What the Woods Took Summary, Characters and Themes
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould is a gripping psychological thriller that explores themes of survival, trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit.
The story follows Devin Green, a rebellious teen who, along with others, is forcibly taken to a mysterious wilderness therapy program called REVIVE. What begins as an unsettling experience quickly turns into a fight for survival as the teens uncover the dark truth behind the program. With eerie forests, sinister counselors, and the constant threat of the unknown, the novel masterfully blends suspense, horror, and emotional depth, keeping readers on edge until the very last page.
Summary
Devin Green is jolted awake in the dead of night by two men in her foster home. Before she can fight back, she is dragged out of bed and thrown into a van. Her foster parents stand by, indifferent. Inside the van, she meets Ollie Baker, another abducted teen, just as confused and terrified.
They soon learn they are being taken to a place called REVIVE—a wilderness therapy program designed to “reform” troubled youth. After hours of travel, they arrive at a remote forest, greeted by the program’s strict counselors, Coach Ethan and Coach Liv.
There, they meet three other teens—Sheridan, a sharp-tongued rebel; Aidan, an anxious rule-follower; and Hannah, a quiet observer. The camp is primitive, the rules are rigid, and the teens quickly realize they are completely cut off from the outside world.
From the start, Devin resists. She questions the legitimacy of the program, pushing back against the harsh conditions and the counselors’ control. Ethan and Liv, however, enforce strict obedience, punishing defiance with isolation and physical labor.
The teens are forced to build their own shelters, ration food, and endure punishing hikes. Despite the tough conditions, tensions within the group start to shift—Devin and Ollie form a reluctant bond, while Sheridan, though cynical, becomes an unexpected ally.
One night, Devin overhears Ethan and Liv whispering about something sinister. She senses that there’s more to REVIVE than just discipline. The next day, the group is put through survival training, but Devin refuses to comply.
When she attempts an escape, she is swiftly caught, with Ethan warning her that the woods are far more dangerous than she realizes. Rumors circulate about past participants who vanished without a trace.
As the days pass, the eerie silence of the woods unsettles the teens. Strange noises echo at night, and an uneasy feeling creeps over the camp. Then, Hannah mysteriously disappears.
Ethan and Liv dismiss her absence, claiming she “left the program,” but the remaining teens are terrified. Determined to uncover the truth, Devin and Ollie search the forest and stumble upon an abandoned cabin. Inside, they find records of past participants—many never made it home.
The realization hits hard: REVIVE isn’t just a brutal therapy program; it’s a place where teens disappear.
Sheridan confronts Ethan, testing his authority, but instead of punishing her, he seems to welcome her defiance, almost as if he’s trying to push her further. Meanwhile, Aidan, torn between following the rules and his growing fear, becomes more unpredictable. When his journal—where he documented everything—goes missing, paranoia grows.
As the group’s distrust deepens, Ollie finally breaks down, revealing that his father abandoned him to the program as punishment. His vulnerability strengthens his bond with Devin and Sheridan, fueling their resolve to escape.
Desperation leads them to a hidden radio in the supply tent. If they can find the right frequency, they might call for help. They devise a plan—create a diversion while sending out an SOS signal. But someone betrays them. Their plan is exposed, and Ethan and Liv tighten their control.
In a final act of defiance, Sheridan sets fire to the camp, creating enough chaos for Devin and Ollie to escape into the woods.
The final chase is relentless. Ethan and Liv pursue them, but with sheer determination, Devin and Ollie reach a road. A passing car stops, rescuing them just in time. Authorities are alerted, and REVIVE is exposed. Yet, the scars remain—many teens are still missing, and the program’s full extent remains a mystery. In the aftermath, Devin and Ollie vow to uncover the truth, ensuring that no more kids suffer the same fate.
But as they move forward, one haunting question lingers—what really happened to Sheridan?
Characters
Devin Green
Devin starts off as a rebellious and distrustful character, shaped by her unstable experiences in foster care. She has learned to rely only on herself, which leads her to resist the wilderness therapy program that she is forcibly placed in.
Initially, she is bitter and isolates herself, skeptical of everyone, including the counselors and other teens. However, as the story progresses, Devin begins to recognize the true nature of the program and its corruption.
Her resilience and resourcefulness help her evolve into a leader in the group’s attempts to escape. As she forms deeper bonds with Ollie and Sheridan, Devin moves away from her instinct to be a loner.
She eventually becomes the driving force behind the effort to expose the horrors of REVIVE and vows to seek justice for the other missing teens. Her arc reflects personal growth, from a survivor of neglect and abandonment to someone who learns to trust others and fight for what is right.
