A Constellation of Minor Bears

Gr 9 Up–In this coming-of-age story, a group of teens find themselves as they hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Half-siblings Molly and Hank and their friend Traylor have been planning their graduation trip for years now. They were going to hike the PCT before they all went to college, but Hank has a life-changing accident which irrevocably breaks the bonds of the group. When they decide to go on the hike anyway, truths are finally brought to the surface, but is it enough to save the relationships? The beauty in this book is in the characters and the problems they face. Molly’s anger toward her brother and best friend, Hank’s inability to be truthful to his sister, and Traylor’s guilt over what happened to Hank and his unspoken feelings about Molly are just a touch of what lies ahead for the teens. But there is nothing like miles of walking to bring everything to the surface. With the PCT as the backdrop, and almost a character itself, readers will want to go on their own adventure. No matter who reads this book, they will find something in each character that will ring true.