The Forest Becomes Her
The perfect choice for your next book club: Julie Carrick Dalton's The Forest Becomes Her is a gorgeous, hopeful novel about three women from different generations navigating the complexities of family, the impacts of our choices, and our deep connections to the natural world beneath our feet.
In historic, bucolic Concord, Massachusetts, a centuries-old forest has been removed to make way for a new, eco-friendly housing development. The locals are upset by the destruction, but out-of-towners like Hazel Stoddard are flocking to put down roots in their new guilt-free dream homes.
Soon a tragedy leaves Hazel unmoored in her new life, and she begins to feel the pull of the absent forest. Hazel is not alone—her neighbors, real estate agent Stella Flint and teenage environmentalist Polly Bauer, each have their own traumas and their own relationship to the land. The three women are drawn together to save the last remaining oak tree, or they risk losing themselves to lingering shadows that only they can see.
In The Forest Becomes Her, Julie Carrick Dalton brings hope and reverence to this lush celebration of multigenerational female relationships, the ever-evolving female form, humanity’s connection to our changing world, and the mysteries that still exist in nature.
Praise
“A lush, lyrical exploration of sisterhood, rage, and the sacred ties between women and the wild. Blending beauty and depth, book clubs will find plenty to untangle in this urgent and moving tale.” ―Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Amalfi Curse and The Lost Apothecary
“A brilliantly evocative story of environmental crisis and human resilience…The Forest Becomes Her is a compelling story of intergenerational compassion and care that soars like the great oak at its heart.” ―Bruce Holsinger, nationally bestselling author of Culpability
“The Forest Becomes Her is a lush, aching meditation on loss, transformation, and the quiet power of women who refuse to be quiet. Julie Carrick Dalton has conjured a landscape that remembers everything ― and gives us characters we won’t soon forget.” ―Lily Brooks-Dalton, national bestselling author of The Light Pirate
“Dalton writes with extraordinary power and beauty about both the outside wilderness and the wildness inside women’s bodies, connecting the two in surprising and magnificent ways. A primal scream, and an exhilarating and unforgettable novel.” ―Katie Gutierrez, author of GMA Book Club pick More Than You’ll Ever Know
“A sweeping, evocative novel about three women’s collective battle to save the land that sustains them. Under Julie Carrick Dalton’s spell, I mourned and rejoiced with each woman as she confronted the age-old question of why we hurt the people and places we most love. An unforgettable read.” ―Kirstin Chen, New York Times bestselling author of Counterfeit
“Bursts with heart, emotion, and wisdom…timely and important, The Forest Becomes Her is Carrick Dalton at the height of her storytelling prowess.” ―Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of Beach House Rules
“A beautifully wrought tale that intertwines motherhood, Mother Nature, and mysticism in unexpected ways. Dalton’s lyrical storytelling captures the aching pull of the land and the bonds that tether us to one another.” ―Karen Winn, author of Our Little World and The Society