Far Less

by Kathy Wollenberg

From atop a towering redwood tree, seventeen-year-old Jesse can see beyond the difficult reality of his life on the ground. Homeless, Jesse camps in the forest with his drug-addicted mom and little sister. Diligent about showering, laundry, and school work, Jesse is determined to keep his circumstances a secret. But one girl cares enough to find out the truth. 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Winner

2020 Nautilus Book Awards Winner

221 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2020

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a great book, and a debut! I enjoyed reading about an area that I know so well. I appreciate it when an author writes about what they know or that they do their research. I don't mind stretching it but there has to be a thread of authenticity for me not to pick it apart. Well done!

[BookTrib.com]

Karen Wollenberg has written a book for teens and young adults that will touch many nerves. It will also make readers stop and be grateful for what they shouldn’t take for granted.

It's a touching coming-of-age novel.

Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/11/19/somet...

[Rabia O'Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book, because I am acquainted with the author and wanted to be supportive. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into it or not, as I have bought books in the past written by acquaintances and not always finished them. Kathy’s book is the kind that grasps me from chapter one, meaning I found it difficult to put down. The forests have been a big part of my well being for many years now, making the book especially akin to my inner feelings. Of course I have the added blessings of living where the story takes place, making it very real for me. There are so many people I want to buy this book for, and anyone who loves the forest and has some understanding of the difficulties the homeless face will certainly be moved emotionally when reading Far Less.

[Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of loss, hope, love and adventure. Without giving anything away, this is the story of a young boy who is snuggling with homeless trying to navigate the world as best he can. This novel really helped me to think more about the people around me, and how some have so little yet still find the courage to never give up and follow their dreams.

[Sophie Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows Jesse, a boy who faces not only the challenges of being a teenager, but the challenges that accompany being homeless as well. Jesse lives with his mother and young sister in a forest in Humboldt County, California. The importance of relationships within the family and beyond is a major theme of the book. Jesse's mother struggles with drug addiction, so Jesse must be a parent to his little sister. He takes care of the family as much as he can, while still trying to enjoy the last of his fleeting childhood. Throughout the story, Jesse faces many challenges that typical teenagers face, such as first romantic relationships, applying for college, and making friends. Kathy Wollenberg does a fantastic job discussing the issue of homelessness and how it comes into play with the daily struggles of being a teenager.
As a resident of Humboldt County myself, I loved being able to relate to so much in the book. I could picture most of the settings, having been to these places at some point myself, and, to an extent, could relate to the characters' feelings about living in Humboldt County.
I give this book 5/5 stars due to the amazing writing. I was hooked right from the beginning, and Wollenberg evoked so many emotions throughout the entire story. Being as far from a teenage boy as a reader can be, I was able to relate to this main character immensely. I laughed with him, cried with him, and grew frustrated with him.
I would recommend this book to anyone who lives in this area as it gives another perspective to the homeless community. I would recommend that high school teachers offer this as an assigned reading in their curriculum. Students do not often get assigned readings from the perspectives of fellow teenagers, and along with it being set in the area they live in, they could relate to many aspects of the story.

[Amelia Thorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

June Bookclub Newsletter

Thanks Shelbs for the host and the pasta salad. Happy summer to this bookclub.

This book, a gift from our sweet Shelby, was a true gift because of the thought, the personal connection and the feelings of community that she brought into our club tonight. Thanks bb Shelby. We love you.

Also, how nice to know that this Kabin Krew would be a home for each other when a house might not be an option.

Speaking of which, using "unhoused" instead of "homeless" acknowledges that home is more than just a place—it's a feeling of connection and security that everyone deserves. This shift in language reminds us not to take away the sense of home from anyone by reducing them to their housing situation.

It’s amazing to grow with someone through a story, but to also hear a story that we are unfamiliar with, one that we can learn a new perspective from, and connect with these characters regardless of distance between our situations.

Like Shelby said, this is just a glimpse of humanity. There is just so much more to everyone’s bigger picture.

I like to remember that the mental load of someone’s life, or the input, can directly affect their output — their creativity, what they can contribute to their community, the things that they can spend their time thinking about, the survival versus thriving and how we should be respectful and understanding of unknown mental loads of the people around us.

Regardless of our rating of this book, this book was a five in connecting us and creating a valuable conversation.

