Lost in the Mountains

March 20, 2023
Scout and her older brother—a self-proclaimed “nearly professional local guide”—are heading to the final campsite of their four-day backpacking trip when Big Brother announces they’re lost. After reading the map upside down, leading them down an unmarked trail, losing his GPS and cell phone, and running off, literally pursued by a bear, Big Brother leaves Scout alone in the woods. With only half the duo’s supplies and a compass for guidance, coolheaded and methodical Scout must focus on finding water, shelter, and food, all while signaling for help. Scout’s situation isn’t all doom-and-gloom, however: an irreverent talking skunk offers comic relief, and informative, brightly colored flowcharts break down each of her priorities and how best to approach them, modeling critical problem solving and survival skills. Structuring Scout’s adventure as an in-depth wilderness guide, Eaton (the Truth About Your Favorite Animals series) uses crisp-lined, digitally colored pen and ink cartooning to present easily digestible information about venturing into the great outdoors, including how to build a sturdy lean-to shelter, catch and gut a fish, and navigate by compass and topographic map. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable wilderness-themed geek-out, even for readers who never explore beyond their backyard. Scout and Big Brother read as white. Ages 8–12.

July 1, 2023
This humorous and informative comic-format guide showcases all things survival in the great outdoors. After getting lost while hiking and later abandoned by her exaggeratedly incompetent grown-up brother (he gets chased away by a bear), protagonist Scout is left alone in the wilderness. She has no communication devices and only half of the gear she needs, but she is determined to pull through. Straightforward narration documents Scout's planning and behavior as she tends to her most immediate priorities of shelter, signals, water, and food. As she confronts each challenge (how to light a fire, use a compass, etc.), readers gain access to her decision-making processes and her persistence and problem-solving skills when tasks don't immediately go as planned. Each survival scenario is presented with tension, but none verges on scary or stressful. A silly cast of talking critters (especially a friendly skunk) lightens the tone, offering clarifications and lots of laugh-out-loud jokes. The thick-lined, brightly colored illustrations are jam-packed with diagrams, labels, and other instructions akin to what one would see in a survival handbook; a variety of layouts and visual perspectives allows for readers to focus on the facts and soak in the beauty of the setting. An appendix includes information on knot-tying, Morse code, first aid, bear safety, skunk scent remedies, and going to the bathroom; resources for further reading; and an author's note. Elisa Gall

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2023
This humorous and informative comic-format guide showcases all things survival in the great outdoors. After getting lost while hiking and later abandoned by her exaggeratedly incompetent grown-up brother (he gets chased away by a bear), protagonist Scout is left alone in the wilderness. She has no communication devices and only half of the gear she needs, but she is determined to pull through. Straightforward narration documents Scout's planning and behavior as she tends to her most immediate priorities of shelter, signals, water, and food. As she confronts each challenge (how to light a fire, use a compass, etc.), readers gain access to her decision-making processes and her persistence and problem-solving skills when tasks don't immediately go as planned. Each survival scenario is presented with tension, but none verges on scary or stressful. A silly cast of talking critters (especially a friendly skunk) lightens the tone, offering clarifications and lots of laugh-out-loud jokes. The thick-lined, brightly colored illustrations are jam-packed with diagrams, labels, and other instructions akin to what one would see in a survival handbook; a variety of layouts and visual perspectives allows for readers to focus on the facts and soak in the beauty of the setting. An appendix includes information on knot-tying, Morse code, first aid, bear safety, skunk scent remedies, and going to the bathroom; resources for further reading; and an author's note.

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)