By Erin Soderberg Downing
I had the wonderful experience meeting Erin Soderberg Downing this past June at LITapalooza in Chicago ( hosted by Anderson Bookshops). What a delight it was to chat with her in person! Erin is also the author of Controlled Burn ( a Junior Library Guild title), The Quirks, and The Great Peach Experiment series. She shared news about her forthcoming book Just Keep Walking, which will be published in February 2024.
In this latest book, Jo is about to embark on a two-week, one-hundred-mile hike with her mom on the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. Before her parents got divorced, the plan was for her dad to take her on the same trail hike he’d done previously with Jo’s brother. But, his priorities have shifted. And, Jo’s mom has decided she’ll be the one to embark on the journey with her.
“And try to remember that I do want to be out there with you. I’m the one who offered to do this hike, so that you’d still get to have your big adventure. I just know that I’m going to get overwhelmed. This whole thing is a lot.” Jo’s mom told her.
From Jo: “We can do this on our own. We’ll survive, just the two of us. Dad’s a quitter. Not us.”
And so the saga begins. Their journey is filled with ups and downs of surviving the elements, alone. But, it’s not just the external elements attacking Jo, it’s the internal struggle of learning to move forward after a painful “heart attack“. How does one find strength and tenacity, physically AND emotionally, when pain is so persistent. “Just keep walking.”
I was reminded of outdoor adventure stories such as Hatchet (Paulsen) and Downriver ( Hobbs) while reading Just Keep Walking. But Jo has such a unique voice, that you’ll find yourself rooting for her to not only make it to the end of the trail but to believe in her own strength and ability to bravely deal with life’s circumstances. You will feel like you’re right there on the trail, as Jo and her mom deal with wild animals, being lost, dangerous weather, injuries, and more. She is fiercely capable, smart, and resilient – mentally and physically.
And remember…..Just Keep Walking. Thank you, Erin Soderberg Downing.
Favorite excerpts from the story:
