Tween Tuesday Review: Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest by Amos Oz

3 thin mints.

Cover Love: I can't say that I love the cover because it feels so melancholy.

Why I Wanted to Read This:
I got this copy from NetGalley and thought it sounded very interesting. Here's the synopsis from Good Reads:

In a gray and gloomy village, all of the animals—from dogs and cats to fish and snails—disappeared years before. No one talks about it and no one knows why, though everyone agrees that the village has been cursed. But when two children see a fish—a tiny one and just for a second—they become determined to unravel the mystery of where the animals have gone. And so they travel into the depths of the forest with that mission in mind, terrified and hopeful about what they may encounter.

From the internationally bestselling author Amos Oz, this is a hauntingly beautiful fable for both children and adults about tolerance, loneliness, denial, and remembrance.

I Kept Reading Because:
It was well written and I knew there was a message in there. I wanted to get to the end to find out what it was!

Romance?: No.

What I Liked (& Didn't):
One of the reasons I wanted to read this book is because I thought it was dystopian, which I guess it was, but it felt way more like a folk tale. Makes sense because the above synopsis does say "fable." I liked that switch!

It is ultimately a book about bullying and tolerance. But one thing I liked was that the victim was questioned for his "revenge" tactics. Not that the village was in the right (and since I work in a middle school, the village was a perfect metaphor for a middle school).

It makes you think about a world without animals. Besides the companionship, and the sounds, there would be NO MEAT, NO DAIRY, NO EGGS! When I thought about it on that scope I could see why the village went a little crazy!

To Sum Up: Even though it was a book about tolerance and bullying, I felt there was no resolution. It made for an interesting read, but I needed more tying up of loose ends.

eBook from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through Net Galley. Thanks HMH!
Tween Tuesday is hosted by Sarah, the GreenBeanTeenQueen! Thanks Sarah!