4-1/2 stars

I wanted to read this because adored this author's two book series The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. This wasn't quite as amazing but if I weren't comparing it to those books I'd have no problem giving it 5 stars. My 9-12 year old self definitely would.

I’ve always been interested in the Appalachian Trail, and this story made me want to thru-hike it or at least do some other equal hiking challenge. I think had I read this before I turned 50 (and suffered the injuries I did at age 50) and certainly had I read it by my mid-thirties, I’d have tried it.

This is a great story about nature & hiking & challenges, about a mother-daughter relationship, and sibling relationship, etc. relationships. It’s a tale of perserverance and ingenuity.

I got a good feel for the various locales and what it would be like to make this kind of hike. I got a wonderful feel for the camaraderie and these specific characters, their issues, their relationships, etc. I really adored Dani, and also liked many of the other characters.

I loved the map. I always love maps in books. This one is lacking though. Not only is it too basic but when markers are reached by the characters they don’t appear on the map at all. I wish that they had. I was able to get the gist though.

I really appreciated the 2 pages at the end post novel that give some info about some interesting real life characters who've thru-hiked the trail.

I’d love to write more but I still have no way to update or create documents on my computer. I’m posting now to Goodreads and maybe to LibraryThing but will have to wait to update my reviews doc on my computer. I’m getting way too behind with computer work though so I’m posting online at least. I could say so much more but am keeping it short.

P.S. I also love Dani’s mother Susan and Vivi. So much else I could say sans spoilers! ( )

Outstanding young adult novel that superbly combines adventurous struggle against nature with familial conflict. Girls will like this book, as a young runaway decides to thru-hike the Appalachian Mountains, and then gets tracked down by Mom as a companion hiker. They try to sort out mother-daughter conflicts, and thankfully, it isn't all syrupy; there's culpability all around, and the girl doesn't even finish the trail...just like most hikers don't. Brubaker is masterful in her portrayal of teen rebellion, infatuation, and idealism. ( )

This book is about a girl who goes camping with her mom and she really wanted her older brother to come along, but he can't because he has a diese so he has to be in a wheelchair. The girls dad and mom got divorced. When the girls parents got divorced her dad got remarried and had a new baby boy. The girl was not very happy when she found out that her dad got remarried and her new stepmom was going to have a baby and the girl would have two moms and a new baby brother. She did not want a new brother. But you know what the girls new mom seemed really nice but the girl thought that her new mom was really mean but she was actually really nice. ( )