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Strangers in the Forest

carol ryrie brink mary e. reed

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Strangers in the Forest , originally published in 1959, was included in the Reader's Digest Condensed Books series. Set in the white-pine timberland of the Idaho panhandle in 1908, the story explores the efforts of the early U.S. Forest Service to instill a sense of conservation in the land--a new concept affecting Idaho's seemingly inexhaustible forests. Bundy Jones heads west to investigate the people taking timber homesteads in the north Idaho woods, suspecting that their real intention is to sell out for profit to lumber companies. Jones befriends the homesteaders, wins their confidence, and even admires them. When his connection with the Forest Service is revealed, most of the homesteaders turn against him. But the inferno of a north Idaho forest fire once again unites Jones and the timber settlers.

314 pages, Paperback

First published September 1,1993

This edition

Format
314 pages, Paperback
Published
September 8, 1993 by Washington State University Press
ISBN
9780874220964
ASIN
0874220963
Language
English

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About the author

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carol ryrie brink

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Born Caroline Ryrie, American author of over 30 juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal.

Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of California in 1917, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1918, the same year she married.

Anything Can Happen on the River, Brink's first novel, was published in 1934. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Idaho in 1965. Brink Hall, which houses the UI English Department and faculty offices, is named in her honor. The children's section of the Moscow, ID Carnegie public library is also named after her.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.2 / 5.0, 12 votes)
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12 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Hatyu66
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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I can't get enough of this author, I wish she'd written more books. Again for me this was Alaska-esque (although not set in AK). Made me really interested in Homesteading-not literally, as in want to actually do it-but still I'd like to think I could! I can't believe what people went through, even though it's about somehting I can't relate too, I still really related to their hopes and struggles. Great characters.
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TinyButMighty
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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The novel takes place in the white pine forests of the Idaho panhandle. The inchoate National Forest Service is opposed to homesteaders who plan to live six months on their land, sell it to a lumber company for a profit, who intend to log the forests for an even greater profit.

The characters are well-drawn: a John Muir-ish wanderer; a young woman who discovers a strength she never before possessed; a French-Canadian lumberjack; a strikingly beautiful and manipulative woman and the men who desire her; a milliner spinster who leaves her thriving business to speculate on a homestead, an old-school ranger who loves his dog.

Tragedy seems to pervade all of Brink's adult novels. I didn't experience the warm satisfaction of a feel-good ending; but the writing provoked me to many imaginings of my own ability to survive in a homestead built in the forest clearing. And I find that Carol Ryrie Brink's writing is its own reward.

Recommended to anyone interested in early Forest Service history, Idaho novels, or Carol Ryrie Brink fans.

This quote tickled me:
"After a while the air in the cabin reeked with the close relaxation of men who had spent an active day in the open." Page 57

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nosssnakes
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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There's a reason this author is much better known for her (excellent) children's books. Brink wants to bring alive the conservation movement of the early twentieth century, but her characters fail to come to life. In particular, the first character introduced, Bundy Jones, seems to have no personality or thoughts whatsoever. The elements for a good story were there (women homesteaders, Idaho forests, love), but it never came together. Think I'll stick with her more well-known works in the future.
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Ripo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Not a bad book, but old-fashioned. Very heavy with exposition and a story based on character development and history rather than plot made the book slow. Not bad--there were some fabulous aphorisms, and I got a lot out of the reading. The ending was quite dramatic and lovely--I felt like I was reading Jane Austen in a way. Not sure I'll pick up another of her books, but I got a lot out of this one.
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mandi92
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Good adventure but bogged down with too many soap operatic twists
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Savannah-Sama
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Interesting that some things (like the question of the fate of the western white pine) have really not changed in 100 years.
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haus444
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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At first I thought this was boring but then I did end up enjoying it more by the end. The best was her insight into western life/culture. Some perfect observations that I’d say still ring true today.
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typewritermonkey
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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I found this book to be extremely well written and engaging, however, I was rather surprised that, once again, Carol Ryrie Brink built up such characters and got me so caught up in the story and then, BAM! Started killing them. However, this book had a much more satisfying ending and I do think it turned out to be all's well that ends well.
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