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Trailing Tennessee
Winner PubWest Book Design Award Trailing Tennessee is a novel about a teen’s journey on the Appalachian Trail. Eli Sutton isn’t your typical runaway. When tragedy befalls his family, he sets out on the Appalachian Trail, determined to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. With forest rangers close on his heels and his supplies running low, Eli soon discovers hiking through the Appalachian Mountains isn’t nearly as forgiving as trekking through the woods behind his home. He fights blisters, hunger, rain, and pain. But worst of all, he faces his own self-doubt and fear. The ghosts of his father and grandfather, and the spirits of the woods lurk in his mind. When Eli joins up with a group of young hikers in Virginia, his goal begins to slip further away. With his obstacles surmounting, there may not be enough trail magic to save him.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2013
33 people want to read
About the author
Cory Wheeler Mimms
2 books5 followersCory Wheeler Mimms is a medium-sized human who writes fiction, screenplays, and comics. His first novel, Trailing Tennessee, received excellent reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Midwest Book Review, Library Media Connection, Booklist, and more.
His short fiction and poetry has appeared in Joyland Magazine, Mousetails Quarterly, Four and Twenty Poetry, and other publications.
He has a master’s degree in writing and publishing from Portland State University, and he studied story structure in New York Film Academy's MFA program in screenwriting. Prior to that, he spent six years in the military, five overseas.
He is currently the Publishing Manager at an art and children's publisher based in Portland, Oregon.
His short fiction and poetry has appeared in Joyland Magazine, Mousetails Quarterly, Four and Twenty Poetry, and other publications.
He has a master’s degree in writing and publishing from Portland State University, and he studied story structure in New York Film Academy's MFA program in screenwriting. Prior to that, he spent six years in the military, five overseas.
He is currently the Publishing Manager at an art and children's publisher based in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 15, 2014
Eli Sutton is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives by the Appalachian mountains. Like his father and his grandfather he liked to fish, hunt, hike and spend time among the trees and insects. His grandfather used to tell him stories about the Cherokee ghosts that haunted the woods. Another story he loved was the one when his father and grandfather hiked the Appalachian Trail and carved their names into a tree at the end of the 1500 mile hike.
Eli lost his father in a truck accident. Eli survived the accident but knew he would be changed forever when he lost his father. After the funeral, his mother gave him an old leather journal that his father had kept. He read it through the night learning more and more about his father and grandfather and their journey on the trail. He wanted to re-create their journey. He packed a bag with dried goods, toilet paper, garbage bags, duct tape, a toothbrush and other misc items he might need. He wrote a note to his mother letting her know he would return in late September or early October. He would carry his phone but only use it in case of an emergency. His adventure had begun.
Eli used the journal as a guide, but it didn't necessarily help him from getting lost. He met other hikers along the way and stayed in a few shelters, some infested with critters looking for food. Little did he know his mother would worry and seek help to find him. Eli would encounter bumps, bruises and rubbed raw skin from his pack and his shoes. He would also encounter a bear and unknown entities in the night. Eli walked and walked. Something kept pushing him forward. He wanted to make his father proud. Out of food, Eli got a ride into town. He discovered the store owner had a poster of a missing kid and it was him. He grabbed the groceries and made his escape. With the need to complete his climb, the ghosts in the night and a man hunt to bring him home, how would he succeed?
Author Cory Wheeler Mimms has created a great book for boys. Adventure, bears and ghost stories are all here. Easy to read and fast paced this very visual guide provides readers with a sense of being there. This great coming of age read will get young readers engaged and intrigued to follow the quest of Eli Sutton.
Eli lost his father in a truck accident. Eli survived the accident but knew he would be changed forever when he lost his father. After the funeral, his mother gave him an old leather journal that his father had kept. He read it through the night learning more and more about his father and grandfather and their journey on the trail. He wanted to re-create their journey. He packed a bag with dried goods, toilet paper, garbage bags, duct tape, a toothbrush and other misc items he might need. He wrote a note to his mother letting her know he would return in late September or early October. He would carry his phone but only use it in case of an emergency. His adventure had begun.
