Awards and Honors2009 Notable Books for a Global Society; Book Sense Children’s Picks – Summer 2008; VOYA Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; 2009 ALA Best Books for Young Adults
After Henry Smith's brother is hit by a car, Henry needs to get away from his grieving family. He and his best friend Sanborn decide to hitchhike to Maine and take the hike that Henry and his brother had planned-a dangerous climb to the top of Mt. Katahdin. But the only driver to offer Henry and Sanborn a ride is a boy fleeing demons of his own: Chay Chouan, who was convicted of hitting Henry's brother. As they drive north, the three struggle to deal with the truth of what happened the night of the accident.
Summary Longfellow Prep students, led by Franklin, have made it clear to Chay that he is not welcome at his new school and that he should not go near Louisa. Relations between the Blythbury residents and the Merton Cambodian community worsen when Chay’s punishment for running down Franklin seems too lenient. Henry, who was to have climbed Katahdin with Franklin as a rite of passage, leaves his devastated and now dysfunctional family to climb the mountain anyway. Hitch-hiking on their way to the mountain, Henry, his newly-adopted dog, and Sanborn climb into the only truck that stops—one driven by Chay Chouan.
Your older teen readers will appreciate the 12 selections in this category, a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction covering complex issues and more mature content, from crushes and body changes to friendships and sibling rivalry.