lend him the community spyglass, he’ll help her make a map. It’s not just to satisfy her curiosity, but to help her community locate more metal, as they’re growing dangerously low. The Stranger promises to show her how to triangulate to estimate distance, but once they reach a promontory, and the glass is in his hands, he gives her a good hard push.
With the danger of the Forest already established by word and picture, this is almost as shocking to the reader as it is to Feather. She can’t go back without the spyglass – her community needs it to guard against attack. But if she goes forward, the odds of survival are slim and her memory will be tainted as a thief and a traitor. Going forward is the only honorable choice, though, so a desperate and dangerous quest lies ahead.
The author is a master prose stylist and even young readers may be struck by such descriptions as, “The lower part of the stonework had been claimed by the green and were now velvety with mosses, vines scribbling their way upward, impudent young trees sprouting from cracks.” The format is unusual: a novella in picture-book size with copious illustrations in shades of gray and green. Besides a thrilling adventure, the story raises questions about how civilizations rise and fall and what it takes to maintain order – much easier to tear down than it is to build up. But determination, helped by good fortune, can find a way.
Considerations: none
Bottom Line: A beautifully written adventure story with thoughtful connotations.
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- Reviews: More fantasy that includes hefty doses of the natural world include The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, The Door on Half-Bald Hill, and Beyond Mulberry Glen.
- Resource: For fantasy lovers, we recommend these Fantasy Books for Teen Girls (that boys will appreciate, too!).
- Resource: Nature doesn’t have to be threatening! See our Love Your Yard booklist for book to help you appreciate creation in your own backyard.
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Thanks for reviewing this! I haven’t read this but will request it from my library! Frances Hardinge is one of my favorite writers. She is so creative – each of her books feels like a unique experience. A few of my favorites are A Face Like Glass, Cuckoo Song, Deeplight, and The Lost Conspiracy. Some of her books do have themes that would be problematic for Christian families – I’m thinking of Unraveller and The Lie Tree specifically – although I’m sure mature readers could find lots to discuss with these. Just wanted to share some of my favorites / books to be aware of in case anyone is looking for more recommendations by Hardinge.
Thanks for chiming in, Joanna! I read the Lie Tree and didn’t review it because of the factors you mention, but agree it would have made good discussion material. I do admire her writing–she’s one of the most elegant stylists out there!