Tag Archives: Hiking

MG – The Trouble with Heroes

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Messner, Kate. The Trouble with Heroes. Bloomsbury, 2025. 978-1-547-61639-8. 288 p.$17.99. Grades 6-8.

In The Trouble with Heroes, prolific author Kate Messner peels off the different layers of Finn Connelly’s story. Told in verse form, the reader first meets the rising seventh grader as he receives his failing reports in physical education and English. Because his teachers know that Finn has been going through some tough times emotionally, they are giving him an extension over the summer months. To add to his troubles, he vandalized the local cemetery. One of the tombstones he damaged belonged to a local woman known for her rock climbing skills. In lieu of legal action, the woman’s daughter challenges Finn to climb each of the mountains in the 46 Adirondack High Peaks of their small upstate New York town with the help of the mountain climbing club. Since the pandemic, Finn and his mother moved in with his grandmother who runs the family candy shop. Finn goes from resisting the climbs to conversing with his companion climbers. We gradually learn that Finn is grieving his father’s death. Finn’s father was a firefighter who saved a survivor of 9/11. During the lockdown, his father stayed behind in Manhattan to care for the sick as a paramedic. Finn’s childhood has been punctuated by his father’s bouts with alcoholism and depression. Finn has lots on his mind and lots of issues to work out. To add to these problems, with thinning COVID crowds, his grandmother’s shop is failing. Finn has a flair for baking cookies (recipes included in the book) and finds a way to save the business. There is a lot of sadness to deal with in this novel but a lot of hope. Finn learns he can lean on others, express himself in his writing, and be proud of his dad who loved him.

THOUGHTS: This book will be published in April. Kate Messner is usually a safe bet for middle grade readers. This entry is a slow starter, but gradually the events in Finn’s life reveal themselves. There is a lot going on here: failed classes, moving to a small town, trouble with the law, baking, failing business, 9/11, COVID, death, alcoholism, and hiking. It can get confusing; it can also get interesting and very touching.

Realistic Fiction  

YA – 49 Miles Alone

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Richards, Natalie D. 49 Miles Alone. Sourcebooks, 2024. 978-1-728-27600-7. 288 p. $11.99. Grades 7-12.  

Cousins Aster and Katie may live in separate states, but they remain close with hiking trips in the beautiful Utah deserts and canyons. But everything has been wrong since the night that Aster left Katie at a party, and Katie was raped.  That was eleven months ago. Now the two are going on their first hike since that night, but a huge unspoken wedge lies between them. Katie has changed significantly from a friendly, outgoing young woman who loved planning trips, to a wary woman dogged by memories of that night who retreats and avoids people. Aster is full of guilt for leaving the party, and she’s hoping to reconnect with Katie, but that’s hard to do when everything about Katie’s personality has changed. The two hikers begin well, but the distance between them, Aster’s bad cold, and a strong thunderstorm with flooding complicate the trip. They meet a young couple, Finn and Riley, and both feel that something is wrong; when the two run off in the dark after a loud fight, Aster and Katie fear that Riley is in trouble. What has Finn done, and are Aster and Katie now in danger as well? Will this bring the cousins together, or will they have nothing to salvage out of this trip?

THOUGHTS: With several suspense novels to her credit, Richards is in her prime. She succeeds in building tension with foreshadowing and the use of multiple narrators (Katie, Aster, and an unnamed injured woman), revealing their skills, their memories, and their worries. Highly recommended for credible responses to traumatic events and a tension-filled read.

Mystery

Elem. – Let’s Get Outdoors (Series NF)

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Let’s Get Outdoors. Bellweather Media, 2024. $18.95 ea. $189.50 set of 10. 24 p. Grades PK-2.

Downs, Kieran. Downhill Skiing. 979-8-886-87799-1.
—. Snowshoeing. 979-8-886-87801-1.
Leaf, Christina. Cross-Country Skiing. 979-8-886-87798-4.
—. Ice Skating. 979-8-886-87800-4.
Owings, Lisa. Biking. 979-8-886-87122-7. (2023).
—. Camping. 979-8-886-87123-4. (2023).
—. Canoeing. 979-8-886-87124-1. (2023).
—. Fishing. 979-8-886-87125-8. (2023).
—. Hiking. 979-8-886-87126-5. (2023).
—. Kayaking. 979-8-886-87127-2. (2023).

Another fabulous early nonfiction Blastoff! Readers Series. With bright colors, contemporary photograph illustrations, and high contrast font using Most Common Words, this series will be a wonderful starter set for early and emerging readers interested in outdoor sports. This reviewer had the opportunity to read the selection titled Ice Skating. The narrative describes skating for pleasure and exercise, figure skating, and hockey. Different types of ice skates are depicted along with suggestions for other appropriate winter-weather gear and helmets for beginners. Several pages are dedicated to safety while skating on lakes and ponds. Includes table of contents, glossary, additional resources, and index.

