Books like Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest by Matt Haig

Samuel Blink and his sister Martha arrive in Norway to live with their eccentric Aunt Eda, who imposes a strict set of rules—including that the family must never enter the adjacent forest. Without television and with a diet of brown cheese and reindeer soup, the children must learn to adapt to their new surroundings. Aunt Eda’s fear of the forest is legendary, especially after her brother Henrik disappeared ten years earlier. Samuel’s curiosity gets the better of him when he finds a mysterious book called "The Creatures of the Shadow Forest" in the attic, filled with frightening descriptions of mythical beasts that supposedly haunt the woods. From that moment, the forest seems to take on a life of its own as strange sights and sounds begin to appear beyond the treeline. The story follows Samuel’s investigation into the forest’s secrets and the truth behind his uncle’s disappearance, blending humor, fantasy, and a touch of suspense.

First publish date: 2006