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Off the Map
When two ex-best friends get lost in the wilderness, can they outrun a storm and find their way back to safety? From Meika Hashimoto, author of The Trail, comes an action-packed adventure about rekindling friendship and doing what it takes to survive.
Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together -- until this past school year, when it all fell apart.
Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog).
But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse.
During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs... until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared.
They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall.
Lost in the wilderness, and with a storm brewing, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety?
Off the Map contains Meika's signature mix of outdoor adventure and loads of heart. It's about first crushes, friendship breakups, and learning to trust again. A perfect read for fans of Hatchet or Dan Gemeinhart.
Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together -- until this past school year, when it all fell apart.
Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog).
But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse.
During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs... until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared.
They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall.
Lost in the wilderness, and with a storm brewing, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety?
Off the Map contains Meika's signature mix of outdoor adventure and loads of heart. It's about first crushes, friendship breakups, and learning to trust again. A perfect read for fans of Hatchet or Dan Gemeinhart.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2024
11 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Meika Hashimoto
33 books39 followersMEIKA HASHIMOTO's first baking foray was a chocolate cake. She was eight years old and, in her excitement, forgot a few key ingredients like sugar and baking powder. She also left the cake in the oven for far too long. Although it resembled a brick, her parents politely ate it and gave her very encouraging feedback. Meika's baking techniques have improved greatly since then. When she's not kneading bread dough or baking cheesecakes, she can be found editing children's books.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 1, 2025
Adventure | 8-14
Marlo has been best friends with Amos since they were both four years old. Now 13, as the school year ends they are no longer speaking, and Marlo has no idea why. She hasn’t told her mum, an Alaskan river guide who has planned a canoe camping trip for the two of them, and their rescue dog Cheerio. Which makes the big surprise that her mother and Amos’ dad have cooked up a real problem. They are all four going on the trip! The two former friends stonily agree to speak only as required, keeping the adults in the dark. But when the group is separated, the kids miss a turn in the river and are swept over a waterfall. They have to work together to survive and find their way back, facing myriad dangers from wildlife to storms and injury. This is a terrific novel for kids who like adventure stories, and readers will learn a lot about how to enjoy the wilderness safely and what to do when things go awry. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its children’s fiction collection.
Marlo has been best friends with Amos since they were both four years old. Now 13, as the school year ends they are no longer speaking, and Marlo has no idea why. She hasn’t told her mum, an Alaskan river guide who has planned a canoe camping trip for the two of them, and their rescue dog Cheerio. Which makes the big surprise that her mother and Amos’ dad have cooked up a real problem. They are all four going on the trip! The two former friends stonily agree to speak only as required, keeping the adults in the dark. But when the group is separated, the kids miss a turn in the river and are swept over a waterfall. They have to work together to survive and find their way back, facing myriad dangers from wildlife to storms and injury. This is a terrific novel for kids who like adventure stories, and readers will learn a lot about how to enjoy the wilderness safely and what to do when things go awry. My thanks to the Grand Forks (B.C.) & District Public Library for including this title in its children’s fiction collection.
March 7, 2025
Amos and Marlo are best friends, but haven't spoken in almost a month after Amos ignores Marlos in front of the entire cafeteria. They are unwillingly reuinted when Marlo's mother plans a canoing trip down the Yukon River with Amos and his father.
The two kids are thrown together and forced to navigate a series of events that lead them farther away from their parents. Marlo is prepared to keep Amos and herself safe, but she's not sure if she can face the conversation she must have with Amos about their silent period.
I liked the many life skills we are taught as the two kids encounter one barrier after another. I liked that Cheerio, Marlo's dog, offers solace and comfort to both kids as they trek into the woods. The relationship between the two friends feels honest, but the conversation reads a bit more mature than most thirteen year olds; nonetheless, I loved the adventure.
The two kids are thrown together and forced to navigate a series of events that lead them farther away from their parents. Marlo is prepared to keep Amos and herself safe, but she's not sure if she can face the conversation she must have with Amos about their silent period.
