And the Trees Crept In
Book Description
A forest looms between two sisters and their escape from a dark family secret. As they navigate its tangled roots and haunting whispers, reality begins to unravel. Shadows stretch and twist, leaving them questioning the nature of their own minds. With each step deeper into the woods, loyalty is tested, and trust frays at every edge. What lurks in the trees is more terrifying than any monster; it's their own buried fears. Secrets rise like smoke, and survival becomes a chilling game. Will they confront the darkness that creeps in, or will they be consumed by it forever?
Quick Book Summary
"And the Trees Crept In" follows Silla and Nori, two sisters fleeing an abusive past to their aunt’s eerie manor, La Baume, surrounded by an ever-encroaching forest called the Creeper Wood. Inside the house, they find safety is an illusion; the trees grow unnaturally close with every passing day, and sinister whispers and shadows haunt their every move. Silla’s grip on reality slips as food runs out, her aunt unravels, and she is plagued by terrifying visions and mysterious scars. The girls' bond is tested as the truth about their family’s history comes to light. Forced to confront the darkness both within and around them, Silla must determine what is real, face the secrets festering in the trees, and decide how far she’ll go to save her sister from the creeping madness and the sinister fate stalking them both.
Summary of Key Ideas
Table of Contents
Sisterhood and Loyalty in the Face of Fear
Silla and her mute younger sister, Nori, arrive at La Baume, their family’s ancestral manor, desperate to escape their mother and a tormented home life. The girls are greeted by their eccentric Aunt Cath, who welcomes them with open arms but harbors secrets about the house and mysterious woods surrounding it. At first, the atmosphere feels safe, but soon oddities begin: Cath’s behavior becomes erratic, and the forest, known as Creeper Wood, seems to be growing ever closer to the house each night.
The Haunting Nature of Secrets and Trauma
As days pass, Aunt Cath descends into madness and vanishes, leaving the sisters isolated. The manor deteriorates, supplies dwindle, and the girls hear voices and see shadows moving in the woods. The trees creep toward the house, pressing against walls and windows, as if alive and hungry. With no escape and no contact from the outside world, Silla’s sense of reality starts to fragment, raising doubts about her own sanity and what is truly happening at La Baume.
Blurring Lines Between Reality and Madness
Haunted by apparitions and cryptic warnings, Silla tries to protect Nori while deciphering the origin of the sinister forces. She discovers clues pointing to a generational curse rooted in their family. The narrative reveals that the creeping forest is a manifestation of guilt, trauma, and secrets long hidden beneath the surface. Silla experiences time slips and hallucinations, blurring the boundaries of past and present.
The Encroachment of the Unnatural and Paranormal
The tension between the sisters grows as hunger, fear, and the forest’s oppression mount. Silla’s nightmares intensify, and she is left questioning whom she can trust, even as a shadowy, mysterious boy appears with ambiguous motives. Isolation and uncertainty force Silla to confront painful memories buried in her subconscious, and she realizes the darkness lurking in the trees is intimately tied to her own fears and actions.
The Cycle of Family Legacy and Darkness
In the final confrontation, Silla faces the truth about her family’s curse and her role within it. The forest’s hold over La Baume mirrors the psychological stranglehold of trauma. To save her sister and bring an end to the haunting, Silla must make a harrowing sacrifice—accepting responsibility, exposing the truth, and breaking the cycle of secrecy and pain. The story ends ambiguously, lingering on the blurred edges of reality, trauma, and legacy, leaving readers with a chilling sense of uncertainty and catharsis.
Download This Summary
Get a free PDF of this summary instantly — no email required.