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Don't Let The Forest In by Cg Drews

As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews' debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods. Once upon a time, Andrew had cut out his heart and given it to this boy, and he was very sure Thomas had no idea that Andrew would do anything for him. Protect him. Lie for him. Kill for him. High school senior Andrew Perrault finds refuge in the twisted fairytales that he writes for the only person who can ground him to reality—Thomas Rye, the boy with perpetually ink-stained hands and hair like autumn leaves. And with his twin sister, Dove, inexplicably keeping him at a cold distance upon their return to Wickwood Academy, Andrew finds himself leaning on his friend even more. But something strange is going on with Thomas. His abusive parents have mysteriously vanished, and he arrives at school with blood on his sleeve. Thomas won't say a word about it, and shuts down whenever Andrew tries to ask him questions...

Animorphs Book 8: The Alien by K. A. Applegate

The Alien deals with isolation, uncertainty, and learning when/whether to trust. Ax must decide whether he's one of the Animorphs or just conveniently aligned. Ax tells the humans how Seerow's Kindness doomed their planet.

This book stands out for being the first real look at how differently Ax approaches everything as an Andalite. Its treatment of isolation while surrounded by friends and allies manages to be insightful without just treating Ax badly for not embracing the Animorphs as completely as they welcomed him. It's a delicate balance because too far in one direction would make it harder to trust them as a unit later in the series, but making him trust them too easily would make the conflict in this particular book seem pointless. It helps that there is a specific reason that Ax is hesitant to trust that goes deeper than just being uncomfortable, and I think it's handled well here.

A centaur-like alien with blue fur and stalk-eyes (Aximili the Andalite) turns into a human

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