Walkaway

by Alden R. Carter

Fifteen-year-old Andy, fed up with his alcoholic father and annoying older brother, leaves their northern Wisconsin cabin on his version of a walkabout, leaving his medications to combat depression, anxiety, and delusions behind.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Teen

202 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2008

Reviews

[Mason Thomas]

This book is about a 15 year old boy named Andy whos home life is not ideal to say the least. For starters his dad is an an alcoholic with anger issues, his older brother hates him for no apparent reason and his mom doesn’t really do anything to help the situation. He had previously been in a mental hospital and the stress and mental damage being put on him by his family is pushing him to break and have to go back to the hospital. To combat his complete breakdown that is destined to happen if he stays with his family he takes off into the wilderness by himself. The point of the book is to showcase Andy’s life and struggles as he lives in the wild by himself, and to explain the mental struggles he goes through on the way. However, the author doesn’t do a great job because it lacks focus on either topic and the story is unorganized. I would recommend this book if you need a quick easy book to read but not if you want something challenging or intellectual. My major takeaway from this book is that Andy running away was less about being mentally ill and more just being straight up angry at his family rightfully so.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a school librarian, I was quite impressed with Carter's novels for junior high and high school students. This is his newest, which I've just finished. Some of the finest realistic novels of the past half-century have been written for children and young adults rather than for adults, beginning perhaps with Charlotte's Web, which is only partially a realistic novel, of course. Alden R Carter has made strong contributions to this field, and Walkaway is no exception. It is especially adept at presenting the internal workings of the young narrator's mind, particularly as he has psychological problems and doesn't necessarily see things 'right'. Powerful and moving.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy is fed up with alcoholic father and dysfuntional family. Everyone is in denial that his dad has a problem. The story is set in northern Wisconsin at the family's cabin, and the surrounding peacefulness of the woods is Andy's salvation. His father has a car accident while Andy and others are in the car, and Andy's dad makes him take the blame so it won't tarnish his reputation as a lawyer. When Andy can't take the abuse any longer, he runs away into the woods. He knows a lot about the woods, what plants to eat/not eat, how to purify his water. He knows the lay of the land very well. Will he survive? Will he make it to Canada? Read to find out.

[Emily Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inside cover of this book tells of a boy who gets fed up with his life and walks off into the wilderness to try his luck there. The book itself is very different! Andy has depression issues partly due to his father being an alcoholic and his mother not around enough. Andy has always liked being outdoors and on his own and one day decides to leave and gets to skirt his brother, father, and eventually the law as he hides out in the woods. It's a very good story, different than I expected but still very good.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the car while driving to Indiana with three other people, and I wonder if I would have found this book more compelling if I wasn't so distracted by conversation in the car. I did enjoy how my expectations for Andy (the main character) and what happens to him changed dramatically as I kept reading.

[Megan N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok...this is probably one of my favorite books ever!!!Seriously it has a whole bunch of action towards the end, and I love how this kid works...he has some 'mental' problems like depression, axienty, and delusion. I recomand this to anyone that likes action, and a whole bunch of great parts.

[Dy'talzha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing even though he was going through problem he fought through it. He also went to a mental hospital for at least 1-2 years max.

[Dayla Sapio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the book was pretty good, the book really makes you think!