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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...

The Hork-Bajir Chronicles by K. A. Applegate

The Hork Bajir-Chronicles tells the origins of the Yeerk invasion, Hork-Bajir as shock troops, and the immediate aftermath of Seerow's Kindness. A slow revelation combines with a sense of inevitability in this exploration of the drive to conquer and the resolve to stay free.

The rotating perspectives give some dimension to the Yeerks as villains, they have reasons for what they do beyond simple cruelty. Because reading the main series tells you where this story will end up, there is a sense of gloom when reading it. It also has some hope, because it is told in a time of new freedom for some Hork-Bajir. The ending is hopeful on a first reading and kind of ominous since I know where things lead after this. It's a pretty good snapshot of the tone of the series as a whole, with Aldrea and Dak as guerrilla fighters instead of the Animorphs.

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