By Cat Wyatt

Where to start; Out of the Woods is a beautiful and thought-provoking story that helps to explain the experiences one has when dealing with depression and anxiety. The main character, Brent is suffering from both, and like many people in today’s society is afraid of the stigma that comes with treatment. More than that, he feels it is wrong to have to take a medication or see a psychologist like they’re a sign of weakness. But the truth is, like any disease out there, the best way to handle it is to go see the appropriate medical professional to get help. Depression and anxiety are no exceptions, no matter how society may feel about it.

The storytelling technique used for explaining both illnesses to Brent (and thus to us) is interesting, and while I don’t think I would have thought to try that method myself, I actually really enjoyed it. Having an illusionary person explain the intricacies and problems associated with them was a brilliant way of letting Brent talk about his feelings and reactions, even when alone. Thus solving the show/tell problem. It was elegantly handled.

The portrayal and descriptions of both depression and anxiety were spot on. Not only did the author cover the most well-known effects, but the less known and more subtle ones as well. As somebody that suffers from anxiety, I appreciate the effort they took to make sure everything was done right. I’m sure many others would agree as well.

Brent’s road to recovery is full of ups and downs, but it focuses heavily on the overall positive turn towards being a healthier person on the whole. There isn’t a switch one can flip and have it all over with. It’s all about baby steps, and sometimes that can be overwhelming in and of itself. That’s why I think this is such a wonderful book. Not only would it be a helpful read to anybody suffering from any mental ailment (I believe this would apply to more than only depression and anxiety), but it would be useful to the friends and family of said person; give them a better understanding of what they’re going through, and therefore insight to their mood and reactions.

As for the artwork, I sincerely can’t get over how stunning it all is. According to the description, there are over seven hundred images included in this novel. While that doesn’t sound like much, considering the fact that they’re all hand painted certainly impressed me. I loved the choice to have everything done in watercolor – it fit the tone and subject matter in a way a lot of other art styles might not have. It gave it a more ethereal feel, which considering Brent’s guide, really felt appropriate. I can’t picture having read Brent’s journey in any other manner.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Brent Williams
Illustrator: Korkut Oztekin
Publisher: Educational Resources Ltd.
Available for purchase at: Amazon