Eli used the journal as a guide, but it didn't necessarily help him from getting lost. He met other hikers along the way and stayed in a few shelters, some infested with critters looking for food. Little did he know his mother would worry and seek help to find him. Eli would encounter bumps, bruises and rubbed raw skin from his pack and his shoes. He would also encounter a bear and unknown entities in the night. Eli walked and walked. Something kept pushing him forward. He wanted to make his father proud. Out of food, Eli got a ride into town. He discovered the store owner had a poster of a missing kid and it was him. He grabbed the groceries and made his escape. With the need to complete his climb, the ghosts in the night and a man hunt to bring him home, how would he succeed?
Author Cory Wheeler Mimms has created a great book for boys. Adventure, bears and ghost stories are all here. Easy to read and fast paced this very visual guide provides readers with a sense of being there. This great coming of age read will get young readers engaged and intrigued to follow the quest of Eli Sutton.
June 19, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first two-thirds of it moved along and kept me engrossed, but somehow the last third felt rushed. I think one thing that bothered me the lack of character development of the kids Eli met and traveled with on the trail--especially the brother. He plays a pivotal role in the book, and I never understood why he did what he did.
I also found the Cherokee legends running throughout the text to be a distraction. I really don't know that they added a great deal to the story.
Finally, the ending seemed almost contrived. It disappointed me.
Having said all that, I think this book still has much to commend it. Eli is a complex character who is well developed. He is one that I think middle grade readers will enjoy getting to know. His story really made me think of Hatchet when I was reading it. The idea of one boy against nature on a journey of self-discovery is already a proven story line for not just young people, but adults as well. I think middle school librarians may have a hard time keeping this one on the shelf, and isn't that what it's all about!
(1,DM-1,1)
I also found the Cherokee legends running throughout the text to be a distraction. I really don't know that they added a great deal to the story.
Finally, the ending seemed almost contrived. It disappointed me.
Having said all that, I think this book still has much to commend it. Eli is a complex character who is well developed. He is one that I think middle grade readers will enjoy getting to know. His story really made me think of Hatchet when I was reading it. The idea of one boy against nature on a journey of self-discovery is already a proven story line for not just young people, but adults as well. I think middle school librarians may have a hard time keeping this one on the shelf, and isn't that what it's all about!
(1,DM-1,1)
March 17, 2015
Trailing Tennessee is an adventure story set in the Appalachian Mountains. Eli, a 14 yr old boy, has been hiking the trails near his home, even spending the night on longer hikes, hoping that one day he will hike the Appalachian Trail like his father and grandfather. His father told him about the tree that has both of their names carved into its trunk. Eli's life is suddenly up-ended and nothing will stop him from making this journey. He sets out to reach that same summit and carve his name in the tree along with his father and grandfather. His grandfather’s journal is a guide and comfort to him on the trail. The segments of the journal entries provide historical background, telling of a time when the Tennessee Valley Authority came in to offer a future with electricity and new/better farming ideas. Mimms also gives a glimpse into the life of those who hike the trails. Hikers are known by their trail names and there is a common language they speak. The story is rich with TN history, Native American legend and insight into local areas – a great read for Tennesseans and anyone who loves a lot of adventure and bit of history.
March 18, 2015
Eli, our main character, is 14 years old and injured in a horrific truck accident that took the life of his father. Feeling trapped at home with his sorrow-bound mother, Eli decides to fulfill his life long dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. His mother, believing he is too young and inexperienced, forbids him. Unable to sleep and handle life at home without his father, Eli packs up and heads off in the middle of the night. Following his grandfather's journal and his personal experience camping, Eli begins his hike.
His mother, worried sick, contacts the police. Both the police and park rangers begin to search for him. Always underestimating Eli, he is easily missed until flyers are posted in towns and stores along the trail. Eli is recognized and turned in by both a store clerk and eventually a (semi)friend.
Through his grandfather's journal we learn about the Depression, the creation of the TN Valley Authority (TVA), the purchase and flooding of land that created hyrdo-electric dams and electricity for the Valley. TVA brough jobs and money to a depressed area.
