There Is No Map for This

August 15, 2024
Tragedy, emotional conflicts, and uncertain prospects dog a teenager on the cusp of independence. Birdseye constructs this outdoorsy outing around multiple metaphors, most notably that of a jigsaw puzzle, pieces of which fall down around 17-year-old Ren at a rate that threatens to bury him. Fleeing from his widowed, obnoxiously born-again mom to take refuge in the Cascade Range in Oregon with beloved big brother Levi doesn't provide the security he hoped for. First, Levi dies tragically in an avalanche. Then Levi's traumatized girlfriend, Ellie, disappears, leaving behind an alarming note after sliding into Ren's bed for a night of ecstatic comfort. And just for a kicker, amid the resulting turmoil, the devastated teen manages to lose both of his part-time jobs. The title aptly conveys Ren's gnawing fear and confusion, which readers will feel keenly as he frantically chases after Ellie while undertaking the understandably painful process of fitting the various parts of his life together into a recognizable self-image and a tentative personal road map. Some seemingly fragmentary pieces come together to help resolve unanswered questions, especially after a dramatic climax leads to sudden revelations and clarity. Better yet, at the end, the author leaves Ren credibly on his feet and moving forward. Main characters are cued white. An unusually raw, frank bildungsroman.(Fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2024

Gr 9 Up-In a great example of teen fiction written to help deal with loss and finding oneself in the aftermath, Birdseye weaves a painfully accurate depiction of this experience. Ren Adams is undergoing a series of challenges designed by his brother Levi and his brother's girlfriend Ellie to help him "man up." These physical adventures are meant to push them all but especially Ren, so he can see what he is capable of. When one such adventure ends with the loss of Levi, both Ren and Ellie must find a way to deal with the grief and grapple with what they could have done differently to change the outcome. Readers see that this tragedy brings Ren and Ellie together as they navigate this grief, and while initially it's comforting to both, it becomes clear they each need to find their own way. While Birdseye might lean into some common tropes, such as tragedy binding two people together, he puts a fresh spin on it that leaves readers more satisfied than the traditional ending one might expect. VERDICT This will make a good addition to library collections that want to offer teenagers a frank and realistic look at, and how to deal with, grief.-David Roberts

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.