Ollie Baker
Ollie is introduced as emotionally shut off, having been abandoned by his father and carrying a heavy burden of guilt. Initially, he tries to keep his head down, avoiding any conflict or resistance.
He is compliant and focuses on surviving the ordeal, but over time, his character begins to shift. Through his relationship with Devin and Sheridan, Ollie finds the courage to stand up against the system.
He becomes a more active participant in uncovering the dark truths about the program and proves himself to be instrumental in finding evidence of REVIVE’s sinister history.
Ollie’s arc is one of transformation, as he gains confidence, courage, and a sense of purpose, which allows him to support Devin in her mission. By the end of the story, Ollie emerges as a survivor determined to rebuild his life and help bring justice to the other victims of REVIVE.
Sheridan
Sheridan begins as a sarcastic and detached character, using humor and rebellion as a shield to mask her inner pain. She initially appears apathetic and uninterested in the survival or success of the group.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that her defiance is a coping mechanism for deeper trauma. Sheridan’s arc is perhaps the most radical, as she evolves into the most fearless and strategic member of the group.
She takes on the role of the mastermind behind the final sabotage of REVIVE, showcasing her intelligence and willingness to risk everything for the greater good.
While her fate is left unresolved, with her survival uncertain after the escape, Sheridan’s transformation highlights her growth from a deeply wounded individual to one who takes decisive action, even if it means jeopardizing her own safety.
Aidan
Aidan starts as a nervous, anxious teen who seeks to please authority figures and follow the rules, despite the growing suspicion that something is terribly wrong with REVIVE.
Throughout the story, Aidan’s loyalty is tested as he struggles between wanting to believe in the system and fearing the truth. His internal conflict is evident, and at one point, it appears that he may betray the group.
However, the ambiguity of his motivations leaves his arc open-ended. Aidan’s character serves as a contrast to the others; while Devin, Ollie, and Sheridan grow into more active resisters, Aidan remains caught in a state of indecision.
His fate is left unresolved, suggesting that his struggle with loyalty and survival may ultimately define his future.
Hannah
Hannah is a seemingly normal girl with a tragic past, weighed down by guilt over a mistake she made. Initially, she tries to stay neutral, not fully engaging with the rebellion brewing among the other teens.
However, as the story progresses, she begins to question the legitimacy of the REVIVE program and grows increasingly suspicious of the counselors’ motives.
Her character arc takes a tragic turn when she mysteriously vanishes overnight, becoming one of the many victims of the program.
Hannah’s disappearance serves as a pivotal moment in the plot, sparking a sense of urgency and fear among the remaining teens, which ultimately leads to their decision to rebel against REVIVE.
While her story ends with her disappearance, Hannah’s presence is a catalyst for the group’s shift toward resistance.
Coach Ethan & Coach Liv
Coach Ethan and Coach Liv initially appear as strict but well-meaning counselors, tasked with overseeing the wilderness therapy program. However, as the story progresses, their true nature is revealed.
Ethan becomes increasingly authoritarian, enforcing the twisted rules of the program with no regard for the teens’ well-being. Meanwhile, Liv uses manipulation and psychological tactics to maintain control.
Both coaches justify their cruelty by claiming that the therapy is for the participants’ own good, but it becomes clear that their intentions are far darker. They are not interested in healing or rehabilitation but in maintaining power over the teens and using them as subjects for their own purposes.
Their fates are left uncertain after the group’s escape, leaving an open question about how much influence they had over the program’s broader, more sinister objectives.
Themes
Psychological Manipulation and Control Within Confining Systems
One of the most significant and chilling themes in What the Woods Took is the psychological manipulation and control exercised by the counselors, Ethan and Liv, within the REVIVE wilderness program. This theme underscores the sinister nature of the program, as it begins to reveal itself as something far more than just a therapy camp.
The counselors use various psychological tactics to break down the teens’ sense of self and autonomy, making them question their own reality. The teens are constantly undermined, controlled through fear, and forced into submission.
Ethan and Liv enforce a strict authoritarian regime, relying on both physical and psychological intimidation to maintain their power. This psychological control becomes even more pronounced when the teens try to escape, as the consequences become more severe, creating an atmosphere where the teens are trapped not just physically but mentally as well.
The counselors’ manipulation is subtle but effective, as they disguise their cruelty under the guise of discipline and therapy. This theme explores the horrific potential for abuse in structured systems that are supposed to be for healing, showing how easily individuals can be dehumanized in the name of “treatment” or “correction.”