THOUGHTS: Young ice skating enthusiasts will enjoy the photos of figure and hockey skaters as well as the tips for learning to skate. Inclusive representation of many different children enjoying various ice skating activities. Good for building early nonfiction collections in need of simple and clear books about a variety of sports for early readers.

700s Outdoor Sports

Elem. – Travel Bucket Lists (Series NF)

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Travel Bucket Lists. Core Library, 2022. $24.95 ea. $149.70 set of 6. 48 p. Grades 3-6. 

Huddleston, Emma. Animal Encounter Bucket List. 978-1-532-19522-8.
Huddleston, Emma. Historical Site Bucket List. 978-1-532-19524-2.
Huddleston, Emma. Outdoor Expedition Bucket List.  978-1-532-19526-6.
Kortemeier, Todd. Sports Venue Bucket List. 978-1-532-19527-3.
London, Martha. Archaeological Site Bucket List.  978-1-532-19523-5.
London, Martha. Natural Wonder Bucket List. 978-1-532-19525-9.

Just like animals, the places one can encounter them come in all shapes and sizes. Animal Encounter Bucket List features some of the most famous places in the world where people can visit and learn about animals. There are sanctuaries that seek to rehabilitate animals. Boon Lott’s Elephant’s Sanctuary in Thailand helps animals harmed by the country’s tourism. Zoos are also another way to encounter animals, the oldest being Vienna Zoo in Austria.The best zoos to visit are ones that are accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Natural Parks like the Everglades and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are worth visiting to see not only animals but the entire habitat in which they live. For those wanting to stay a bit closer to home, camping, hiking, bird-watching, and water activities give people the chance to see animals up close right in their own backyards.

THOUGHTS: This book is easy to read with bright photographs. Some pages include special features like Perspectives and Further Evidence; however, there are not so many of these features that they distract from the text. The entire series is aligned to Common Core Standards and matched to state standards.

590.72 Animals           Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

Elem. – Hiking to the Top:  What’s Happening on the Mountain

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Varnai, Elizabeth S. Illustrated by Kate Hartley. Hiking to the Top: What’s Happening on the Mountain. Vista Court Books, 2022. 978-0-962-84224-5. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades PK-3.

Young readers explore and discover with a mother and son as they hike to the top of Lookout Mountain in Hiking to the Top: What’s Happening on the Mountain? by the author of Good Morning, Loon. Hiking challenges, such as climbing rocks and balancing on fallen trees, and common animal discoveries such as water striders and fawns are detailed in the text and illustrations. Camouflaged animals also are highlighted on many pages with names and thought bubbles. Throughout, the author and illustrator depict a sense of joy and discovery in being outdoors and spending time together while also sharing basic hiking information and nature facts. Back matter expands on the text for older readers, including information on hiking safety as well as natural history information on each of the animals in the book and additional sources of information.  

THOUGHTS: This book will appeal to both animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike and provides a strong introduction to outdoor adventures for classrooms embarking or expanding on an outdoor or nature center field trip. Kate Hartley’s realistic watercolor illustrations immerse readers in the book’s setting and entice readers to step beyond the page into their own adventure. In addition, the detailed back matter provides a launch point for research. A strong option for populations with access to outdoor adventure.  

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

YA – Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

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Miles, Kathryn. Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders. Algonquin Books, 2022. 978-1-616-20909-4. 320 p. $28.95. Grades 10+.

In May of 1996, Julianne Williams and Laura Winans were murdered in Shenandoah National Park. The remains of “Julie” and “Lollie,” who were in a romantic relationship, were found near their backcountry campsite, off an overgrown and little-used trail. Their killer disappeared without leaving a discernible trace, and their deaths have remained an open, unsolved case. In 2001, author Kathryn Miles began teaching at Maine’s Unity College (where Lollie was enrolled at the time of her death) and learned about the unsolved murders. An avid backcountry backpacker herself, Miles felt a deep connection to the twenty-something women. Years later, Miles began researching the Williams/Winans case for an Outside magazine article. Her dogged reporting led her to uncover truths about the crime scene, forensics, and investigator assumptions. In Trailed, Miles explores Julie’s and Lollie’s personalities, traumas, accomplishments, and impact on those left behind to mourn their loss. She painstakingly unpacks the case against Darryl Rice (the main suspect in their murders) and compiles clues that point to a different suspect altogether. She also digs into thorny questions about crime and safety along America’s scenic trails.

THOUGHTS: This excellent true crime volume falls somewhere between Wild by Cheryl Strayed and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, and will be of strong interest to older teen readers who gravitate to the genre.

364 True Crime          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

YA – That Weekend

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Thomas, Kara. That Weekend. Delacorte Press, 2021. 978-1-524-71836-7. 336 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12. 

