Summer is often remembered as a season of freedom, adventure, and discovery. But for some children, it's also a time when they first encounter the complicated realities of the adult world—where courage is tested, innocence is challenged, and growing up happens much faster than expected.

Today's guest explores that emotional landscape in his debut novel, Into the Night Woods.

Author E. Davis Enloe transports readers to the North Carolina Appalachian Mountains, where twelve-year-old Boyd is sent to spend the summer on his grandfather's farm after getting into trouble at school. What begins as an unwanted punishment soon becomes an unforgettable coming-of-age journey filled with friendship, family conflict, hidden dangers, and difficult moral choices. Alongside his best friend Roger, Boyd navigates abusive adults, corruption, the wilderness, and the frightening realization that sometimes children must find the courage adults cannot.

Today we'll talk about the inspiration behind the novel, creating authentic young characters, the Appalachian setting, themes of friendship and resilience, and why stories about growing up continue to resonate with readers of all ages.