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Switchback
Ashton Hamid knows everything about gaming. His D&D battles are epic; the video game tournaments he organizes, multi-day tests of endurance with players around the world. Real life, however, is a different matter. So when he and his best friend—outspoken "A" student (and social outcast) Vale Shumway—head out on a camping trip to Waterton Lakes National Park with their Phys. Ed. class, Ash figures it’ll be two days of bug bites, bad food, and inside jokes.
Instead, the two friends find themselves in a fight for survival.
An unexpected October snowstorm separates Ash and Vale from the rest of their class. By the time the teens realize they’ve missed the trail, they have wandered deep into the Canadian Rockies. Lost in the wilderness and hunted by deadly predators, their only hope is to work together. But with Vale’s limited supplies and Ash’s inexperience, can the best friends stay alive long enough to find their way back to civilization?
Instead, the two friends find themselves in a fight for survival.
An unexpected October snowstorm separates Ash and Vale from the rest of their class. By the time the teens realize they’ve missed the trail, they have wandered deep into the Canadian Rockies. Lost in the wilderness and hunted by deadly predators, their only hope is to work together. But with Vale’s limited supplies and Ash’s inexperience, can the best friends stay alive long enough to find their way back to civilization?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2019
13 people are currently reading
2023 people want to read
About the author
Danika Stone
14 books335 followersDanika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both teens (Switchback, All the Feels and Internet Famous) and adults (Inescapable: A Ghost Story, Sip Sip Bang Bang, Edge of Wild, The Dark Divide and Fall of Night). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her family and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.
Ms. Stone is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.
Ms. Stone is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.
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June 9, 2022
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!
fulfilling my 2021 goal to read one ARC each month i'd been so excited to get my hands on and then...never read
this is a very wholesome book about friendship and it's a decent enough survival story, although in terms of EEK, PERIL it is closer to Hatchet than Be Not Far from Me.
wilderness survival stories—i'm a fan. Island of the Blue Dolphins was probably the first one i ever read, and i must have burned through it a hundred times between the ages of 7 and 12, appreciating the similarity between karana's name and my own, and secretly yearning for the chance to tame a wild dog and build myself a house made of bones.
now that i am old and doughy, i don't think i'd survive for too long in the wild, but i still like reading about people who do and can, and i always pick up a few just-in-case tips along the way.*
Be Not Far from Me is the best one i've read recently, starring a badass girl whose ample woodsy know-how is put to the test in a series of brutal and intense situations. by comparison, Switchback (whose author previously wrote a book called All the Feels), is practically gentle, and although it's marketed as YA, it's probably also fine for the older side of the middle-grade readerverse.
it features besties-since-childhood ash and vale, two canadian teens who become separated from the rest of their 10th grade PE class during an overnight nature outing in waterton lakes national park (i.e. the canadian rockies).
ash is a real indoor boy—a lanky and klutzy gamer who has never even been on a hike before now, who prepared for this mandatory wilderness adventure by staying up until dawn playing on his computer before tossing some doritos and mountain dew in a bag.
he's goofy and well-liked, and he tells the geekiest jokes of all time
vale has more outdoorsy experience than him; both physical-practical and theoretical-academic, and she actually enjoys being out in nature, but ash is her only IRL friend, and she's bullied relentlessly by the rest of her classmates, so she's not thrilled to be heading into the wilderness surrounded by people determined to make her life miserable.
it's unclear just what makes vale a target for bullying. she's aroace, but that doesn't seem to be the motivating factor for the abuse. when it comes to the bullying, the writing is very unspecific and vague—things like, She'd been the butt of several jokes in the short time since she had switched seats.
the bullies think she's boring and they call her "valley girl," which i assume is clever wordplay on her name, but unless the phrase has some other meaning in canada, the bullying doesn't seem to be tied to anything she is or does, she's just...disliked. she does kind of give off that tracy flick energy, especially when it comes to litterbugs
and she's also a bit stiff and humorless and unwilling to engage with people other than ash and her online LGBTQIA community, but whether that's the chicken or the egg of the bullying is unclear.
suffice it to say she hates them, they hate her, and now they have a photo of her changing in the locker room, so it doesn't matter why she's been singled out; they're just little shits, being shitty.
recently, ash and vale have drifted apart slightly—vale quit gaming with him when she started getting bullied online (again, providing an explanation about how and whyyyyy doesn't seem to be important to the author), and ash never stands up for her against the rest of the class—he's a puppy defusing situations with humor, but he's too insecure to actually take her side in any of these confrontations.
so, even though she's grateful to have ash along on this trip as a buffer against the bullies, there's a new little crack in their friendship that'll be tested to the extreme when they become separated from their class and have to rely on each other to make it out alive in the face of exposure to freezing temperatures, snow, hunger, injuries, and nature's myriad furry dangers: cougars, bears, and elk (which are more formidable than i'd reckoned**), along with more of ash's jokes:
which jokes may be the biggest danger of all.
in the lineup of "survival stories i have read," it's not my favorite, because i'm a monster who prefers a grittier edge, but i thought their friendship was charming and their struggles were portrayed realistically, both in their survival-competence and in their relationship.
i just wish there had been more character work done on vale. the lack of explanation about why she's been singled out is only part of it—i suppose leaving out the details of what it is about her that brings all the bullies to the yard makes her more relatable—a sort of archetypal ur-victim, but she also has this intense fear of abandonment—she's constantly on edge, braced for ash to stop being her friend, and she becomes disproportionately panic-stricken when she thinks he has left her in the night. i get that it's scary to be alone in the woods, but her fear was more about the emotional insult of being discarded than about the dangers of being left alone in the wilderness. there's a lot about her psychological makeup that's left unexplored, and i wish i understood her as a character better.
still, i appreciate that stone, like mcginnis in Be Not Far from Me, addressed the additional discomfort of enduring menses whilst trying to survive in the wild, because that particular trial was never addressed in Island of the Blue Dolphins, and i think it's an important consideration.
a medium book for me, but those less marinated in survival stories will probably get more out of it.
* i have one technical question about how fire works.
genuine query for all the boy scouts and pyros of any gender: wouldn't the fire just keep going up the trunk? does fire respect boundaries?
an excellent drawing, for reference:
** although it has recently been pointed out to me over here that, in canada, "elk" are "wapiti," and, if commonwealth taxonomy is a thing, "elk" are what we rowdy downstairs neighbors call "moose." and in that case—yeah, keep your distance. although i suppose anything with horns can be dangerous, and when creatures are both horn'ed and horny, you wanna give them as much privacy as possible.
come to my blog!!
fulfilling my 2021 goal to read one ARC each month i'd been so excited to get my hands on and then...never read
"Go slow, Ash. You've got this."
"Keep calm and respawn."
Vale nodded. "Exactly. Now walk."
And with the rain at their backs, a dark bank of clouds looming over the horizon, and no food or water, they headed down into the unknown valley.
this is a very wholesome book about friendship and it's a decent enough survival story, although in terms of EEK, PERIL it is closer to Hatchet than Be Not Far from Me.
wilderness survival stories—i'm a fan. Island of the Blue Dolphins was probably the first one i ever read, and i must have burned through it a hundred times between the ages of 7 and 12, appreciating the similarity between karana's name and my own, and secretly yearning for the chance to tame a wild dog and build myself a house made of bones.
now that i am old and doughy, i don't think i'd survive for too long in the wild, but i still like reading about people who do and can, and i always pick up a few just-in-case tips along the way.*
Be Not Far from Me is the best one i've read recently, starring a badass girl whose ample woodsy know-how is put to the test in a series of brutal and intense situations. by comparison, Switchback (whose author previously wrote a book called All the Feels), is practically gentle, and although it's marketed as YA, it's probably also fine for the older side of the middle-grade readerverse.
it features besties-since-childhood ash and vale, two canadian teens who become separated from the rest of their 10th grade PE class during an overnight nature outing in waterton lakes national park (i.e. the canadian rockies).
ash is a real indoor boy—a lanky and klutzy gamer who has never even been on a hike before now, who prepared for this mandatory wilderness adventure by staying up until dawn playing on his computer before tossing some doritos and mountain dew in a bag.
he's goofy and well-liked, and he tells the geekiest jokes of all time
"What do you do when the world champion of Scrolls of the Illuminati knocks on your door?"
"I..." Vale giggled. "I have no idea."
"You say, 'well done, sir!' then pay the man for the pizza."
vale has more outdoorsy experience than him; both physical-practical and theoretical-academic, and she actually enjoys being out in nature, but ash is her only IRL friend, and she's bullied relentlessly by the rest of her classmates, so she's not thrilled to be heading into the wilderness surrounded by people determined to make her life miserable.
it's unclear just what makes vale a target for bullying. she's aroace, but that doesn't seem to be the motivating factor for the abuse. when it comes to the bullying, the writing is very unspecific and vague—things like, She'd been the butt of several jokes in the short time since she had switched seats.
the bullies think she's boring and they call her "valley girl," which i assume is clever wordplay on her name, but unless the phrase has some other meaning in canada, the bullying doesn't seem to be tied to anything she is or does, she's just...disliked. she does kind of give off that tracy flick energy, especially when it comes to litterbugs
and she's also a bit stiff and humorless and unwilling to engage with people other than ash and her online LGBTQIA community, but whether that's the chicken or the egg of the bullying is unclear.
suffice it to say she hates them, they hate her, and now they have a photo of her changing in the locker room, so it doesn't matter why she's been singled out; they're just little shits, being shitty.
recently, ash and vale have drifted apart slightly—vale quit gaming with him when she started getting bullied online (again, providing an explanation about how and whyyyyy doesn't seem to be important to the author), and ash never stands up for her against the rest of the class—he's a puppy defusing situations with humor, but he's too insecure to actually take her side in any of these confrontations.
so, even though she's grateful to have ash along on this trip as a buffer against the bullies, there's a new little crack in their friendship that'll be tested to the extreme when they become separated from their class and have to rely on each other to make it out alive in the face of exposure to freezing temperatures, snow, hunger, injuries, and nature's myriad furry dangers: cougars, bears, and elk (which are more formidable than i'd reckoned**), along with more of ash's jokes:
"Why do you always find demons in the same game level as ghouls?"
"No idea."
"Because demons are a ghoul's best friend."
which jokes may be the biggest danger of all.
in the lineup of "survival stories i have read," it's not my favorite, because i'm a monster who prefers a grittier edge, but i thought their friendship was charming and their struggles were portrayed realistically, both in their survival-competence and in their relationship.
i just wish there had been more character work done on vale. the lack of explanation about why she's been singled out is only part of it—i suppose leaving out the details of what it is about her that brings all the bullies to the yard makes her more relatable—a sort of archetypal ur-victim, but she also has this intense fear of abandonment—she's constantly on edge, braced for ash to stop being her friend, and she becomes disproportionately panic-stricken when she thinks he has left her in the night. i get that it's scary to be alone in the woods, but her fear was more about the emotional insult of being discarded than about the dangers of being left alone in the wilderness. there's a lot about her psychological makeup that's left unexplored, and i wish i understood her as a character better.
still, i appreciate that stone, like mcginnis in Be Not Far from Me, addressed the additional discomfort of enduring menses whilst trying to survive in the wild, because that particular trial was never addressed in Island of the Blue Dolphins, and i think it's an important consideration.
a medium book for me, but those less marinated in survival stories will probably get more out of it.
* i have one technical question about how fire works.
At one point, Vale found an entire dead tree that was small enough to drag with her. inspired, she pushed the entire log into the fire at one end, and as it burned, she moved it inward into the flames. It reminded Vale of the way you could sharpen a pencil down to nothing. It was a solution that gave her time to stop gathering wood.
genuine query for all the boy scouts and pyros of any gender: wouldn't the fire just keep going up the trunk? does fire respect boundaries?
an excellent drawing, for reference:
** although it has recently been pointed out to me over here that, in canada, "elk" are "wapiti," and, if commonwealth taxonomy is a thing, "elk" are what we rowdy downstairs neighbors call "moose." and in that case—yeah, keep your distance. although i suppose anything with horns can be dangerous, and when creatures are both horn'ed and horny, you wanna give them as much privacy as possible.
come to my blog!!
May 11, 2020
I ENJOYED THIS SO MUCH! also we love our aroace icon Vale <3333
May 28, 2019
Happy Wednesday!
I have been trying really hard to pre-write posts and get them set to post at certain days and times so my release schedules get a bit more steady, hopefully, it all works out! In today's review, we are going to talk about Switchback a book that just came out yesterday! I had two ARCS of books that came out this past Tuesday so I wanted to be sure to read those and get these reviews up in a timely manner to help everyone decide what to spend time reading in the next few summer months. I know May is a big time for new releases and with so many new books coming out it can be overwhelming trying to pick what to read first or what to buy first.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Ashton and Vale are high school best friends but also extreme opposites. Ashton is a gamer, he can organize D and D battles, set up multi-day game groups with people all over the world but when it comes to the outdoors he doesn't know much at all. His best friend Vale, however, is an A student, outspoken, and not really in the socially popular group. These two best friends are about to embark on a huge journey together, one that will change them forever. See Ashton and Vale are going with the PE class to a camping trip for two days to Waterton Lakes National Park in October. However, once there a freak October storm hits, this storm separates Val and Ashton from the rest of the class and more than that forces them into the Candian Rockies. Neither one of these friends is super good at being in the outdoors but can they work together to figure out how to survive?
This was a very enjoyable read for me. I read the summary online a while back and the publisher was kind enough to send me an ARC. When I first picked up the book I was ready and waiting for the action to hit. I was all like let's do this! I was very ready for some Hatchet style action to take place with Ashton and Vale attempting to survive this ordeal. We definitely get our action and I loved it. I needed to have just a smidge more patience but this book is definitely worth it! I gave this book four and a half stars on Goodreads.
**Many thanks to Swoon Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have been trying really hard to pre-write posts and get them set to post at certain days and times so my release schedules get a bit more steady, hopefully, it all works out! In today's review, we are going to talk about Switchback a book that just came out yesterday! I had two ARCS of books that came out this past Tuesday so I wanted to be sure to read those and get these reviews up in a timely manner to help everyone decide what to spend time reading in the next few summer months. I know May is a big time for new releases and with so many new books coming out it can be overwhelming trying to pick what to read first or what to buy first.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Ashton and Vale are high school best friends but also extreme opposites. Ashton is a gamer, he can organize D and D battles, set up multi-day game groups with people all over the world but when it comes to the outdoors he doesn't know much at all. His best friend Vale, however, is an A student, outspoken, and not really in the socially popular group. These two best friends are about to embark on a huge journey together, one that will change them forever. See Ashton and Vale are going with the PE class to a camping trip for two days to Waterton Lakes National Park in October. However, once there a freak October storm hits, this storm separates Val and Ashton from the rest of the class and more than that forces them into the Candian Rockies. Neither one of these friends is super good at being in the outdoors but can they work together to figure out how to survive?
This was a very enjoyable read for me. I read the summary online a while back and the publisher was kind enough to send me an ARC. When I first picked up the book I was ready and waiting for the action to hit. I was all like let's do this! I was very ready for some Hatchet style action to take place with Ashton and Vale attempting to survive this ordeal. We definitely get our action and I loved it. I needed to have just a smidge more patience but this book is definitely worth it! I gave this book four and a half stars on Goodreads.
**Many thanks to Swoon Reads for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2019
*This was sent to me for review from Swoon Reads. As always, all opinions are my own.*
1 star.
Well uh, this was bad.
I LOVE YA survival stories. I have such a fun time with the thrill of it all and it keeps me flipping pages, but that trope can't save this for me.
Quite frankly, the writing is pretty bad.
"Ash's thoughts were slippery." is probably the worst quote in the book and there isn't really any bad specific quotes but the writing is just....bad??? It's SO incredibly dramatic (even for teenaged characters).
Also, the characters were so selfish and I honestly wouldn't have cared if they didn't survive in the end. In fact, I would have preferred the darker ending.
All in all, this book just..is bad. The one star is purely for the ace and aro representation.
1 star.
Well uh, this was bad.
I LOVE YA survival stories. I have such a fun time with the thrill of it all and it keeps me flipping pages, but that trope can't save this for me.
Quite frankly, the writing is pretty bad.
"Ash's thoughts were slippery." is probably the worst quote in the book and there isn't really any bad specific quotes but the writing is just....bad??? It's SO incredibly dramatic (even for teenaged characters).
Also, the characters were so selfish and I honestly wouldn't have cared if they didn't survive in the end. In fact, I would have preferred the darker ending.
All in all, this book just..is bad. The one star is purely for the ace and aro representation.
October 3, 2020
I woke up, started this book, and read it in one sitting. It was good, solid fun, but also entirely predictable and just all the more proof that survival stories aren't exactly my thing.
I also kind of disliked how the aro-ace rep was presented as "not wanting sex or romance" rather than "not experiencing sexual or romantic attraction", which is already a common misconception, so it was a shame to see that in this book as well.
I also kind of disliked how the aro-ace rep was presented as "not wanting sex or romance" rather than "not experiencing sexual or romantic attraction", which is already a common misconception, so it was a shame to see that in this book as well.
July 12, 2020
Ich liebe Survival-Geschichten und deswegen kann ich nicht anders als blind zuzugreifen, wenn mir solche Bücher begegnen. Dadurch habe ich schon einige wahre Schätze gefunden, aber auch das eine oder andere Mal wirklich daneben gegriffen. Switchback pendelt sich irgendwo dazwischen ein und lässt mich etwas ratlos zurück, weil es viele gute Ansätze zeigt, aber sich dabei in der weiteren Ausführung aber maßlos verrennt.
Als erstes wären da die Charaktere. Vale und Ash sind seit langer Zeit befreundet und es ist wirklich erfrischend, dass dies auch während der gesamten Geschichte so bleibt und sich keine unnötige Liebesgeschichte entwickelt. Dies liegt zum einen daran, dass Vale aro-ace (a_romantisch und a_sexuell) ist und zum andren daran, dass Ash Vale eben wirklich nur als eine Freundin sieht was meiner Meinung nach in Jugendbüchern viel zu selten vorkommt. Die Freundschaft der beiden und wie sie sich in dieser Ausnahmesituation entwickelt ist für mich das Highlight der Geschichte.
Die eigentliche Survival-Geschichte ist spannend. Das kann man nicht anders sagen, denn die beiden kämpfen neben der Kälte, dem Hunger und verschiedenen äußeren Umständen auch mit der Gefahr durch allerlei wilde Tiere. Und genau hier liegt eins meiner größten Problem. Das Verhalten mancher Tiere entspricht einfach nicht ihrer Natur und da sich die Handlung nur über fünf Tage erstreckt haben die beiden auf der einen Seite extremes Pech immer in solche Situationen zu geraten und auf der anderen Seite auch wahnsinniges Glück solch ungewöhnliche Verhaltensweisen bei Tieren zu erleben. Mir persönlich wäre es aber lieber gewesen, wenn sich die Tiere einfach normal verhalten hätten.
Mein zweites Problem ist diese unglaublich dämliche Darstellung von Erwachsenen. Angeblich wird diese Wanderung jedes Jahr angeboten und bisher ist noch nie etwas passiert. Das mag sein, aber für mich ist es nicht nachvollziehbar, dass diesen erfahrenen Lehrer*innen dann solch vermeidbare Fehler begehen und absolut rücksichts- und verantwortungslos handeln.
Auch Vales Mutter kommt in meinen Augen eher schlecht weg. Ich finde es schade, dass Eltern ihren Kindern fast immer verständnislos gegenübergestellt werden, selbst wenn das für den Verlauf der Geschichte mehr oder weniger unbedeutend ist. Hier hätte die Autorin mit einer positiv eingestellten und interessierten Mutter wesentlich mehr auf die Themen a_romantisch and a_sexuell eingehen können. Wäre es nicht wünschenswert wenn Jugendliche beim lesen solcher Bücher auch mal auf weltoffene Eltern treffen würden und Autoren Bilder von Eltern zeichnen würden die ihren Kindern auf Augenhöhe begegnen?
Mein letzter Kritikpunkt ist, dass die Autorin zu viele typische Jugendbuch-Themen verarbeiten wollte, dafür aber nicht den richtigen Rahmen bilden konnte. Hier werden wichtige Themen wie Mobbing, Scheidung der Eltern oder auch toxisches Verhalten in der Gamerszene angesprochen, aber eben nur angesprochen und nicht weiter ausgeführt. Dafür fehlt es einfach an der richtigen Umgebung um darauf tiefer eingehen zu können, denn während der Flucht vor einem Puma oder auch kurz vorm erfrieren ist es doch eher unwahrscheinlich, dass man sich mit solchen Problemen auseinandersetzt. Leider wirken diese eingeworfenen Themen dadurch aber sehr gewollt und eher störend als fördernd.
Switchback ist spannend, rasant und nur schwer aus der Hand zu legen. Leider aber an einigen Stellen auch zu konstruiert, nicht ganz glaubhaft und mit zu vielen Klischees behaftet. Obwohl die Geschichte sicher ihre Fehler hat ist sie aber trotzdem unterhaltsam und besticht durch ihre Charaktere und deren Freundschaft.
Als erstes wären da die Charaktere. Vale und Ash sind seit langer Zeit befreundet und es ist wirklich erfrischend, dass dies auch während der gesamten Geschichte so bleibt und sich keine unnötige Liebesgeschichte entwickelt. Dies liegt zum einen daran, dass Vale aro-ace (a_romantisch und a_sexuell) ist und zum andren daran, dass Ash Vale eben wirklich nur als eine Freundin sieht was meiner Meinung nach in Jugendbüchern viel zu selten vorkommt. Die Freundschaft der beiden und wie sie sich in dieser Ausnahmesituation entwickelt ist für mich das Highlight der Geschichte.
Die eigentliche Survival-Geschichte ist spannend. Das kann man nicht anders sagen, denn die beiden kämpfen neben der Kälte, dem Hunger und verschiedenen äußeren Umständen auch mit der Gefahr durch allerlei wilde Tiere. Und genau hier liegt eins meiner größten Problem. Das Verhalten mancher Tiere entspricht einfach nicht ihrer Natur und da sich die Handlung nur über fünf Tage erstreckt haben die beiden auf der einen Seite extremes Pech immer in solche Situationen zu geraten und auf der anderen Seite auch wahnsinniges Glück solch ungewöhnliche Verhaltensweisen bei Tieren zu erleben. Mir persönlich wäre es aber lieber gewesen, wenn sich die Tiere einfach normal verhalten hätten.
Mein zweites Problem ist diese unglaublich dämliche Darstellung von Erwachsenen. Angeblich wird diese Wanderung jedes Jahr angeboten und bisher ist noch nie etwas passiert. Das mag sein, aber für mich ist es nicht nachvollziehbar, dass diesen erfahrenen Lehrer*innen dann solch vermeidbare Fehler begehen und absolut rücksichts- und verantwortungslos handeln.
Auch Vales Mutter kommt in meinen Augen eher schlecht weg. Ich finde es schade, dass Eltern ihren Kindern fast immer verständnislos gegenübergestellt werden, selbst wenn das für den Verlauf der Geschichte mehr oder weniger unbedeutend ist. Hier hätte die Autorin mit einer positiv eingestellten und interessierten Mutter wesentlich mehr auf die Themen a_romantisch and a_sexuell eingehen können. Wäre es nicht wünschenswert wenn Jugendliche beim lesen solcher Bücher auch mal auf weltoffene Eltern treffen würden und Autoren Bilder von Eltern zeichnen würden die ihren Kindern auf Augenhöhe begegnen?
Mein letzter Kritikpunkt ist, dass die Autorin zu viele typische Jugendbuch-Themen verarbeiten wollte, dafür aber nicht den richtigen Rahmen bilden konnte. Hier werden wichtige Themen wie Mobbing, Scheidung der Eltern oder auch toxisches Verhalten in der Gamerszene angesprochen, aber eben nur angesprochen und nicht weiter ausgeführt. Dafür fehlt es einfach an der richtigen Umgebung um darauf tiefer eingehen zu können, denn während der Flucht vor einem Puma oder auch kurz vorm erfrieren ist es doch eher unwahrscheinlich, dass man sich mit solchen Problemen auseinandersetzt. Leider wirken diese eingeworfenen Themen dadurch aber sehr gewollt und eher störend als fördernd.
Switchback ist spannend, rasant und nur schwer aus der Hand zu legen. Leider aber an einigen Stellen auch zu konstruiert, nicht ganz glaubhaft und mit zu vielen Klischees behaftet. Obwohl die Geschichte sicher ihre Fehler hat ist sie aber trotzdem unterhaltsam und besticht durch ihre Charaktere und deren Freundschaft.
January 30, 2019
The harrowing realities of survival in the fierce Western Canadian wilderness is highlighted in Danika Stone’s newest novel Switchback, published by Swoon Reads (2019). Featuring two very relatable, flawed, and ultimately human teenagers, this novel takes readers up an impossibly high mountain with shadowy valleys and brilliant summits in both literal and emotional ways.
Ash and Vale are high school friends who become separated from their teachers, guides and classmates on a mandatory overnight hike and camping trip in the Rocky Mountains near Waterton. The teens quickly realize they are going to need shelter, food and fire if they will survive the night alone. Although the daily drama of being a social outcast in high school may seem like life-and-death, being stranded in the fierce Western Canadian wilderness isn’t something they prepare you for in second period calculus.
Anyone who has even contemplated spending time in the Western Canadian evergreen forests knows the constant threat of unforeseen weather, unpredictable wildlife and unplanned situations. This novel does not disappoint, as the reader is kept on edge from the first page to the last. Anxious for things to go well, each switchback up and down the mountains show the highs and lows of friendship and survival, with the threat of Canadian realities always just over the next ridge. Showcasing a Hinterland Who’s Who of classic Canadian wildlife, fitting to a Canadian tale, the weather and the risk of wild animals plays a crucial role in our two protagonists’ physical and emotional journey.
One of the characters self-describes as aro/ace ( aromantic / asexual ), and this representation comes across as genuine, sensitive and appropriate for the age and stage of the character and the intended audience. It’s a gentle and compassionate way to recognize some of the social stigma of not waiting to engage in a romantic relationship, but still take part of a caring and close truly platonic relationship. Understanding and acknowledging very quickly that the two friends are not going to fall into a romantic relationship allows the reader to put to rest the clichéd tropes of the damsel in distress, love providing strength to carry on, and a big kiss before leaping over a chasm. Knowing the expectations each character has for each other allows conflict to come into their relationship when they have to truly rely on each other for basic human survival.
More than just a simple adventure story of “two kids lost in the woods”, this novel compares physical and social isolation as a metaphor of being an outcast surrounded by your own peer group. Is being lost in the mountains, frightened of the unknown just as daunting and disorienting as being lost in a crowd of taunting and harassing teenagers? What does it take to survive? At school? In the backcountry? In life?
Danika Stone’s prose is compelling, her characters are convincing, and her piece is filled with humour and literary adrenaline. As with her other forays into Young Adult fiction, her characters are clever, humble, perfectly imperfect and excellent illustrations of contemporary North American teenagers. The descriptions of the Western Canadian wilderness, landscape and wildlife rival any tourism pamphlet and encourage the reader to envision the raw beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Through the peaks and valleys of her novel, Stone addresses questions of physical and social survival, whether by adapting to your surroundings or finding just the right place where you belong.
Ash and Vale are high school friends who become separated from their teachers, guides and classmates on a mandatory overnight hike and camping trip in the Rocky Mountains near Waterton. The teens quickly realize they are going to need shelter, food and fire if they will survive the night alone. Although the daily drama of being a social outcast in high school may seem like life-and-death, being stranded in the fierce Western Canadian wilderness isn’t something they prepare you for in second period calculus.
Anyone who has even contemplated spending time in the Western Canadian evergreen forests knows the constant threat of unforeseen weather, unpredictable wildlife and unplanned situations. This novel does not disappoint, as the reader is kept on edge from the first page to the last. Anxious for things to go well, each switchback up and down the mountains show the highs and lows of friendship and survival, with the threat of Canadian realities always just over the next ridge. Showcasing a Hinterland Who’s Who of classic Canadian wildlife, fitting to a Canadian tale, the weather and the risk of wild animals plays a crucial role in our two protagonists’ physical and emotional journey.
One of the characters self-describes as aro/ace ( aromantic / asexual ), and this representation comes across as genuine, sensitive and appropriate for the age and stage of the character and the intended audience. It’s a gentle and compassionate way to recognize some of the social stigma of not waiting to engage in a romantic relationship, but still take part of a caring and close truly platonic relationship. Understanding and acknowledging very quickly that the two friends are not going to fall into a romantic relationship allows the reader to put to rest the clichéd tropes of the damsel in distress, love providing strength to carry on, and a big kiss before leaping over a chasm. Knowing the expectations each character has for each other allows conflict to come into their relationship when they have to truly rely on each other for basic human survival.
More than just a simple adventure story of “two kids lost in the woods”, this novel compares physical and social isolation as a metaphor of being an outcast surrounded by your own peer group. Is being lost in the mountains, frightened of the unknown just as daunting and disorienting as being lost in a crowd of taunting and harassing teenagers? What does it take to survive? At school? In the backcountry? In life?
Danika Stone’s prose is compelling, her characters are convincing, and her piece is filled with humour and literary adrenaline. As with her other forays into Young Adult fiction, her characters are clever, humble, perfectly imperfect and excellent illustrations of contemporary North American teenagers. The descriptions of the Western Canadian wilderness, landscape and wildlife rival any tourism pamphlet and encourage the reader to envision the raw beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Through the peaks and valleys of her novel, Stone addresses questions of physical and social survival, whether by adapting to your surroundings or finding just the right place where you belong.
April 24, 2021
This was a great read (and a fast read)!
The setting in the mountains was so atmospheric and the fast-paced plot really kept things moving. But what I loved best were the two main characters. Their different personalities combined with their friendship (not to mention the predicament they found themselves in) made their interactions feel very real and nuanced. It was such an interesting idea, to look at what would happen if two teens got lost in the mountains.
The setting in the mountains was so atmospheric and the fast-paced plot really kept things moving. But what I loved best were the two main characters. Their different personalities combined with their friendship (not to mention the predicament they found themselves in) made their interactions feel very real and nuanced. It was such an interesting idea, to look at what would happen if two teens got lost in the mountains.
June 17, 2019
This is a fantastic tale.
But, city-folk (like myself), I must warn you... there are bears. And mountains, fire and ....lions and tigers and.... well, just the bears.
Join Vale and Ash on their Canadian wilderness adventure. These friends will battle the elements and local cuddly wildlife to get back to the relative safety that is highschool.....
But, city-folk (like myself), I must warn you... there are bears. And mountains, fire and ....lions and tigers and.... well, just the bears.
Join Vale and Ash on their Canadian wilderness adventure. These friends will battle the elements and local cuddly wildlife to get back to the relative safety that is highschool.....
April 20, 2020
Apparently this has ace rep 👍
May 27, 2019
**3.5 Stars**
Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Ash would much rather spend his time online gaming in his mom's basement than actually go outside, so when the class has their mandatory overnight hike he is less than thrilled. Vale loves the outdoors and hiking, but is dreading the hiking trip for another reason- the never ending bullying that she is the brunt of. When the friends find themselves left behind during the hike, they never expected that they would have to survive the wilderness alone- or all the challenges that would stalk them.
Vale was totally my hero! She was prepared and calm under pressure, assessing every situation and finagling her way to a solution. She gets a five out of five for survival- I would want to go camping/survivaling (hey, I can make up words!) with this smart girl. Ash on the other hand is a hot mess. He has a great personality and tries really hard, but basically he would have died the first night without Vale and her mad skills. He did have his uses, like the comic relief life always needs (and the packing of gum) and he came to realize how important Vale really is, how she kept him alive, and how friends need to be treated.
I really appreciated how no way was this a romance; it is refreshing to have a YA book without romance, just a great platonic friendship as the main relationship dynamic- and they really were the best of friends to each other. Both teens were supportive and respectful of each other's feelings and actions, which was really sweet actually. In a side note, Vale is aro-ace, which I did not know anything about before reading the book so it was really nice to learn about it and have a strong, capable representation in action.
Switchback was an intense action adventure that took place over a few days and focused on survival and friendship. Once the story got started, I don't believe there was a single dull moment. I read the book in just a few hours since the writing style was easy to read, and honestly I could not stop because I needed to know what would happen next! Danika is the queen of creating tension, I was so stressed out for Ash and Vale and the surprises just kept coming.
I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.
Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Ash would much rather spend his time online gaming in his mom's basement than actually go outside, so when the class has their mandatory overnight hike he is less than thrilled. Vale loves the outdoors and hiking, but is dreading the hiking trip for another reason- the never ending bullying that she is the brunt of. When the friends find themselves left behind during the hike, they never expected that they would have to survive the wilderness alone- or all the challenges that would stalk them.
Vale was totally my hero! She was prepared and calm under pressure, assessing every situation and finagling her way to a solution. She gets a five out of five for survival- I would want to go camping/survivaling (hey, I can make up words!) with this smart girl. Ash on the other hand is a hot mess. He has a great personality and tries really hard, but basically he would have died the first night without Vale and her mad skills. He did have his uses, like the comic relief life always needs (and the packing of gum) and he came to realize how important Vale really is, how she kept him alive, and how friends need to be treated.
I really appreciated how no way was this a romance; it is refreshing to have a YA book without romance, just a great platonic friendship as the main relationship dynamic- and they really were the best of friends to each other. Both teens were supportive and respectful of each other's feelings and actions, which was really sweet actually. In a side note, Vale is aro-ace, which I did not know anything about before reading the book so it was really nice to learn about it and have a strong, capable representation in action.
Switchback was an intense action adventure that took place over a few days and focused on survival and friendship. Once the story got started, I don't believe there was a single dull moment. I read the book in just a few hours since the writing style was easy to read, and honestly I could not stop because I needed to know what would happen next! Danika is the queen of creating tension, I was so stressed out for Ash and Vale and the surprises just kept coming.
I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.
August 17, 2019
Engaging from the start and captivating through to the end. Great characters with a satisfying slap-down at the end. A YA book that both boys and girls would identify with. Once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down.
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April 18, 2020
I pre-ordered this book immediately when I heard there was going to be an asexual protagonist. Then I kept picking it up and putting it down. This month, I finally read the entirety of this book in less than 24 hours, staying up until 5am to finish it, that's how much I enjoyed it. Vale is asexual and aromantic and honestly, I could relate to her SO MUCH. I loved her as a character and I loved her friendship with Ash.
If you're looking for a thrilling book with great aroace rep, definitely pick up Switchback!
Cawpile: 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9
If you're looking for a thrilling book with great aroace rep, definitely pick up Switchback!
Cawpile: 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9
February 26, 2019
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and reading well into the night. It's a harrowing tale of survival, a vivid ode to the beautiful but unforgiving Canadian wilderness, and a gorgeous story of friendship all rolled into one. You'll want to hunker down with a good, warm blanket as you embark on this thrilling, unputdownable ride.
June 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! It's a great survival story, but also a story of friendship. The two characters manage to work together and overcome their situation of being lost in the Rockies. They have to work really hard and truly trust each other with their lives. I couldn't put the book down! There's also the perspective of those looking for the two main characters from time to time which adds a lot more tension and makes the whole story more interesting since you get to see a different side of things!
June 18, 2019
I liked the teens as friends aspect. I liked the outdoors focus. Just made me cringe that the basic tenets of wilderness adventure (such as leave no trace and what to do if lost) weren't discussed in the story, either by the teacher to prepare the teens for the hike or later on while the search was underway; or even as part of an epilogue. It would be tragic if a a teen read this and got lost on a hike and kept moving around and making these kinds of decisions.
August 13, 2020
This is a good story. The characters were realistic and it was nice to see an aro-ace protagonist. The ending was a little unclear and could have been described a little better to make it easier to understand. It was really nice to read about an area I knew. It made it more real (and also makes me not want to get lost in Waterton). I really enjoyed it and recommend it to people who want to read an adventure story.
April 7, 2019
(I received an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review)
I love my children okay thanks
Vale is actually me
I love my children okay thanks
Vale is actually me
dnf
January 10, 2020DNF at 20%
Aroace MC (Vale), m/f platonic relationship, terrible writing.
Aroace MC (Vale), m/f platonic relationship, terrible writing.
May 30, 2019
Switchback surprised me in a very pleasant way. As soon as I started reading, I was already hooked. The beginning of the book isn't that intense, but the talk of Dungeons and Dragons was really interesting. I recently started a campaign with friends, so this was a fun way to start a read. Add some fun quotes to start each chapter, I was excited.
Our main characters Ash and Vale are best friends. Ash is a gamer and that's his life. He gets along with kids at school, but that's not his priority. Vale isn't as lucky at school. She gets bullied and Ash is her only friendly relationship at school. That aspect of the book did bother me. Vale is openly bullied at school and on the bus and the teacher seems oblivious. It isn't until the end after all the tragedy a teacher finally opens her mouth. I wish this would've gotten a bit more attention.
Okay, back to the rest of the story. They have to go a PE hiking trip. The weather starts turning and when Ash and Vale stop to pick up trash (the bullies left behind), they get seperated from the group. In a certain way this may have seemed a bit unrealistic that they got seperated, but with a book this good, I can handle that!
Switchback got intense once our main characters are lost and it gets dark. Vale and Ash aren't prepared for the storm coming and everything keeps going wrong. I loved how calm Vale was and actually really smart. She knew how to handle situations and thought out of the box to get things done! The way the weather conditions and their situation was described I felt like I was there. When both characters were both so cold they were shivering, I actually had goosebumps and was cold. I needed to know if these two would survive and I read this book in one sitting.
My favorite aspect of Switchback is that there was no aspect of romance between our main characters. Vale is aromantic and asexual and I really appreciated that in this story, it's not something we see often in YA book. The friendship between Ash and Vale really grew in this book. They learned to trust each other and work together. I have read a couple of reviews being upset they were laughing in their situation, but I can only applaud that. They needed to see something positive/hopeful in everything that was going on.
The dual POV was really interesting in this story and kept me on my toes. I loved knowing how they were both feeling. Add the POV from their teacher and rescue worker and I was hooked (I do wish we had a bit more of this during the book though). I am used to this author's books being fluffy, this was anything but, and I am so happy she wrote something like this. I forgot how amazing a book can feel that gives you such intense emotions while reading and that makes you hope the characters will make it.
Switchback is definitely an intense ride and one I never knew I needed. I definitely need more books like this in my life. If you need to cool down on a hot summer day, because the way she describes the cold in this books, will chill you to the bone!
Our main characters Ash and Vale are best friends. Ash is a gamer and that's his life. He gets along with kids at school, but that's not his priority. Vale isn't as lucky at school. She gets bullied and Ash is her only friendly relationship at school. That aspect of the book did bother me. Vale is openly bullied at school and on the bus and the teacher seems oblivious. It isn't until the end after all the tragedy a teacher finally opens her mouth. I wish this would've gotten a bit more attention.
Okay, back to the rest of the story. They have to go a PE hiking trip. The weather starts turning and when Ash and Vale stop to pick up trash (the bullies left behind), they get seperated from the group. In a certain way this may have seemed a bit unrealistic that they got seperated, but with a book this good, I can handle that!
Switchback got intense once our main characters are lost and it gets dark. Vale and Ash aren't prepared for the storm coming and everything keeps going wrong. I loved how calm Vale was and actually really smart. She knew how to handle situations and thought out of the box to get things done! The way the weather conditions and their situation was described I felt like I was there. When both characters were both so cold they were shivering, I actually had goosebumps and was cold. I needed to know if these two would survive and I read this book in one sitting.
My favorite aspect of Switchback is that there was no aspect of romance between our main characters. Vale is aromantic and asexual and I really appreciated that in this story, it's not something we see often in YA book. The friendship between Ash and Vale really grew in this book. They learned to trust each other and work together. I have read a couple of reviews being upset they were laughing in their situation, but I can only applaud that. They needed to see something positive/hopeful in everything that was going on.
The dual POV was really interesting in this story and kept me on my toes. I loved knowing how they were both feeling. Add the POV from their teacher and rescue worker and I was hooked (I do wish we had a bit more of this during the book though). I am used to this author's books being fluffy, this was anything but, and I am so happy she wrote something like this. I forgot how amazing a book can feel that gives you such intense emotions while reading and that makes you hope the characters will make it.
Switchback is definitely an intense ride and one I never knew I needed. I definitely need more books like this in my life. If you need to cool down on a hot summer day, because the way she describes the cold in this books, will chill you to the bone!
January 12, 2020
***Spoiler
This book was a departure from what I usually read in YA, I am not even sure if I have ever read a survival story that is realistic! That being said, I do live in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada that the author describes, and I felt that she was very adept at portraying the region and the obstacles you might encounter while in the wild here.
The pace of this book is quick, I loved the various social aspects and challenges a teen might face in high school and dealing with a**hole kids (pardon the harshness, but I have a teen who struggles with other very insensitive kids out there who bully and this struck a nerve, plus I deal with adult bullies, as well. Those kids sometimes grow up to be bullies) as well as opening my mind to new realities that occur that didn't when I was a teen. Being able to identify, name and own your sexual identity (or asexual one in this case). :)
I read some of the earlier reviews and as usual, I disagree with a lot of the low ratings. Some of the reasons were unfounded in my opinion. For instance, someone mentioned that the teens wouldn't be joking around in this situation being lost in the woods in such a punishing environment. I think Danika Stone did a great job of navigating the ups and downs of the teen's experience. It was scary and they were reacting to that fear immediately from the first day of their isolation from the group. But eventually, you have to insert lightheartedness into very daunting situations to help with your mental and emotional survival. Then human being does this in order for their nervous system not to be overwhelmed with the truth of impending demise. They reacted when necessary in the appropriate moments, during the downtime when they had to distract themselves they had to joke around. If you did read the book, the characters do talk about how time is moving very slowly and they struggled with that. Maybe they should ruminate throughout the whole book and bore us to tears?!!
I think the book had a nice rise and fall, enough action for me and a definite character growth from both the main protagonists in the end. It was a very satisfying book, within the confines of the length a YA novel should be, Danika did everything she was supposed to do, and entertained and educated all the while. (I guess that is my answer to the few 1 and 2* ratings - awfully unfair IMO)
Many thanks to the author for the great read!!
This book was a departure from what I usually read in YA, I am not even sure if I have ever read a survival story that is realistic! That being said, I do live in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada that the author describes, and I felt that she was very adept at portraying the region and the obstacles you might encounter while in the wild here.
The pace of this book is quick, I loved the various social aspects and challenges a teen might face in high school and dealing with a**hole kids (pardon the harshness, but I have a teen who struggles with other very insensitive kids out there who bully and this struck a nerve, plus I deal with adult bullies, as well. Those kids sometimes grow up to be bullies) as well as opening my mind to new realities that occur that didn't when I was a teen. Being able to identify, name and own your sexual identity (or asexual one in this case). :)
I read some of the earlier reviews and as usual, I disagree with a lot of the low ratings. Some of the reasons were unfounded in my opinion. For instance, someone mentioned that the teens wouldn't be joking around in this situation being lost in the woods in such a punishing environment. I think Danika Stone did a great job of navigating the ups and downs of the teen's experience. It was scary and they were reacting to that fear immediately from the first day of their isolation from the group. But eventually, you have to insert lightheartedness into very daunting situations to help with your mental and emotional survival. Then human being does this in order for their nervous system not to be overwhelmed with the truth of impending demise. They reacted when necessary in the appropriate moments, during the downtime when they had to distract themselves they had to joke around. If you did read the book, the characters do talk about how time is moving very slowly and they struggled with that. Maybe they should ruminate throughout the whole book and bore us to tears?!!
I think the book had a nice rise and fall, enough action for me and a definite character growth from both the main protagonists in the end. It was a very satisfying book, within the confines of the length a YA novel should be, Danika did everything she was supposed to do, and entertained and educated all the while. (I guess that is my answer to the few 1 and 2* ratings - awfully unfair IMO)
Many thanks to the author for the great read!!
June 27, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this and then I just... didn't. I liked it. But that's pretty much it?
I did love the characters. Ash was funny and reminded me of that one guy I was friends with in middle school so I kinda wanted to hug him all the time. Vale was AWESOME, an aroace smart girl and I loved her very very much. I picked up the book because of the aroace rep. It was good!! It wasn't a big part of the book but it was well done. Makes me ache for more rep, though.
I loved Ash and Vale and I loved their relationship. I loved the focus on ride or die friendship that DOESN'T turn in anything else, not even for Ash. So, great.
I haven't read many survival books. I think they might not be for me. I was enjoying it in the first 100 pages but then I thought it turned repetitive and sort of boring. It was... too long. At least for me. I don't know how believable any of it was, but sometimes I had a hard time to suspend my disbelief and went like "how did they get through this omg it's impossible"! And maybe it's not but it felt like it was and it stopped me from enjoying the book fully??
Anyway. I think Switchback is typically a "it's not you, it's me" book. It has many many great things?? I love the characters and the aroace rep and the bullying depiction was mostly on point. But I think somewhere in the middle it lost my interest and never got it back (except in the last two chapters <3).
I'd totally rec it to people who know they love survival stories, though. I think it's a good one!
EDIT: I forgot TWs!!!
TW: trans exclusive language, dead animals, injuries/blood, hypothermia, free fall, bullying, violent wildlife.
I really wanted to love this and then I just... didn't. I liked it. But that's pretty much it?
I did love the characters. Ash was funny and reminded me of that one guy I was friends with in middle school so I kinda wanted to hug him all the time. Vale was AWESOME, an aroace smart girl and I loved her very very much. I picked up the book because of the aroace rep. It was good!! It wasn't a big part of the book but it was well done. Makes me ache for more rep, though.
I loved Ash and Vale and I loved their relationship. I loved the focus on ride or die friendship that DOESN'T turn in anything else, not even for Ash. So, great.
I haven't read many survival books. I think they might not be for me. I was enjoying it in the first 100 pages but then I thought it turned repetitive and sort of boring. It was... too long. At least for me. I don't know how believable any of it was, but sometimes I had a hard time to suspend my disbelief and went like "how did they get through this omg it's impossible"! And maybe it's not but it felt like it was and it stopped me from enjoying the book fully??
Anyway. I think Switchback is typically a "it's not you, it's me" book. It has many many great things?? I love the characters and the aroace rep and the bullying depiction was mostly on point. But I think somewhere in the middle it lost my interest and never got it back (except in the last two chapters <3).
I'd totally rec it to people who know they love survival stories, though. I think it's a good one!
EDIT: I forgot TWs!!!
TW: trans exclusive language, dead animals, injuries/blood, hypothermia, free fall, bullying, violent wildlife.
October 9, 2019
SWITCHBACK is:
-Gripping.
-Suspenseful.
-Tearjerking.
-A chilling plunge into the Canadian wilderness where literally anything could be waiting around the next bend in the trail.
I was so into this book! I love any kind of survival story, and SWITCHBACK upped the ante by providing two incredibly real, warm, likeable teens, Ash and Vale, best friends who will do anything to help each other survive after getting separated from their school group during a mandatory hike in Waterton Lakes National Park. They face everything head-on--wild animals, starvation, hypothermia--while always having each other's back, and I could barely keep myself from skipping ahead to the end to find out if they were going to make it home in one piece!
Teachers and librarians, this is a MUST BUY for your YA collection. Put it in kids' hands; they'll recognize both the day-to-day coming of age struggles of Ash and Vale, as well as their devotion to each other. Vale's resilience and toughness were especially inspiring. Ahhh! It's so good!
-Gripping.
-Suspenseful.
-Tearjerking.
-A chilling plunge into the Canadian wilderness where literally anything could be waiting around the next bend in the trail.
I was so into this book! I love any kind of survival story, and SWITCHBACK upped the ante by providing two incredibly real, warm, likeable teens, Ash and Vale, best friends who will do anything to help each other survive after getting separated from their school group during a mandatory hike in Waterton Lakes National Park. They face everything head-on--wild animals, starvation, hypothermia--while always having each other's back, and I could barely keep myself from skipping ahead to the end to find out if they were going to make it home in one piece!
Teachers and librarians, this is a MUST BUY for your YA collection. Put it in kids' hands; they'll recognize both the day-to-day coming of age struggles of Ash and Vale, as well as their devotion to each other. Vale's resilience and toughness were especially inspiring. Ahhh! It's so good!
July 5, 2019
A survival story set in the Canadian wilderness that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. This is a refreshing friendship story between Ash (guy gamer, friend to all) and Vale (a girl who is aromantic and asexual, friend to few, bullied by many). Their school trip ends in disaster when they clean up another schoolmate’s litter and lose their group in the fog. Vale will have to use all of her knowledge of the outdoors and Ash will discover adventures in the real world are different then video games. Both characters have to find their own inner strength and rely on the power of true friendship. It’s a gripping and empowering read.
August 6, 2019
An aro-ace main character should be refreshing, but I found this painful. The awkward scenes between her and Ash read like fanfiction tropes. The dialogue meandered aimlessly, complete with ellipsis, dashes, italics, and caps on nearly every page. Each character had essentially one personality trait: being aro-ace for Vale and games for Ash. I wanted more than the surface considering they were together for days and trying to survive.
October 31, 2019
Ash and Vale have to go on an overnight hike with their PE classmates in order to pass the class. Ash hates the outdoors and he’s never been hiking. Vale hates the bullying she receives from her classmates. Naturally, neither of them are excited about the hike to begin with, but it turns out to be worse than they expected. On the first day, Ash and Vale get separated from the rest of the group. Their absence isn’t noticed until nightfall, and the town begins a frantic search for them. By that time the two friends are further from the path than they thought. Desperate to stay alive in the cold, bear-populated mountains and reach civilization, Ash and Vale use more strength and bravery than they knew they had. Through the twists and turns of their gripping adventure, the pair learns not only how to survive in the woods, but what it means to be a true friend.
With unexpected turns of events and tantalizing cliffhangers, this book can be hard to put down. The story-line is very well paced. It isn’t so fast the characters are underdeveloped and scenes are vague, but it isn’t so slow the reader loses interest. Ash and Vale both have distinct characters. Vale is smart about the woods, but is not very good with people. Ash is almost entirely clueless about the outdoors, but can make anyone his friend. He cracks jokes throughout their journey, even when their circumstances seem dire. This saves the book from feeling overly dark, as Vale and Ash experience many traumatic events. Vale is aro-ace (aromantic and asexual) so she and Ash do not become romantically involved at any part of their journey, which can be quite refreshing from other YA novels. Unfortunately, Vale's bullies are often faced with some anger, fighting fire with fire. This can get a bit annoying and leaves the ending a little unsatisfying. Otherwise, the book is amazingly written, realistic, and entertaining.
*Contains moderate violence, moderate language, and moderate sexual content.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/switchback...
With unexpected turns of events and tantalizing cliffhangers, this book can be hard to put down. The story-line is very well paced. It isn’t so fast the characters are underdeveloped and scenes are vague, but it isn’t so slow the reader loses interest. Ash and Vale both have distinct characters. Vale is smart about the woods, but is not very good with people. Ash is almost entirely clueless about the outdoors, but can make anyone his friend. He cracks jokes throughout their journey, even when their circumstances seem dire. This saves the book from feeling overly dark, as Vale and Ash experience many traumatic events. Vale is aro-ace (aromantic and asexual) so she and Ash do not become romantically involved at any part of their journey, which can be quite refreshing from other YA novels. Unfortunately, Vale's bullies are often faced with some anger, fighting fire with fire. This can get a bit annoying and leaves the ending a little unsatisfying. Otherwise, the book is amazingly written, realistic, and entertaining.
*Contains moderate violence, moderate language, and moderate sexual content.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/switchback...
November 3, 2019
This was such a treat to read! It was a roller coaster from start to finish and Danika almost made me nervous that the kids were not going to make it out alive !! I really enjoyed the setting of the book as i myself have visited Waterton Park on many occasions and it was a pleasure to read about it and have it describe by Danika in such a manner.
The friendship in this book is so precious and so important ! To have it be a book on just friendship and nothing romantic about it is so refreshing to read and a really nice change of pace! I am always looking forward to reading her next book and seeing what wonderful adventures she has to offer us next time !
The friendship in this book is so precious and so important ! To have it be a book on just friendship and nothing romantic about it is so refreshing to read and a really nice change of pace! I am always looking forward to reading her next book and seeing what wonderful adventures she has to offer us next time !
January 23, 2020
Captivating storytelling, as always. I handed this one to my 15 year-old when I was done with it. I got it back the next day. "Did you read it?" "Mom, I finished it before lunch. It was *good.*"
Well done, Stone, well done.
Well done, Stone, well done.
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