Claire’s – who had been unconscious – senses suddenly start becoming alert when a hiker and her dog approach on Bobcat Mountain. Claire doesn’t know if she’s alone, and she has a splitting headache. The woman and her dog leave to get help, and Claire begins to piece together what little she does remember: it’s prom weekend, but she didn’t go; she lied to her parents about being on Fire Island; and she’s hurt. Arriving at Sunfish Creek Hospital in the Catskill Mountains, Claire realizes she wouldn’t have hiked without friends Kat and Jesse, since Kat’s grandmother has a lake house nearby. After glimpsing herself in the ER bathroom mirror, Claire wonders, “Who are you?” and “What happened to you?” Then readers are taken back three days before Clair’s trip to Sunfish Creek. Told in alternating time, readers travel back and forth as Claire tries to puzzle out what happened to her and to her friends up on Bobcat Mountain.

THOUGHTS: When readers think they have another puzzle piece, the timeline switches, and this fast-paced mystery goes in another direction. Mental health, drug/alcohol abuse, and domestic violence make this thriller best suited for high school collections.

Mystery          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

YA – Playing with Fire

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Henry, April. Playing with Fire. Henry Holt & Co., 2021. 978-1-250-23406-3. 225 p. $17.99. Grades 5-8.

A gorgeous day in Portland. An idyllic waterfall. A boy who is interested in you – what could possibly go wrong? Natalia and coworker Wyatt are just wrapping up an afternoon hike at Basin Falls when a loud pop shatters the peace. Shortly after a man goes running by, and the smell of smoke drifts in the air. In the blink of an eye Natalia’s worst fear is coming true, again. A fire is raging in the forest and now Natalia, Wyatt, and a dozen other people are trapped. Using Wyatt’s map and skills and Natalia’s medical training, the pair help navigate the motley crew through the forest as the fire chases them. As the night progresses, Natalia will face her fears while helping a burn victim, someone having a panic attack, and someone with a dislocated knee. But when a bridge prevents the troop from escape, will Natalia have the courage to overcome her demons and make up for past mistakes?

THOUGHTS: A fast paced read, Henry does not disappoint with this novel! The characters are well developed and the story follows a clear timeline. Readers get a glimpse into Natalia’s past and how her fear of fire plays such a critical role in helping others. Students who enjoy adventure stories like Hatchet will love Playing with Fire!

Adventure Fiction          Jillian Gasper, Northwestern Lehigh SD

Grades 6-12.

Seventeen year old Natalia lives in Portland near beautiful hiking trails, but she’s never been hiking. She was sick – sedated in a hospital – the week of Outdoor School, where most fifth graders stay in cabins in the woods. Her Dairy Barn co-worker Wyatt is determined to right this wrong, and he takes Natalia on a hike up to see a beautiful waterfall overlook. At 6:24 pm they’re on the way down when they hear a loud pop, probably someone firing a rifle in the Gorge, Wyatt explains. Natalia notices the smell of smoke which Wyatt connects to the local Cougar Creek fire as he explains the dangers of the tinder dry woods. Thirty minutes later they approach the bottom of the trail where to their horror the very woods they need to pass through are engulfed in flames. Natalia has avoided even the smallest birthday candle for the past six years. With no cell service and few other options, Natalia and Wyatt begin to hike back up the trail to find a new exit. Warning people to return to the falls on their way back up, Natalia is reminded of her little brother. When a helicopter drops a rock with a note that says, “Fire spreading….Extreme danger.” the group needs to come together to survive. With a variety of personalities and skills and few supplies, will they make it to Sky Bridge before they’re rescued, or will the fire reach them first?

THOUGHTS: Taking a slightly different approach to her typical “missing girl” stories, Henry strikes gold with this fast-paced thriller. A must purchase for middle and high school libraries, especially where Henry books are popular, adventure/thriller fans will zip through and request another.

Adventure Fiction          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

MG – The Canyon’s Edge

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Bowling, Dusti. The Canyon’s Edge. Little, Brown and Company, 2020. 978-0-316-49469-4. 301 p. $16.99. Grades 3-6.

Are you likely to die in this situation? is a question Nora asks herself often after surviving a shooting at a restaurant on her birthday which claimed her mother’s life. Nora and her dad trek into a canyon in the middle of the desert one day to get away from life for a few hours and spend time doing what their family loved to do – hike and explore. But when a flash flood suddenly strikes, Nora’s dad is swept away moments after saving her life. Nora is now left with absolutely nothing, not even her backpack, and must battle her inner demons and various canyon hazards to find her dad…. and a way out. Alone in the desert Nora must overcome her past in order to save her future.

THOUGHTS: A must have for your collection and for fans of Hatchet! Finally a story where a female protagonist overcomes the odds in a survival story. Bowling brings the emotion in this novel in verse and teaches us that we are more capable than we think. Bowling wrote this book to honor a family of nine that perished in a flash flood a day after she visited the same spot with her family.

Graphic Novel        Jillian Gasper, Northwestern Lehigh SD