Beyond Seven Forests
A blizzard. An oath. A war outside and within.
By the winter of 1916, World War I has ravaged the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Eighteen-year-old Renata Zamoyska, Polish countess and doctor-in-training, has lost everything to the Russian occupation: her family, her home, her fiancé. But with the Russians in retreat and the Germans now in charge, life isn’t much easier. Wounded soldiers keep arriving from the front, Renia’s house remains in ruins, and the scars of the occupation linger.
When two Polish deserters from the Russian army turn up on her doorstep just before a fierce blizzard, Renia finds herself trapped in her own home alongside people she’s long considered enemies. Cut off from the outside world while the storm rages, Renia must fight to survive, grapple with her wartime scars, and decide what justice, freedom, and healing look like for her.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
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979-8-7656-7081-1
On pre-order until 02/03/2026
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$18.99 | |
|
979-8-7656-9153-3
On pre-order until 02/03/2026
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$23.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 9 - Grade 12 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 8 |
| Genre | Young Adult |
| Category | SEL: A Self-Awareness, SEL: B Self-Management, SEL: C Social Awareness, SEL: D Relationship Skills, Social Emotional Learning |
| Copyright | 2026 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Carolrhoda Lab ® |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 192 |
| Publication Date | 2026-02-03 |
Author: Amanda McCrina
Amanda McCrina is the author of the YA historical novels Traitor, I’ll Tell You No Lies, Beyond Seven Forests, and The Silent Unseen which was selected as a Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Book of the Year. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she holds a BA in history and political science from the University of West Georgia. After three years of teaching English, history, and government at an international school outside Madrid, Spain, she now lives outside Nashville, Tennessee, where she works as a bookseller.
Reviews
Publishers Weekly
“It’s a complex narrative rendered in the protagonist’s measured voice and filled with references to Polish class distinctions and history.”—Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Reviews
“A thoughtful examination of boundaries between right and wrong, carried by the moral tension and strength of the characters, this novel challenges readers to question ethical certainties. Sharp, compelling, and thoughtful.”—Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
“For fans of Libba Bray and Ruta Sepetys, this is a well-written, suspenseful story, which would be a great addition to YA sections.”—School Library Journal
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
“McCrina’s writing is muscular, precise and visual. A must read.”—Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, author of the Kidnapped from Ukraine series
Carolyn Tara O'Neil
“Riveting and powerful.”—Carolyn Tara O’Neil, author of Daughters of a Dead Empire