There Is No Map for This
Published on 14. November 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-1-77306-954-8 (ISBN)
Description
A high-adrenaline story of what it really means to man up.
Seventeen-year-old Ren Adams feels lucky to be living with his brother, Levi, and Levi's girlfriend, Ellie - a welcome escape from his mother and her fundamentalist husband. Ren finally feels able to breathe, even if Levi and Ellie insist on trying to RENovate him, make him push his limits, live up to his potential - "man up" ... whatever that means.
Ren does his best to keep up - until Levi is killed in an avalanche on one of their follow-the-leader dares. Overcome with grief, Ren feels unmoored, while Ellie embraces new risks and adventures, and tries to pull Ren into her orbit. He cannot resist her wattage, and when she comes to his bed one night, he stops trying.
The next morning, Ellie has disappeared. Ren throws himself into full Ren-to-the-rescue mode - out of love, brotherly loyalty, guilt or grief? He doesn't quite know. His search is by turns enlightening and reckless, as he discovers that there is no map for becoming a man.
Key Text Features
Biographical information
chapters
dialogue
literary references
Seventeen-year-old Ren Adams feels lucky to be living with his brother, Levi, and Levi's girlfriend, Ellie - a welcome escape from his mother and her fundamentalist husband. Ren finally feels able to breathe, even if Levi and Ellie insist on trying to RENovate him, make him push his limits, live up to his potential - "man up" ... whatever that means.
Ren does his best to keep up - until Levi is killed in an avalanche on one of their follow-the-leader dares. Overcome with grief, Ren feels unmoored, while Ellie embraces new risks and adventures, and tries to pull Ren into her orbit. He cannot resist her wattage, and when she comes to his bed one night, he stops trying.
The next morning, Ellie has disappeared. Ren throws himself into full Ren-to-the-rescue mode - out of love, brotherly loyalty, guilt or grief? He doesn't quite know. His search is by turns enlightening and reckless, as he discovers that there is no map for becoming a man.
Key Text Features
Biographical information
chapters
dialogue
literary references
Reviews / Votes
"An unusually raw, frank bildungsroman." - Kirkus Reviews "A great example of teen fiction written to help deal with loss and finding oneself in the aftermath." - School Library Journal "Few writers have the talent to convey [emotion] so beautifully, clearly, metaphorically, even unexpectedly." - CM: Canadian Review of MaterialsMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Ontario
Canada
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: From Seventh Grade to Twelfth Grade, Interest Age: From 12 to 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77306-954-8 (9781773069548)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
TOM BIRDSEYE is the author of nineteen books for young readers, including fiction, picture books and nonfiction. His books have won or been a finalist for state children's choice awards forty-three times and have been recognized by the International Literacy Association, the National Council for the Social Studies, the Oregon Library Association and the Oregon State Literacy Association. Tom is faculty emeritus in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. He lives in Corvallis, Oregon.