It Came from the Trees is a creepy spooky camp tale for middle-grade readers. The whole premise appealed to me from the summer camp to the Bigfoot creature in the woods. At first I worried that I wouldn't get into the story but as it progressed I fell in love with the characters and the progression of the missing person in the woods plot. I think this book would be very popular in all middle school libraries.

A scary middle grade book that kept me up at night! I love this! I know so many young readers that want real jump scares and this one delivered! Never sleeping in the woods again, myself, and that's a ok for me!

(4.5 stars rounded up)

“They say something lives out here. Some people call it a man. Some people call it a monster. Some people call it...the Beast of Backcountry.”

Jenna is determined to save her best friend Reese after she’s taken by something or someone on a camping trip. The police are saying Reese ran away and the adults in her life don’t believe Jenna’s story. Jenna joins a new troop (the Owlet Scouts) and goes back into the forest. The troop finds footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, strange sounds in the night, etc. Jenna and her new troop must stick together to survive. Will Jenna ever see Reese again? Is the Beast of Backcountry really stalking them or is it something else?

If you’re looking for the perfect book for summer or to transition into fall with, this is it. It was cozy and relaxing for some of the camping scenes and full of dread and tension for moments where the creature was terrorizing the scouts. The pace was just right.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of all the camping. It made me feel as though I was there with the Owlet Scouts even though I’ve never been camping. This book made me want to try it. Maybe.

I loved the use of mixed media in the book, including a blog, survival guides, police transcripts, etc. They added a fun touch to the book.

The characters are well written and realistic. The children don’t just suddenly become superheroes in the face of danger. They are able to overcome their fears by facing them.

This is middle grade horror done right. It’s well written and engaging enough to keep an adult entertained. For parents, if their children read Goosebumps, this could be the next step in their horror journey. For adults this will be a nice palate cleanser from more intense horror.

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves cryptids, summer, camping, stories about friendships. This would also be a good book for someone younger just getting into horror. It’s not too graphic and the ending was just right.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.

"It Came from the Trees" by Ally Russell is a gripping and atmospheric horror novel that expertly builds tension through its eerie, forested setting. Russell’s chilling narrative and unsettling twists keep readers on edge, creating a suspenseful and immersive reading experience.

Jenna loves the outdoors. She attends a Scout camping trip with her best friend, Reese. One night, Reese is snatched out of their tent, and none of the adults believe Jenna that the kidnapper is some type of human animal. Jenna is determined to find Reese, so she signs up for another Scout camping trip to find her.

What I loved:
✨Bigfoot legend - Beast of the Backcountry
✨Campfire tales with s’mores included!
✨Bravery - Jenna will do anything to find her best friend, and you can accomplish hard things with teamwork.
✨Mixed media: newspaper, blog posts, survival guide pages, police interviews
✨Narration - Shayna Small is AMAZING!! She plays up Jenna’s resolve to find Reese and the story’s creepiness, especially with the campfire stories. I highly recommend this format if you or your middle schoolers love audiobooks!

Other Highlights: Black & Brown character rep, spookiness of the wood at night, never too late to make friends, terrific ending!

I’m at our cabin reading this book surrounded by trees. It could be my current setting or the fantastic writing sending chills down my spine. Or a combination of them both. Spine-tingling prose coupled with sheer panic has every nerve on edge. This is my kind of book.

Jenna & Reese head off for summer camp. All’s good until Reese gets kidnapped by a non-existent entity. Jenna is bound and determined to find her friend. Let the fun begin. The news clippings between chapters were a great addition as well as the included camping tips. All in all, it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to reading more by this author.

A clever and spooky update on the legend of Bigfoot set in the wilderness. This book has a strong female protagonist and is filled with nostalgia surrounding camping as a kid. It Came from the Trees hits like a Goosebumps book did when I was younger, left me scared and a frightfully fun experience.

Holy Cow It Came from the Trees was creepy. Jenna our main character was the best main character that I have seen in a while. She stuck to what she knew even when people did not believe what had happened and she never gave up and to me they are amazing strengths.