I liked the many life skills we are taught as the two kids encounter one barrier after another. I liked that Cheerio, Marlo's dog, offers solace and comfort to both kids as they trek into the woods. The relationship between the two friends feels honest, but the conversation reads a bit more mature than most thirteen year olds; nonetheless, I loved the adventure.
November 18, 2025
A fast read. I liked the adventure of it.
February 13, 2025
It's been some time since I sat down with a middle-grades book. I read this in an evening-I couldn't put it down and for the first time in many years I wish I was going to a classroom to use this as a read aloud. It would appeal to both boys and girls!
"Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together -- until this past school year, when it all fell apart. Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog). But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse. During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs... until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared. They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall. Lost in the wilderness, and with a storm brewing, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety? Off the Map contains Meika's signature mix of outdoor adventure and loads of heart. It's about first crushes, friendship breakups, and learning to trust again. "
"Amos and Marlo have always been best friends. From hiking trips to backyard camp-outs, from playing soccer at the park to sitting together at lunch, they did everything together -- until this past school year, when it all fell apart. Out of nowhere, Amos stopped talking to Marlo, and she has no idea why. Embarrassed and angry, Marlo distracts herself by looking forward to an end-of-year canoe trip with her mom. A special wilderness adventure, just the two of them (and their dog). But when they arrive at the trail-head in the Alaska wilderness... there's Amos! Their parents have surprised them with a trip together. Things couldn't be any worse. During the trip, Marlo and Amos do their best to avoid each other at all costs... until their parents pair them in a canoe together. When they start arguing, Amos and Marlo don't notice that the grownups' canoe has disappeared. They've taken a wrong turn -- and they're heading straight for a waterfall. Lost in the wilderness, and with a storm brewing, can these two ex-best friends stop fighting long enough to find their way back to safety? Off the Map contains Meika's signature mix of outdoor adventure and loads of heart. It's about first crushes, friendship breakups, and learning to trust again. "
July 23, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Marlo is excited to go on a backwoods adventure in the Yukon with her mom to start off her summer vacation. The end of the school year has been rough, after her father left to go "find himself" and her best friend, Amos, stopped talking to her for reasons she doesn't understand. When Marlo and her mom get packed up to go on their advenutre, along with her dog, Cheerio, Marlo is not happy to find that Amos and his father have been invited along. At first, she's in the canoe with Amos' dad, Terry, who is a novice at paddling, but eventually ends up with Amos. When the two get separated from the parents, they run into trouble. Taking a wrong turn, they get swept over some falls, and have to try to dry out their equipment and set up for the night. Amos suffers from hypothermia, and Marlo has to build a fire to get him warm, but leaves the axe by the river and it gets swept away. They trek off away from the canoe, and find it crushed by a tree when they get back. Cheerio comes face to face with a porcupine but escapes unscathed, and Marlo slices open her foot on rocks in the river. There's a storm, as well as the requisite bear attack. Food runs low, and the two dispair of being found after a helicopter flies over and doesn't spot them. On top of all of this, there is some friend drama. Marlo feels that Amos' treatment of her is similar to her dad abandoning her, so is freezing him out. At the same time, Amos feels that Marlo is the one who stepped away from their friendship. Amos' tells her that he has a crush on her, and the two are able to discuss their feelings, unpack them, and remain friends. Eventually, they make their way back to the main river, and are rescued.
Strengths: Survival tales all tend to be somewhat similar (there's almost ALWAYS a bear attack!), but there are never enough of these books for my readers. Off the Map does have some facets that set it apart. The bear attack, for instance, is the best one I've read. There's a bear horn and pepper spray involved, and Cheerio gets mixed up in it. Everyone survives unscathed, however. Whew. This interweaves the emotional drama with the survival quite nicely, and is well paced and a good length. Marlo and Amos' falling out has some surprising but realistic elements, and it's on trend with current thinking that they were able to discuss what happened and still remain friends. Marlo's feeling that what happened with Amos parallels what happened with her father is well explained, and shows how parental problems can affect middle grade children on many different levels. The cover has lots of good elements in it that will appeal to middle grade readers; make sure that there are plenty of copies of this in your Scholastic book fair.
