The Forest Tells You Things - Hardcover

Twelve-year-old Sylvia Calloway is trying to do what every new middle-school student wants to do: find her place without attracting the wrong kind of attention. But Sylvia has always noticed things other people miss. She feels emotions that have not been spoken. She senses truths before she can explain them. And lately, the natural world seems to be answering her in ways that are impossible to dismiss.An owl appears where it should not be. Fireflies gather as if called. A beloved beagle responds to thoughts no one has spoken aloud. Deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the forest itself seems to whisper through sudden warmth, instinct, and moments of knowing that Sylvia cannot explain.At school, Sylvia begins to recognize the same quiet difference in other children. With the help of unexpected friends, a perceptive teacher, and adults who understand more than they first reveal, she slowly discovers that her strange sensitivity may not be something to fear. But not everyone sees it as a gift. Dr. Voss believes unusual children must learn to hide the parts of themselves that make others uncomfortable, and her influence reaches further than Sylvia realizes.As school pressures, family expectations, beagle field trials, and the mystery surrounding her growing abilities begin to intersect, Sylvia faces a choice: make herself smaller so the world will accept her, or trust the part of herself that knows there is more beneath the surface.Set against the forests, farms, and small communities of North Carolina, The Forest Tells You Things is a tender, atmospheric story about intuition, belonging, friendship, animals, and the courage to remain fully yourself. Filled with quiet mystery and a touch of everyday magic, it explores what can happen when sensitive children are truly seen-and what may be lost when they are taught to silence what they know.Perfect for readers who love emotionally rich coming-of-age stories, meaningful animal connections, mysterious gifts, and the feeling that the natural world may be speaking to anyone willing to listen.