Ally really knew when and when not to ramp situations up and I found myself literally shouting at the book as I was reading Do not go in there, Run as fast as you can like it was being played out on the screen and I never ever have done that before EVER.

This should be picked up asap and turned into a film so come on Netflix and Disney lets do this.

For all the above reasons It came from the Trees gets 5 big fat stars

Review to come in October (for Spooktober) on my blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

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One of my anticipated reads of 2024 and BOY did it deliver!

😍 I mean right from the start it got scary. The girls (our MC and her best friend Reese) are having an OK time hiking in a new scout group (sadly with a lot of cliques and a racist (as I would call her) group leader), and then something is rustling. Something is watching. The birds and the animals go silent. And then there is the first time our MC sees the big monster. Who looks like a human, is it big foot? Is it something else? It just stares. Silently. Waiting. And I knew that this book would get hecka scary.
😍 And then it is a few moments of bliss before the night-time terror starts and Reese is snatched away. Boy, those parts were just terrifying. Thanks for the nightmares dear author. XD
😍 While it was a bit much, I did love the determination of our MC to try and help out her friend. From finding a new troop who would hike near the location to making food bags and tagging trees with pink chalk to make sure her friend may be able to find her way back. That is just great friendship right there. Most people would just be like, heck no I am not going back to that place of doom and scary tall big foot like monsters, but she was determined.
😍 The monster stalking the new troop and always being near? Making noises? And even doing THAT (no, I am not spoiling it, but if you read it, you will understand)? That was just epically written and terrifying as well. You never know exactly when he will strike. He is getting closer. And closer....
😍 I just loved it when Mel did story time around the campfire. I wasn't there physically, but hot dang, even reading it was scary. I could just hear her voice. That creepy one. The one that makes your skin crawl.
😍 I was so happy when Jenna started opening up to her troop, told her story, started making friendships.
😍 I loved the friendship between Reese, but also with Norrie!
😍 The last bit with the troop decided to hold down the fort and kick some monster butt. Many books like this will have everyone in great panic and just running around. But in this one the troop bonded and they get together to figure out a way to be save in the night and make sure to make it to the morning. I was just cheering, rooting, almost screaming when the monster appeared and things got very scary!
😍 Oh, and what happens next. I did NOT expect that, but I love every bit of it.
😍 Bonus points for the cover which is just way way too good and gives you immediately the vibes of the book. There is something lurking... behind you. Closer. Closer.
😍 Extra points to Pap who listened to his granddaughter and who also told her stories and that he understood. He was a great support for Jenna. Because her mom? She didn't believe a word.
😍 The newspapers/podcast/forum/etc. and Owlet guidebook pages between chapters were just an A-plus addition to the book. I especially loved those newspapers/podcast/etc. stuff because it gave more insight on what was going on in regards to Reese, but also to whatever lurked in the woods. You would think that given all the stories the police would start taking things more seriously.


🤔 While I love the last news article and what news it brought... I think I would have liked an epilogue after that one. Just a bit more closure. Now this one felt more like an afterthought and that was just a shame.
🤔 While I did get why our MC was acting towards the new scout group the way she did in the beginning... I also didn't like it. She was just so rude. I get that you have a mission. I get that you don't want to make new friends while your bestie is maybe somewhere in the wild. But you could have at least been friendly. As the story continued she opened up more, but in those start-bits? I wanted to shake her.
🤔 And there were the standard dumb horror decisions/things happening. Like, oh hey, there is a strange hut and some weird smell, let's investigate. NOPE. You run. That is what you do.
🤔 Maybe because I am an adult now, I really would like a time machine to see how younger me is about these things, but I am getting tired of the adults don't believe stuff unless they really see it happen. It just makes my eyes roll.

But despite those things I had a lot of fun reading this one, it was a great one. Lots of spooky moments. Some more scary moments that had me want to hide somewhere. This is definitely a book I would recommend for Spooktober/Halloween!

"The legend of Bigfoot gets a bone-chilling update in this scary story about a young girl and her scout troop who are willing to brave the woods to find her missing friend when no one else will. Perfect for fans of Daka Hermon and Claribel A. Ortega!

