Eleven-year-old Annie, 9-year-old "Rew" (Andrew) and Gran reside together in a country house adjacent to the Zebra Forest. That is, white birch trees interspersed with darkness makes the trees reminiscent of a zebra's stripes. Annie and Rew love the Zebra. They also adore acting out Treasure Island and enjoying other books. 

Gran cannot emerge from bed most days... so Annie is tasked with paying the bills and buying groceries for the family. Rew just seems angry, like the man that killed the father. Adele is the social worker who asks about Gran, but she does not want to break the family up.

One day, a mad man emerges from the kids' beloved forest. An escapee from prison, he locks down the house and takes the three bewildered people hostage. Hours turn into days, which turn into weeks; the man is waiting for something, but who knows what? Annie, Rew and Gran are terrified and at a loss of what to do. 

Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz, 2013

• Adina Rishe Gewirtz's web site
• Books about depression
• Books about fugitives
• Books about prison