The Loss of Trust and the Battle for Autonomy in Abusive Environments
Another central theme that emerges in What the Woods Took is the loss of trust and the struggle for autonomy within an abusive and oppressive environment. From the very beginning, the protagonist, Devin, exhibits distrust, not only towards the counselors but also towards anyone who attempts to guide or help her.
Having grown up in foster care, she has learned the painful lesson that those in authority are not to be trusted. This distrust becomes a survival mechanism as she tries to navigate the hostile and controlling nature of REVIVE.
As the story unfolds, the teens begin to realize that their autonomy has been stripped away by the system, and their ability to trust is tested again and again. They are forced to confront the realization that they are pawns in a dangerous game, with no control over their lives or their future.
The constant tension between the counselors’ control and the teens’ desire for self-determination creates an emotional battle, where even small acts of rebellion or defiance are incredibly dangerous but necessary for survival. As the group grows closer, their mutual distrust begins to shift into alliances built on the need for personal freedom, and this becomes the catalyst for their eventual rebellion.
Trauma, Survival, and the Long-Term Impact of Abuse on Personal Identity
The theme of trauma, survival, and the long-term impact of abuse on personal identity is profoundly explored through the characters of Devin, Ollie, and Sheridan. Each of these characters comes into the story already scarred by past experiences, and the wilderness program serves as an additional layer of trauma that shapes their identities.
For Devin, the harsh conditions of REVIVE force her to confront her past and reassess her survival mechanisms. Her experiences in foster care have left her closed off, distrustful, and emotionally guarded, but as she bonds with Ollie and Sheridan, she starts to open up and allow herself to care for others.
However, the scars left by REVIVE are far from superficial. Even as she works to escape, the emotional toll is apparent, as she reflects on the reality of what she has endured and how it has shaped her view of the world.
Ollie’s character arc also showcases the destructive impact of abuse, as he struggles with guilt over being abandoned by his father and the emotional distance that results from such neglect. His journey through the wilderness forces him to confront not only his trauma but also his need for connection and healing.
Sheridan’s cynical and detached demeanor hides a much deeper trauma, and her eventual willingness to risk everything in the rebellion reflects her profound desire for agency in a world where she has always been powerless. The theme of trauma and survival intertwines with their growth and the understanding that survival is not just about escaping the physical threats but also about reclaiming one’s identity from the ruins of past abuse.
The characters’ struggles to rebuild themselves emotionally and psychologically illustrate the devastating effects of long-term trauma and the hard, ongoing work of recovery and self-rediscovery.
The Paradox of Authority and Rebellion in the Face of Institutional Oppression
A complex theme explored throughout What the Woods Took is the paradox of authority and rebellion within an institution that thrives on oppression. The wilderness program is presented as a place of supposed healing and rehabilitation, but beneath the surface, it functions as an institution that enforces strict obedience and conformity.
The counselors, particularly Ethan and Liv, represent the authority figures in this system, but they are also depicted as manipulative and dangerous, using their power to control rather than guide the teens. Despite the constant reinforcement of authority, the teens’ instincts drive them to rebel, even when such actions seem futile.
This dynamic creates a paradox—while the institution seeks to break down the rebellious spirit, the very acts of rebellion become acts of survival, marking the teens’ resistance as both a defiant assertion of self and a necessary step toward escape.
This theme reflects a broader commentary on the nature of oppressive systems and the complex relationship between those who wield power and those who are subjected to it. The teens’ resistance to the counselors’ authority becomes symbolic of a much larger struggle for autonomy, dignity, and justice.
Ultimately, the story explores how oppressive institutions will try to crush rebellion, but such rebellion is often the very thing that fuels change, even if it’s a painful and uncertain process.
The Dangers of Isolation and the Erosion of Human Connection in Extreme Circumstances
Isolation, both physical and emotional, is a powerful theme in What the Woods Took, illustrating the dangers of being cut off from the outside world and from genuine human connection. The teens are physically isolated in the wilderness, and as they are cut off from any form of support, their emotional isolation deepens.
Their relationships with one another fluctuate between distrust and fleeting moments of connection, as the wilderness amplifies their fears, insecurities, and desperation. In extreme circumstances, where survival becomes the primary concern, the bonds between people are tested.
At times, they reach out for support, only to find that the people around them are also broken and struggling to cope with their own trauma. This emotional isolation creates a breeding ground for suspicion and paranoia, with the characters grappling with the intense psychological strain of being in a life-or-death situation without any clear ally.
The program, designed to break them down, only serves to highlight the importance of human connection in times of crisis, showing that isolation can lead to mental and emotional decay. The theme ultimately explores how survival in extreme environments is not just about overcoming physical challenges but also about the capacity for human beings to maintain empathy and connection under the most harrowing of circumstances.