The wilderness is in Jenna's blood. Her Pap was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, and she practically knows the Owlet Survival Handbook by heart. But she's never encountered a creature like the one that took her best friend Reese. Her parents don't believe her; the police are worthless, following the wrong leads; and the media isn't connecting the dots between Reese's disappearance and a string of other attacks. Determined to save her friend, Jenna joins a new local scout troop, and ventures back into the woods.

When the troop stumbles across suspicious signs: huge human-like footprints near the camp, scratch marks on trees, and ominous sounds from the woods, Jenna worries that whatever took Reese is back to take her too. Can she trust her new scout leader? And will her new friend Norrie - who makes her laugh and reminds her so much of Reese - believe her?

After the unthinkable happens, the scouts, armed with their wits and toiletries, band together to fight the monster and survive the night."

A cryptid caper!

This is a super cute, whip smart middle grade novel featuring:
-ride or die BFFs that never give up
-an extremely lovely grandfather-grandaughter relationship
-camping in the woods with both terrible (racist) adults but then also some badass adults who LISTEN
-teamwork making the dream work
-BIGFOOT??!

All in all, it’s a super fun ride featuring friendships, family, and standing up for what you know is true, even when those closets to you might not quite believe you. Highly recommend for all public library collections.

It Came From the Trees is the debut middle reader horror novel from author Ally Russell. As someone that loves middle grade horror, I'm always excited to read new books but especially when a book touches on important topics like racism and the representation of African Americans in the great outdoors/National Parks, and still offers the chills, I'm ecstatic.

Our story is a great mystery with plenty of goosebumps to go around but what was so well-done were the relationships that Jenna forms and the strength and determination of Jenna and her campmates. Jenna was an excellent character and I'm so excited for my middle readers to get ahold of this book. They are going to love it!

Jenna is our main kid — she’s an 11 year old who loooves the outdoors. This summer she joins a scout group along with her bff Reese. Some really scary stuff happens while they’re camping with the rest of the group. After doing some research online, Jenna has convinced herself that she’s seen The Backcounty Beast, aka Bigfoot.
Even though that’s a pretty scary thought, Jenna doesn’t let that stop her from returning to the woods to help her friend. This girl has guts!


I rarely finish books in one day but when you mix a middle grade horror story with a lazy at-home Sunday taking care of a sick toddler then that’s exactly what you get.

There’s a little bit of mixed media going on here with the addition of newspaper articles, blog pages and scout guidebooks. This was fun way to break up the narrative and get important information.
I loved the group of kids in the Owlet Scouts and Jenna’s growth through out the story.
Truly, the scenes with Bigfoot were creepy. I never want to run into that guy.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC of It Came From the Trees!

𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬

1. If you loved camping as a child, telling scary stories around the fire, and snacking on s’mores, then you’ll enjoy this one.
2. Ever wondered if Big Foot was real? You won’t anymore!
3. Pretend your friend goes missing. Are you the kind of friend who would do anything to find them? So is Jenna! You two already have so much in common!
4. Learning new survival skills and making friends is always a good idea.
5. Perfect for middle graders, this is a fast paced horror novel that all ages can enjoy!

As an adult fantasy reader, it's rare for me to pick up a middle grade but a horror middle grade about big foot grabbed my attention. I'm SO glad I took a chance because I loved this one. We have a young girl and her scout troop who venture in the dark and scary woods to try and find their missing friend which possibly means running into the big man himself, big foot. Though maybe on the simpler side, it was super fun. I love this cover and I hope it finds its audience so add it to your tbr.

Jenna was so excited to go on a wilderness hike with her best friend Reese and the Cottontail Scouts in the Sturbridge Reservation. She’s always been at home in the wilderness as the granddaughter of the first black Ranger in the area. But this hike becomes a nightmare when her friend is kidnapped by a creature who can only be Bigfoot, and no one believes her. Weeks later, she’s back with a different troop, determined to help get Reese home, and she soon finds out that the creature has been waiting for her return. Can Jenna band together with her newfound comrades, as the creature seeks new prey?

