Ally grew up on a steady diet of Halloween parties, horror films, Unsolved Mysteries, and Goosebumps books. She has always loved scary stories, and got her MFA from Simmons University and, eventually, a job working in children's publishing. She hails from Pittsburgh--ground zero for the zombie apocalypse. Ally lives with her husband and her two black cats, Nox and Fury. She's afraid of the woods, the dark, and heights. It Came from the Trees is her debut novel.

Praise for It Came From the Trees

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
A Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee!
A New York Public Library Vibrant Voices Pick!

"The nail biting mystery is so wonderfully crafted that it's impossible to know what will happen next. This is a must read for anyone who loves strong female main characters and spooky novels!" --Daka Hermon, author of Hide and Seeker

"A spine-chilling and grisly adventure, It Came From the Trees is equally instructive, thrilling, and gruesomely monstrous. It's the classic beast of a campfire story that will leave you gasping for breath until the very last page." --Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author of Bumps in the Night

"A spine-chilling debut. [An] adroitly crafted horror novel whose heroine perseveres in the face of malice both supernatural and man-made." --Publishers Weekly

"The fast-paced plot will keep the pages flying...Enticing campfire thrills and chills." --Kirkus Reviews

"Russell cooks up a campfire-worthy tale that delivers chills (including a formidable cryptid) and is fortified by a strong emotional core."--Booklist

"The perfect late-night story."--The Seattle Times

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Pub date: 2025-07-15

Length: 240 pages