Weaknesses: Marlo's mom is a professional river guide who's spent years in the Yukon wilderness, and yet she lets her daughter go off without her own satnav phone? And they bring their dog? Of course, there wouldn't be a story is Amos and Marlo stayed with the parents, but they seemed a bit I'll prepared for the emergencies that might come up in such a journey. Did love that Marlo and Amos had to pay for the damaged canoe by earning money, but was it really their fault? Young readers will not have these reactions.
What I really think: There are just never enough survival stories for my students, so I will definitely purchase this, and it will make a nice display with Bledsoe's Running Wild, and Behren's Alone in the Woods, Downings' Just Keep Walking, Greci's The Wild Lands, Goebel's Backcountry, and Philbrick's Wild River. Very new titles also include Smith's Stranded, Russell's It Came from the Trees, and what I still think is essentially a survival tale, Neri's Safe Passage.
Marlo is excited to go on a backwoods adventure in the Yukon with her mom to start off her summer vacation. The end of the school year has been rough, after her father left to go "find himself" and her best friend, Amos, stopped talking to her for reasons she doesn't understand. When Marlo and her mom get packed up to go on their advenutre, along with her dog, Cheerio, Marlo is not happy to find that Amos and his father have been invited along. At first, she's in the canoe with Amos' dad, Terry, who is a novice at paddling, but eventually ends up with Amos. When the two get separated from the parents, they run into trouble. Taking a wrong turn, they get swept over some falls, and have to try to dry out their equipment and set up for the night. Amos suffers from hypothermia, and Marlo has to build a fire to get him warm, but leaves the axe by the river and it gets swept away. They trek off away from the canoe, and find it crushed by a tree when they get back. Cheerio comes face to face with a porcupine but escapes unscathed, and Marlo slices open her foot on rocks in the river. There's a storm, as well as the requisite bear attack. Food runs low, and the two dispair of being found after a helicopter flies over and doesn't spot them. On top of all of this, there is some friend drama. Marlo feels that Amos' treatment of her is similar to her dad abandoning her, so is freezing him out. At the same time, Amos feels that Marlo is the one who stepped away from their friendship. Amos' tells her that he has a crush on her, and the two are able to discuss their feelings, unpack them, and remain friends. Eventually, they make their way back to the main river, and are rescued.
Strengths: Survival tales all tend to be somewhat similar (there's almost ALWAYS a bear attack!), but there are never enough of these books for my readers. Off the Map does have some facets that set it apart. The bear attack, for instance, is the best one I've read. There's a bear horn and pepper spray involved, and Cheerio gets mixed up in it. Everyone survives unscathed, however. Whew. This interweaves the emotional drama with the survival quite nicely, and is well paced and a good length. Marlo and Amos' falling out has some surprising but realistic elements, and it's on trend with current thinking that they were able to discuss what happened and still remain friends. Marlo's feeling that what happened with Amos parallels what happened with her father is well explained, and shows how parental problems can affect middle grade children on many different levels. The cover has lots of good elements in it that will appeal to middle grade readers; make sure that there are plenty of copies of this in your Scholastic book fair.
Weaknesses: Marlo's mom is a professional river guide who's spent years in the Yukon wilderness, and yet she lets her daughter go off without her own satnav phone? And they bring their dog? Of course, there wouldn't be a story is Amos and Marlo stayed with the parents, but they seemed a bit I'll prepared for the emergencies that might come up in such a journey. Did love that Marlo and Amos had to pay for the damaged canoe by earning money, but was it really their fault? Young readers will not have these reactions.
