
Parents should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to navigate the aftermath of a family tragedy or a sibling's life-altering injury. It is a vital resource for families dealing with the complex guilt and identity shifts that occur when a once-healthy family dynamic is permanently changed by disability. The story follows Molly, her brother Guy, and her best friend as they embark on a grueling hike along the Pacific Crest Trail after Guy suffers a traumatic brain injury. As a realistic contemporary novel, it explores raw grief, the weight of responsibility, and the nuance of Indigenous identity within a Michif/Metis context. Parents will appreciate its honest, secular approach to mental health and healing. While the emotional intensity is high, making it most suitable for ages 14 and up, the book offers a powerful roadmap for resilience and the realization that while we cannot go back to who we were, we can find a new way forward together.
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Sign in to write a reviewSurvival situations involving hiking, wildlife, and physical exhaustion.
Contains some profanity consistent with realistic young adult fiction.
A developing queer romance between the protagonist and her best friend.
The book deals directly and intensely with physical disability (TBI) and the psychological trauma of an accident. The approach is secular and deeply realistic, focusing on the frustration and messy reality of caregiving and recovery. The resolution is hopeful but grounded: it doesn't offer a 'miracle cure,' but rather a path toward acceptance.
A high schooler who feels invisible or burdened by a sibling's needs, or a teen navigating the intersection of their cultural identity and personal trauma. It is perfect for the 'outdoorsy' kid who uses nature as a space for reflection.
Parents should be aware of the frank depictions of the brother's personality changes and aggressive outbursts resulting from his injury. The book should be read cold by the teen, but parents might want to discuss the themes of 'ambiguous loss' afterwards. A parent might notice their child becoming withdrawn, expressing 'survivor's guilt' after a family accident, or lashing out at a sibling they used to be close to.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the survival elements and the romance; older teens (17-18) will better grasp the nuance of the Michif cultural context and the complexities of identity and long-term disability.
Unlike many 'sick-lit' books, Ferguson focuses on the sibling relationship and the specific cultural lens of a Michif family, avoiding cliches about inspiration in favor of grit and truth.
Molly and her brother Guy were once inseparable, but a devastating accident left Guy with a traumatic brain injury and a changed personality. In an attempt to reclaim their bond and honor their heritage, Molly, Guy, and Molly's best friend (and secret crush) Reeve set out to hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. The physical trek mirrors their internal struggles with guilt, disability, and the evolving nature of their family.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.