The Distance from Me to You

Gr 10 Up—McKenna Berney and her BFF Courtney made a pact to defer college for a year to hike the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. When Courtney bails on her, McKenna is determined to face the challenge alone. With miles of practice hikes under her belt, and top-notch gear, the protagonist sets off on her journey. While on the trail, McKenna meets Sam, who is a high school dropout and on the run from his abusive father. Their friendship quickly evolves into romance. Their journey on the trail is rigorous, with miles of choppy terrain and limited supplies until they reach a local town along the route. When Sam has the idea to go off the trail, something rule-following McKenna would never consider, she gives in, thinking it will be an adventure. That decision puts their love and survival skills to the test. Gessner's debut novel speaks volumes about what it means to truly survive in the wilderness, both alone and with the one you love. Situations including wild animal confrontations, starvation, dehydration, and near death are addressed with authenticity. The panic and fear that set in when they lose their way will strike a nerve with hikers and nonhikers alike. Gessner handles dishonesty (McKenna's parents think that Courtney is with her), first sexual experience, and survival with the utmost sensitivity, shedding light on the range of human emotions.