It Came from the Trees is a genuinely frightening tale of survival. The young protagonists are facing existential danger from the violent creature who lurks in the woods. Bigfoot is not a friendly entity in this story, instead exuding a visceral menace that taints the atmosphere of the woods. Jenna’s suffering is portrayed sensitively, yet authentically, through debut author Ally Russells' effective writing. The sense of grief and guilt that Jenna feels adds an emotional weight to the story as she’s determined to keep believing her friend is alive and to bring her home. Jenna’s decision to withdraw from others emotionally due to her unresolved issues from her friend’s disappearance is challenged as she meets a group of young scouts who are kind and decent, and who start to become important to her. Readers will feel like they are in the forest, walking in Jenna and the other troops’ shoes. The sense of danger and foreboding is tangible, and the atmosphere stays tense throughout. The story also touches on systemic racism in which the disappearance of brown and black children is not treated with the same urgency as white children and the bigotry exhibited towards Jenna and Reese as black children by the previous, predominantly white scout group. Jenna’s assertions that her friend was stolen are dismissed, and her character and that of her friend is called into question because of her race. This hits the reader as a double blow, along with the very real jeopardy faced by both girls, as a result. It Came from the Trees is a phenomenal debut novel that offers legitimate horror as well as emotional tension from beginning to end. Ally Russell has brought a higher level of terror and relevance to the Bigfoot legend for a postmillennial audience.

4.5 stars

It Came from the Trees by Ally Russell presents a compelling mix of wilderness adventure and supernatural mystery. The protagonist, Jenna, is a standout character with her deep connection to the wilderness and her unwavering determination to find her missing friend, Reese. Her backstory, with a grandfather who was the first Black park ranger at Sturbridge Reservation, adds depth and richness to her character. However, the plot occasionally feels disjointed, with the adults in her life, including her parents and the police, appearing frustratingly ineffective, which can be a bit exasperating for readers.

The middle section of the book picks up the pace as Jenna joins a local scout troop and heads back into the woods, where the suspense heightens. The discovery of large human-like footprints and strange sounds in the forest builds a palpable sense of dread. Yet, the interactions within the scout troop sometimes feel underdeveloped. The bond between Jenna and her new friend Norrie, while promising, lacks the emotional depth that could have made their relationship more impactful.

The climax, where the scouts face the creature, offers a mix of action and tension. The use of their survival skills, combined with everyday items like toiletries, adds a creative twist. However, the resolution feels a bit rushed and leaves some questions unanswered. While the book has moments of genuine suspense and a strong lead character, it doesn't fully realize its potential, making it an enjoyable but somewhat uneven read.

I am super excited to read It Came From The Trees! I will be writing a review for the TBR instragram book tours on August 4th. I will update my review then!

IT CAME FROM THE TREES was a fantastic middle grade horror novel that was every bit as terrifying as its cover!!! I love camping, the woods, friendship stories, and cryptids, so this was right up my alley. I can't wait to read more from Ally Russell!

It Came from the Trees is a terrifying read from start to finish, easily one of the scariest novels for children I've ever read. About a scout trooper searching for her best friend who was abducted by a cryptid-like Bigfoot monster, the book starts strong and continues developing its tension and dread until the last couple of chapters.

Russell's understanding of tension and terror is strong enough to sell the book, but the novel is more than just spooky. It develops a great sense of found family dynamics, centering on the communicability of experience and the importance of being heard and validated. In most children's literature, I look for the developmental threads that speak directly to kids and their experiences; that's often the hallmark for what makes a middle grade book good in my experience. Russell seems to understand the importance of finding that message, but she does so without ever condescending to her reader or making the book into a coded lecture.

Yet there are still excellent messages coded into the book. It explores the frustration of being a kid and seeing figures of authority dismiss your experience on account of your age and your ability to account for it. It explores the way black and brown kids are so commonly marginalized by those with authority. And it explores how important finding your community is, of pursuing your interests, and how sometimes the key to moving through trauma is to confront your fear.

It Came from the Trees is perfect summer reading, made for flashlights and s'mores, but also cognizant of treating its audience seriously and delivering on both the scares and deeper meaning.

Disclosure Statement: I received an advanced copy of the novel from the publisher in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are entirely my own and have not been influenced by either the publisher or the author in any way.