The Hike

The tale of three young friends—in graduated sizes and varying ethnicities— as they hike to the top of Buck Mountain, The Hike follows Wren, El and Hattie as they wind their way through nature in a reading experience that feels very much like the subject matter itself: a casual hike with rather knowledgeable friends that’s far faster on the way down than it is on the way up. They eat berries, get lost and generally enjoy the great outdoors from the bottom of the mountain all the way to the top and then back down again, in a way that’s thin on plot, thick on side notes and interjections, but somehow feels just right. As they reach the top of the mountain Wren takes out her flag, El reads her poem and Hattie releases feathers into the wind as a beautiful reminder that each has something unique to offer. Where this book truly shines, however, is its celebration of nature, pointing out interesting things along the trail that are further explained in the final pages detailing Wren’s sketchbook, which invites learning without lecturing.The format is perfectly suited to a tailored reading depending on the needs and interests of an individual reader!