Beyond Seven Forests

Gr 9 Up–Renata Zamoyska, an 18-year-old Polish countess, is being tried for treason. She is being questioned in a military tribunal, accused of aiding two Polish deserters from the Russian army. It is 1916, and the Russian occupation of Poland has cost Renata her family, her fiancé, and her home. The suspense of the unfolding trial is blended with stories of Renata’s family, her community, and the devastation the war has brought to her life. McCrina includes details about social conventions of the upper class and about the progress of World War I. Renata is training as a doctor, which is unusual for a young woman of her time. Some of her memories include details of her teenage life, which makes her story relatable. Much of Renata’s tale is dark and disturbing, and includes memories of executions, suicide, and sexual violence. There are some unexpected plot twists before the final verdict.