Review | Just Keep Walking

Summary: Just Keep Walking

Jo (aka Josephine, named after Jo March) is still reeling from her parents’ divorce and her father’s decision to leave them for his girlfriend and her family. To prove that she and her mom can handle life without him, Jo and her mom embark on the Lake Superior hike to do 100+ miles to the Lutsen Gondola with their backpacks, dehydrated food, tents, and a book (for Jo). As the two weather hilly terrain, minor injuries, wild animals, new friendships, disappointments, and adverse weather, they learn to find their inner strength to move on and to forgive Tim, Jo’s father.

The Good

I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to pack up and go hiking or camping. I enjoyed seeing what Jo and her mother did to prepare for the physical aspect of the long hike, but also how they worked to protect their mental health and sanity throughout. Kids will love reading about the discomforts of an ambitious hike like this one, such as eating dehydrated meals, showering in rivers, and sleeping with a fear of wild animals.

Although the hike takes up much of the story’s plot, we spend a lot of time in Jo’s mind as she processes the changes her family has experienced and also the daily updates from the hike as she and her mom meet other hikers and improve their relationship throughout. I loved the relationship between Jo and her mom and couldn’t help but cheer for them as they pushed their bodies beyond what they thought they could do.

While this is certainly an adventure novel, I’d hesitate to call it survival fiction since Jo and her mom are never really at risk at any point. They follow a well mapped out plan and arrive at a camp with other hikers every day or every other day, so this is a good choice for sensitive readers who like that feeling of adventure but are terrified by the plots of survival stories.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None
• Sexual content: None

Diversity

• Ethnic: Main characters are white
• Sexual orientation: A lesbian couple does part of the hike with Jo.

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Adventure and outdoorsy stories
• Hiking
• Books about mother-daughter relationships
• Books about divorce and blended families

Publisher Details

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