CONTAINS: adventure, bears, ghost stories from his Cherokee heritage and very light and reasonable romance for a 14 year old.
NEEDS: Character development of the kids he hikes with. The end of the story felt pushed and lacked detail.
His mother, worried sick, contacts the police. Both the police and park rangers begin to search for him. Always underestimating Eli, he is easily missed until flyers are posted in towns and stores along the trail. Eli is recognized and turned in by both a store clerk and eventually a (semi)friend.
Through his grandfather's journal we learn about the Depression, the creation of the TN Valley Authority (TVA), the purchase and flooding of land that created hyrdo-electric dams and electricity for the Valley. TVA brough jobs and money to a depressed area.
CONTAINS: adventure, bears, ghost stories from his Cherokee heritage and very light and reasonable romance for a 14 year old.
NEEDS: Character development of the kids he hikes with. The end of the story felt pushed and lacked detail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
Great adventure story in the tradition of Gary Paulsen.
Eli Sutton's dad dies in a car accident. A goal the two of them had was to hike the Appalachian Trail so that Eli could carve his name in a particular tree, the same tree that Eli's dad and grandfather had carved theirs in. After Eli's dad's death, Eli holds onto this dream but his mother believes that the AT is too dangerous for Eli to do a solo trip. Feeling as though the walls are closing in around him, Eli defies his mother and heads out on the trail in the dead of night.
Eli eludes forest rangers and police in his quest for the tree. Along the way, he reads his grandfather's journal which gives him insight into his own background. Eli also encounters strange and sometimes dangerous people, wildlife of all sorts including a black bear mom and her cubs, and even makes a friend.
Exciting read!
Eli Sutton's dad dies in a car accident. A goal the two of them had was to hike the Appalachian Trail so that Eli could carve his name in a particular tree, the same tree that Eli's dad and grandfather had carved theirs in. After Eli's dad's death, Eli holds onto this dream but his mother believes that the AT is too dangerous for Eli to do a solo trip. Feeling as though the walls are closing in around him, Eli defies his mother and heads out on the trail in the dead of night.
Eli eludes forest rangers and police in his quest for the tree. Along the way, he reads his grandfather's journal which gives him insight into his own background. Eli also encounters strange and sometimes dangerous people, wildlife of all sorts including a black bear mom and her cubs, and even makes a friend.
Exciting read!
October 26, 2014
I really liked this book. A lot. It wasn't perfect, but it will definitely appeal to boys who like the outdoors. I appreciated that it wasn't just an adventure tale, though. Eli was sensitive and determined, and he was realistic in that he didn't tell his mom what he was doing, even though he easily could have and definitely should have. Kids will be able to relate to that.
Other things I appreciated was the realistic portrayal of his fears--which he worked through, and the inclusion of Native American legends. There was even some romance, but it was realistic and not overdone--this would never be classified as chick lit, for instance.
Through it all, Eli is a good kid, even with his flaws.
This will definitely go into my classroom library.
Other things I appreciated was the realistic portrayal of his fears--which he worked through, and the inclusion of Native American legends. There was even some romance, but it was realistic and not overdone--this would never be classified as chick lit, for instance.
Through it all, Eli is a good kid, even with his flaws.
This will definitely go into my classroom library.
March 20, 2014
I wasn't sure I'd like this one as much as I did but it was actually pretty good.
It's a great book for my many male students who enjoy the outdoors.
It's a great book for my many male students who enjoy the outdoors.
August 6, 2016
This would be a great book for a Middle School reluctant reader type. A good mix of outdoor adventure and tragedy.
February 25, 2018
Fun story about a boy using a hike to deal with loss. Weaving the journal of his grandfather into the journey was an interesting touch. I'd recommend to young adults who love hiking and the outdoors.
January 22, 2023
Eli’s dad dies, so he runs away to hike the Appalachian Trail. There wasn’t really a takeaway other than I suppose, don’t run away? Or that the Appalachian Trail is cool? Not really sure. Although it did make me want to hike, really badly.
June 19, 2016
This is a great book for middle schoolers to read!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews