Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

"The new YA thriller from the acclaimed author of The One Memory of Flora Banks.

A commune hidden from the world. A terrible accident. A lifetime of secrets to uncover.

I've been trapped here for days. What if I die here?
I decided to write down my story so that one day, when I'm discovered, they will know who I was and why I was here.

Arty has always lived in the Clearing, a small settlement in the forests of south India.

But their happy life, hidden from the rest of the world, is shattered by a terrible accident. For the first time in her sixteen years, Arty must leave the only place she's ever known, into the outside world she's been taught to fear.

Her only goal is to get help from a woman called Tania, who used to live in the forest, and the Uncle she knows is out there, somewhere. As she embarks on the terrifying journey, pursued by an enemy she can't fathom, Arty soon realises that not everyone is to be trusted.

She's looking for answers, but what she'll learn from Tania and Uncle Matthew is a shocking truth about her past.

Everything is changing too fast for this girl who came out of the woods, and is she running into a trap...?"

If I'm completely honest, I'm a bit baffled by how many glowing reviews this book has received. Maybe I was just feeling a bit let down by the fact that it's marketed as a YA Thriller. It might just be my perception of what a 'thriller' is but this certainly isn't it.

The book isn't all bad. I really enjoyed Arty. She was such a lovable character and watching her learn about this new world was pretty entertaining, but I didn't feel a connection to any of the other characters.

The clearing in the woods sounded like such an interesting place. I would have loved to have had more attention and time set here, learning about the matriarchy and the set up. Emily Barr's writing style really suited this environment so I would have preferred to have spent more time here.

I just felt that the book lacked the detail and depth that I wanted. I wanted something raw and gritty but this is not what I got. Not a bad book, but wasn't what I was expecting so I was left very disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

The premise sounded so good and I was so excited to read this book because I really enjoyed The one memory of Flora Banks - Emily Barr’s writing is wonderful but I just felt confused by what was happening in the book, I wasn’t really enjoying picking this one up probably because I was so confused with what was going on. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me, which I’m really sad about because I wanted to love it.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book - I loved 'The One Memory of Flora Banks' so was very excited to read this.

Artemis was born in a forest in India, part of a small community isolated (by choice) from the outside world - until something terrible happens, and she has to leave. Like Flora, Artemis is quite naive, and her exploration of the larger world is sweet, although tinged with sadness about the events that brought her there. A clever dual narrative from a character not identified until near the end of the book adds a mysterious 'Room'-like element to the story; all the threads tie up neatly at the end.

An absorbing and hugely enjoyable read - perfect summer holiday reading!

I loved this book. Arty’s life has been totally different from most peoples. She has been brought up in the forest in India. When illness strikes she is forced to leave to get help. Her life changes totally. This story is really well written and a compelling read. I was pulled in from the start and kept reading until the end. This is a gem of a book and it was a pleasure to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Arty (Artemis) has grown up in a clearing in an Indian forest with eleven other people. They name themselves after Gods and Goddesses and have almost entirely shut themselves off from the outside world. Arty and the other children have never left the clearing. It’s an idyllic life, until an illness strikes the camp. It’s highly contagious, and all of the inhabitants except for Arty and one of her ‘brothers’, Zeus, die. Arty and Zeus are alone in the world, until Zeus’ aunt comes to claim him, leaving Arty utterly alone.
This is the story of Arty finding her family and her place in a strange world.
I really enjoyed this. Arty has such a simplistic view of life, but this makes her a genuine, caring person - she has a lot to learn. She has no knowledge of money, transport, and has led a sheltered life.
Alongside her story are excerpts of a mystery person who appears to be locked in a room. I couldn’t understand what the connection was to begin with, but it all became clear - a very clever addition to the book.
This is a lovely story, and well worth a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book to read and review, and to The Pigeonhole who ensured that I actually got it read!

Artemis was the first child born in the clearing and has never been out in the real world. When sickness strikes down one person after another, Arty has no choice but to leave the only home she has ever known, to try and get help for those she loves.
Emily Barr has created yet another interesting character. Arty is so innocent and naive, but at the same time has such strength and determination. She's super smart and despite her sheltered life has learned and absorbed so much through the books she has read. I love how she appreciates everything, a real lesson for me too.
This book was full of mysteries running throughout, will lots of reveals that I didn't see coming.

This is wonderful, I've not read anything like it in a long time and I just did'n't know what was going to happen. Don't get me wrong, I thought I knew....but flipping heck.

The story is set in a commune hidden away from everyone and everything in a forest in India, there is an incident and our character has no choice but to leave and discover the outside world.

This book made me question a few things about the modern world, it broke my heart, and it made me full of joy. I went through a whole range of emotions with this tale, and I think i'll take this with me in my heart for quite a long time.

Arty (Artemis) has grown up in a tiny community almost entirely cut off from the outside world….except the shaman sells the ‘herbs’ they grow occasionally for essentials and once a year for Kotta, they have Kingfisher beer and Dairy Milk.

They live in a clearing in a forest about sixty miles from Mumbai, in a matriarchal society, and all have the names of goddesses and gods.

Arty has never known any other life, until a sickness hits the clearing and she has to leave and is taken to the real world…..and it’s a total shock to her…..the smells, the food and sheer number of people….

Along with Arty’s tale, is that of a prisoner in a basement…..who is it? Arty’s mum?

I loved Arty, smart but totally naive as to how the world really works…..trusting everyone..will she survive? Will she see Zeus or any of her family again?

I loved The Girl Who Came Out Of The Woods by Emily Barr, thought provoking and moving and a beautiful end….

I would like to thank the publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free and this is my honest and unbiased review.

#TheGirlWhoCameOutOfTheWoods

An utterly compelling, thoughtful & unusual adventure thriller packed with rich characters & vivid descriptions of India. Some unexpected twists & turns yet the reader's credulity never feels stretched. Very good indeed.

Arty comes out of the woods where she has lived her whole life after a tragedy befalls her commune. The rest of the novel is an account of her experience once she emerges from the woods.This book is rich with undertones of menace because of the foreshadowing alluding to Arty or someone else being trapped in a basement at some point. The writing cleverly shows how confusing correct interpretation of social interaction is when we are exposed to cultures we are not familiar with. This novel is so well written that when I finished the book I actually searched to see if there actually had been a girl who emerged from the woods in India.

This is my 3rd Book by Emily Barr and I have enjoyed it as much as the others, although it is classed as a YA fiction, it does not feel like it.

A beautiful and clever story that is well written and stays with you for a while after you finish reading.

A slow starter but by the middle I was totally hooked!
A gorgeous narrative, likeable characters, and a wonderful storyline.
This book is mesmerising, visually beautiful, and written so well.
I loved it!

Summary:
Artemis or as her family called her Arty was a part of a commune. Arty is a 16-year-old teenager living with her parents along with few other people in the clearing. These people are her family, her world. In fact, the only world she knows. Arty never interacted with the life outside the clearing.

But one day everything changes. An unknown virus attack wipes the entire commune. Only Arty and a younger member of the commune Zeus survives. This compels Arty to move to the outside world. And all Arty knows it’s dangerous, evil and tempting. Arty has to rely on her survival skills. And not only to survive but to find two people her mom told her before she died, Tania Roswell and Matthew.

The question is how will Arty survive the chaos and find Tania and Matthew?

My take on the book:

This is the first book I am reading by Emily Barr. I will start with some good points about the book.

The research by the author is commendable. The commune is in a clearing in India. It is a location near Mumbai or Lonavala. The author has a picturesque description of the landscape, topography, people. Mumbai’s depicted with a lot of details. For someone who’s not been to Mumbai and gives a clear picture.

Arty is someone intelligent and a survivor. She makes friends being impeccable. But there were certain aspects looked too far-fetched.

The setting moved from India to the UK. There are two POVs in narration. One is a mystery person’s account (revealed towards the end) and another one is the Arty’s perspective.

I was eager to read this book. But it did not my expectations. The book is fine with the concept and the structure. But somehow it didn’t appeal. 20% into the book I lost focus. It didn’t engage me or draw me into Arty’s world. It was difficult to finish this book.

The concept and storyline were neat but got lost somewhere. I read about the author and it seems she has other books that are interesting. I will read them which might give me reasons to re-read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children’s Publishers for the book.

I am sorry for this but I was disappointed reading the book.

An intriguing novel and one I read fast but I think suffers from the tag of YA Thriller when it's more of a character drama and coming of age tale.

A girl comes out of the woods to a world she knows nothing of. This is a dual narrative timeline with the girl readjusting to life outside, having been living in a forest commune for her entire remembered life and an unknown person trying to escape a basement torture.

How these two tales eventually intertwine forms the central premise and there is some beautiful writing here, especially in relation to the girls journey of discovery, about her family, the reasons why she and her mother ended up in the commune and some emotional and life affirming themes running throughout. 

However I'm not sure the basement part really works, it felt a little like it was simply a plot device to allow for the possibility of a twist - when in fact my personal opinion is that the mystery aspect wasn't really required. The heart of this book is with Arty, in the same way that Flora Banks was all about Flora, Emily Barr writes character drama especially involving younger protagonists absolutely brilliantly. It's her writing super power. I see no need to try and shoehorn her into thriller territory but perhaps that's just me. It is after all her book not mine.

Overall a lovely and clever story which loses focus a little in the middle but gives a wonderfully nostalgic and thoughtful finale.

The Girl Who Came Out Of The Woods by Emily Barr a five-star read you will want to seek out. I have read a few books by this author and enjoyed them, this one seemed to have more depth and kept me guessing a lot longer, I honestly don’t know what to write as its one of those where if I put the wrong thing, I feel it would spoil the story for you, there are details that if I had known at first It wouldn’t have been as good a read, so buy the book, suspend reality and just enjoy the reading.

I was super intrigued by the premise of this book, a girl who has grown up completely separate from society and the modern world. After her whole community become ill Arty our main character and Zeus must go into the'real' world and must try to figure out how they fit into this world as they realise there is no-one left in 'The Clearing' for them to go back to. I loved exploring the world for the first time in Arty's eyes and the things that went right and wrong. This is a remarkable story with a fantastic protagonist .

This is my first Emily Barr book. I feel like I’ve missed out, but chuffed to have found a new author’s books to read!!

Arty has grown up in the woods with only 11 other people, they sleep in tree houses and are 1 big family. She has no inclination to leave but when something bad happens Arty has to leave her small community behind and go out into the big world that she has only ever read about.

Alongside this story is about someone who is locked in a basement, who plans on how to escape. The link to these stories are later revealed even though I was desperately trying to guess!!

I loved this book, which proved that there are some Samaritans out there willing to help.

I was fully engrossed in this book, Arty was a wonderful character struggling to find her way, not knowing who she can trust and what is the cryptic message “do not go into the basement” all about.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Another brilliant book from this author. It doesn't matter that it was a YA novel I still loved it all the same.
10/10

An unusual story. Art was born in a commune in India, cut off completely from the outside world until a mystery illness wipes out the whole community, leaving Art to find her own way in the outside world. Have now given this to my 13 year old daughter to read.

I really enjoyed this book, and have recommended that my daughter (12) read it too!

Arty was born in a remote commune in the woods (The Clearing), with no influence from the modern world and no contact with anyone other that the other members of the commune, she and her fellow

One day, something terrible happens and Arty must leave The Clearing and venture out into the world..

At the same time that we are reading about the commune and how Arty manages outside The Clearing, we also read a story from the point of view of someone who is being kept in a basement against their will.

If this is Arty's narrative, or not - you'll just have to read the book to find out!

Now to go and find some more by Emily Barr to read!