What I really think: There are just never enough survival stories for my students, so I will definitely purchase this, and it will make a nice display with Bledsoe's Running Wild, and Behren's Alone in the Woods, Downings' Just Keep Walking, Greci's The Wild Lands, Goebel's Backcountry, and Philbrick's Wild River. Very new titles also include Smith's Stranded, Russell's It Came from the Trees, and what I still think is essentially a survival tale, Neri's Safe Passage.
March 9, 2025
This is a well-paced survival story that also weaves in family and friendship. There were a few things that felt unrealistic about Marlo and Amos' adventures (left to canoe on their own without a sat phone, for instance) but overall, I felt as if I were in the canoe/sheltering along side of them. The setting also felt real and reminded me of my visits to camp in Alaska and cross the Kenai River with my dad to fish.
Cheerio provided both dangerous and heartwarming moments--and I loved how much Marlo and Amos cared for her and even risked their own lives to save the dog's life.
Amos and Marlo start of this adventure as former best friends and must work together to survive. Through the need to cooperate, they also open up to the honest truth about what happened to their relationship. Marlo also finds the strength to tell Amos about her abandonment fears created by her father. Their relationship rebuilding felt authentic for middle grade. It showed how feelings can possibly change with maturing and be misunderstood. It also showed how family issues can influence a child's friendships.
I hope to read more survival tales by this author soon.
Cheerio provided both dangerous and heartwarming moments--and I loved how much Marlo and Amos cared for her and even risked their own lives to save the dog's life.
Amos and Marlo start of this adventure as former best friends and must work together to survive. Through the need to cooperate, they also open up to the honest truth about what happened to their relationship. Marlo also finds the strength to tell Amos about her abandonment fears created by her father. Their relationship rebuilding felt authentic for middle grade. It showed how feelings can possibly change with maturing and be misunderstood. It also showed how family issues can influence a child's friendships.
I hope to read more survival tales by this author soon.
January 15, 2025
Marlo‘s mother planed a canoe trip on the Yukon, and Marlo is excited, until she finds out Amos is coming along. Amos and Marlo became friends when they were four when their parents were moving a couch. Amos sat with other people at lunch one day and he ran away from Marlo when she was looking for him. Now they haven’t spoken in twenty in twenty seven days! Amos suggested that they would act friendly around their parents to avoid suspicion. Every thing is going fine until they are stuck in the same canoe. Marlo starts to daydream the moment Amos left her standing in the hallway and since both aren’t paying attention they go down a waterfall and a wrong path. From that moment, they work together to make it home alive. Even though they worked three months to pay the canoe debt, they got back together after a misunderstanding.
May 19, 2025
After her dad left and her best friend stopped talking to her, Marlo is excited to go on another wilderness trip with her mom and her dog, Cheerio--canoeing on the Yukon River. But, when they arrive at the launch point, she realizes they are going with her ex-best friend and his dad. Then, the two are put in the same canoe, where they are so bad at working together, they take a wrong turn to a waterfall. It's pretty realistic and includes good survival tips about supplies, building a makeshift shelter, and drinking safe water. There's talk of crushes, so as much as I would like to share with kids reading Hatchet (4th grade in Westerville), it's more of 5th grade+.
April 5, 2025
Ms. Hashimoto's ealier book, The Trail, won the Indian Paintbrush award a few years back. I was excited to see another book by this author with our most recent book fair. My 13 year old picked it up and finished it before me! She loved it, and I loved it. Great way for kids to dive into a survival adventure, as well as talk about how relationships change as kids grow up. Really enjoyed this quick read.
December 18, 2024
i wish wilderness survival stories written for middle grade didn't seem so improbable. if marlo and her mom were as avid outdoors-people as was portrayed, they would have left that dog at home, or it would have been much more trained. of course, the dog was the means by which a lot of the misfortune happened.
