The Georgia Writer Article

The Friends of the Peachtree City Library present Donny Bailey Seagraves, author of Gone From These Woods, Sunday, August 14, at 1:30 PM. Ms. Seagraves will read from and discuss her book in a program that is expected to last an hour. She will also sign copies of her book, which is available at the Omega Bookstore in the Peachtree Crossing Shopping Center.

The book is a first-person narrative by an eleven-year-old boy from rural Georgia whose squeamishness about hunting evolves into tragedy when he accidentally kills his beloved uncle in a hunting accident. The young Daniel then faces the wrath of an unforgiving and abusive father with support from his mother and others in the close community. Still, Daniel is overwhelmed with guilt. His journey to understanding and acceptance leads him to contemplate suicide.

Written at the 4th – 6th grade reading level with the vocabulary of the child narrator, the book’s language will nevertheless appeal to adults, and the powerful themes of death, guilt, and forgiveness deserve the attention of parents, teachers, and children alike.

Ms. Seagraves is a native of Athens, Georgia and is a longtime resident of the nearby small town of Winterville. She studied journalism at the University of Georgia, was a newspaper columnist and freelance writer for many years, and has owned and operated a used and rare book business, Junebug Books, for twelve years. Gone From These Woods, published by Random House/Delacorte Press, is Seagraves’ debut novel.

Amazon.com readers have awarded the book five stars. A review in the School Library Journal notes that the tough topics will engender many discussions about support and forgiveness. Booklist describes it as a “coming-of-age” story that will draw the reader in. Kirkus points out that Daniel’s “internal superhero-vs-villain battle” will appeal to middle school boys. Booklist compared Seagraves’ book to Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, a book that many teachers and young readers will recognize.

For more information about the author and Gone From These Woods, visit donnyseagraves.com. To learn about other programs at the Peachtree City Library, check the city website at www.peachtree-city.org/library.

This article appeared in The Georgia Writer, Wednesday, July 27, 2011.