Gone from These Woods

Daniel Sartain is a keenly sensitive and mature 11-year-old living in rural Georgia. His youthful and fun-loving Uncle Clay decides Daniel is old enough to learn to hunt rabbits, as well as shake off his vegetarian tendencies. On their hunting trip, though, Daniel accidentally shoots Clay and is traumatized ("I tried to wipe my brain clean. Like my brain was a computer that had nothing but errors"). Daniel is beset with guilt over his role in his uncle's death, and his drunken father's violent behavior doesn't help. As a result of the emotional turmoil, and despite the efforts of his guidance counselor, Daniel contemplates running away, as well as suicide. In this slow-paced but wrenching story about the grueling process of grief and the pain produced from a life ended too early, the dynamics of the Sartain family are well-developed and genuine as a result of Daniel's authentic first-person narration. Statistics about children and gun violence are included in an appendix. Seagraves's debut should leave readers weighing death, guilt and forgiveness. Ages 9%E2%80%9412. (Aug.)