July 6, 2025
Meika does not miss! Yet another great wilderness survival story, and I think Cheerio is my favorite dog she's written yet. 4.5 stars -- I don't love Amos even after he explains himself, and these kids are oddly articulate about their feelings in something very close to a therapy-speak way when they finally talk, but I have no qualms or notes about the adventure itself.
July 31, 2025
I was excited to read this because I loved The Trail that she wrote. This one did not live up to the exciting story of The Trail. It was a little boring, somewhat contrived, especially the conflict between the two main characters. If you're looking for a middle grade read aloud, try The Trail instead, especially if you live in Northern New England.
October 13, 2025
Amos and Marlo have been friends for years, but suddenly they're not talking and Marlo doesn't know why. However, her mother has added a surprise to their planned summer canoe trip , Arlo is coming along. But, when they are put together in one of the. canoes, they end up taking a wrong turn and have to relearn to work together to survive. Very good.
December 19, 2024
A strong action adventure in the Alaska wilderness, truly non-stop action with many mistakes and missteps that cost the main characters dearly in the harsh conditions. The dangers seemed to be extreme when described and then just quickly over. Quick read good for middle schoolers.
January 26, 2025
This is the perfect blend of character development and action as Marlo and Amos start off barely speaking to each other, and then have to work together to stay alive in the Alaskan wilderness. This will be an easy sell to students.
March 7, 2025
I really enjoyed the story until the last chapter. The ending felt lazy after such an exciting story. I’d easily give it another 1.5 stars if the ending had been written with as much care as the rest of the story.
June 6, 2025
It was okay. There really wasn’t too much action. Just a lot of being in a boat. It was decently unrealistic. It kind of reminded me of the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen about surviving with limited resources. It was not the best but it was fine.
June 15, 2025
I have to state right off that I'm not a huge fan of nature survival stories ... because you could have just stayed home! I guess this was fine, but not for me. One disastrous situation after another. I was kind of hoping someone would die to make it more interesting.
September 8, 2025
I enjoyed reading this with D and E although the story didn't suck me in wanting to read more by this author. I do think the fact that the two main characters resolved their problems had some good talking points. It was interesting enough, just not memorable.
November 19, 2024
This book was really good. I could not wait to see what happened but was sad it was over because it was so good. I wish the author would write a follow up book that continues the characters story.
February 28, 2025
A contemporary wilderness survival adventure, perfect for fans of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and The River, with added themes of changing friendships and parental abandonment.
May 3, 2025
Cute, my 4th grade class thought the characters argued too much
May 12, 2025
This book is fantastic it was such a clif hanger and made me so incredibly interested
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
Very cute.
November 27, 2025
I absolutely loved this, and I want another book just full of Cheerio!
December 27, 2025
Elementary/ Middle school Parents! Looking for a book for your kids? Road trip coming up? Trying to get a head start on AR for next year?
I just finished “Off the Map” by Meika Hashimoto. Scholastic rated it for 8-12 years old. It is a reading level of 4.8 and worth 6 AR points.
Amos and Marlo had always been best friends. From camping in their backyards to sitting with each other at lunch, they did everything together until it all suddenly fell apart.
Marlo is taking an end of the year canoe trip with her mom only …. There is Amos.
They try to keep their distance from each other until they get stuck in a canoe together. Busy arguing they take a wrong turn and are lost in the dangerous Alaskan back country.
It was a great action packed read! If you like survival stories you’ll love it!
I just finished “Off the Map” by Meika Hashimoto. Scholastic rated it for 8-12 years old. It is a reading level of 4.8 and worth 6 AR points.
Amos and Marlo had always been best friends. From camping in their backyards to sitting with each other at lunch, they did everything together until it all suddenly fell apart.
Marlo is taking an end of the year canoe trip with her mom only …. There is Amos.
They try to keep their distance from each other until they get stuck in a canoe together. Busy arguing they take a wrong turn and are lost in the dangerous Alaskan back country.
It was a great action packed read! If you like survival stories you’ll love it!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews