Source: Reader of Books "TiddlyBits"
Date: September 22, 2009

An excellent read! A hard subject handled wonderfully . . . i like that the author doesn't shy away from the topic of Daniel's depression and his thoughts of suicide . . . A great read and an important read for young adults. Teacher should embrace this book, the teaching/school community is wonderfully portrayed, very supportive of what Daniel is going through. You can tell that Ms Seagraves is from the Young Adult Education world. Highly recommended!!!

Source: Jude Cowell, Amazon.com
Date: October 4, 2009

How refreshing to find a novel that young people can read that doesn't contain wizards or fantastical creatures who may or may not help kids learn to successfully navigate our complex modern world.

Gone From These Woods takes a difficult family situation that turns even worse through accidental gun violence, and makes sense of how to manage hard issues and come out with liveable solutions in the end. In America we prize our guns yet we often give little attention to what happens when things go horribly wrong with unintended consequences - especially for our young folk.

Having read before a few of Ms. Seagraves magazine articles, I was interested to see how she would treat this complicated, sad subject matter in the longer form of a novel, and I'm pleased to say that pre-teens and teens, parents, and teachers can take away much practical advice and hope from this well-told tale.

Source: Cynthia Crain, Author, Amazon.com
Date: October 8, 2009

Eleven-year-old Daniel "D-Man" Sartain would do anything to please his favorite uncle, his friend. Even get up early on a cold November morning and traipse through the thick Georgian woods, a .410 shotgun in his trembling hands. Uncle Clay says it is time for D-Man to learn to hunt. D-Man's not so sure. Still, he doesn't want to disappoint his uncle and the many other male Sartain ancestors who had once hunted in these same piney woods. D-Man tries to act tough; he takes aim and prepares to fire. His first hunt. His first kill. But then things go dreadfully wrong, changing his life forever.

Donny Bailey Seagraves's debut novel is riveting. The emotional struggles that the tormented eleven-year-old boy must cope with will resonate with young readers. It is the type of book that boys and girls will not want to stop reading until it is finished.