[Doug Ingold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Glen, the seventeen-year-old protagonist in this finely crafted first novel, sleeps beneath a tarp with his dysfunctional, addicted mother and his six-year-old half-sister. The tarp is located in a redwood forest at the edge of a small college town in coastal northern California. There are two worlds in this town, the world of commerce and schools and the marginal world of the homeless. For the most part the two worlds have as little to do with one another as possible. But Jesse and his sister attend school and that requires Jesse to navigate between the two worlds in multiple ways. It is his very realistic belief that he must hide his homeless status from those he meets in the broader community. The tension inherent in his deception drives the story. Jesse is perhaps somewhat idealized, always attentive, brave, capable. I found his relationship with Carla, his mother, to be the most vivid; Carla is touchingly conflicted and hopelessly lost. The novel retains a liveliness throughout and the relationships and complications in Jesse’s life emerge subtly and believably. Far Less might be considered a YA novel, but it grabbed the attention of this OA and had me engaged to the end.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesse is homeless and living in the forest community of homeless with his mother Carla and his little sister Lizzie. Carla is an addict who wants to be a good mother but addiction often pulls her away from her children. Jesse, ashamed of homelessness, tries to keep his situation secret while Lizzie seems completely unaware of their dire situation. Aunt Ellen would love to help her nephew and neice but Carla (believing her sister is an alien) has made that impossible, still Ellen does what she can. Jesse, who loves to climb high in the treetops, discovers a previously unknown salamander living way up in the trees. Jesse is befriended by a professor, a girl volunteering to feed the homeless, and some of the homeless community who guide him through life. This heartwarming and often heart wrenching story shows a side of homelessness many of us never even thought about.
Kathy Wollenberg, drawing on the life experiences of her family and friends, spins a tale of the homeless in Northern California. This reader's fervant prayer is that many, if not all, the homeless find the uplifting ending that Jesse has found.

[Kimiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA literature- I am probably biased because I am a Humboldt resident, but I absolutely loved reading this book. The imagery and beauty of Humboldt and the redwoods are so prevalent throughout the book that the forest almost seems like its own character. The author so accurately describes the smells, scenes, temperatures, textures of Humboldt County that the scenery just seems so alive. Homelessness is a major issue in my community, and I am interested by the families who are subjected to being homeless. This book did an excellent job of describing the complexities behind having a drug addicted mother and what it truly means to be a homeless adolescent. Jesse is a vibrant, compassionate character and the reader constantly just wants him to succeed. I feel it is imperative that more YA's read literature like this to expand their mind of others' trials and tribulations. I highly highly recommend this book to both YAs and adults.

[Meenal Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe that I read the 212 pages written by Kathy Wollenberg in just a day. This is how exceptionally well the story of two homeless children and their mother in Humboldt county is told. I know Kathy personally. Her empathy, compassion, and kindness are reflected in her writing. She puts life into her characters. It almost felt like I was walking along with Jesse, the protagonist, throughout the story. The familiarity of geographic vistas in the story engrossed me in the story in such a way that I could imagine the life of this homeless family. Thank you, Kathy, for this wonderful treasure.

Also, Kathy’s book has won several awards for young adult fiction. I plan to use the book for my Parent Child Relationships class this spring under the themes of Homeless families and parentification/adultification of children.

[Eric Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I bought this novel at Murphy’s Market in Trinidad, very near the Redwoods. Living in California, I’ve become kind of immune to the plight of homeless, drugged out adults. Frankly, I was worried that this was going to read pages about how it is my responsibility to help.

This wasn’t what I expected, in a wonderful way. The author does a wonderful job of humanizing homeless children and growing up in the outdoors - what it’s like to have an addict mother. It was a great story about how to help.

Character build was excellent. All characters had a magic: Jesse, Lizzie, Carla, Ben, Raya, Marie and the Professor.

Wonderful book. A rare 5 ⭐️ book.

[Norma Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific debut novel. Wollenberg does an amazing job of taking us into the forest with Jesse Glen, letting the reader experience the exhilaration of climbing the big redwoods (which I would never do with my fear of heights). Along with this comes the desperation of being a homeless kid, trying to protect a small sister and survive in the woods of Northern California. I never for a page lost interest. Mesmerizing.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly well crafted story! The author not only captivates her audience with a truly compelling story, giving her audience a glimpse into a world they might not otherwise think about with such compassion, but the way she writes is truly beautiful. Kathy dances her words around the pages of this novel in such a clever way, making it difficult to put it down. I can’t wait to see what else she has to share with us in her future work!

[Bren · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book I picked up in a free bin outside my local bookstore, it was a spectacular read. Growing up in Northern California and almost considering Humboldt for my own schooling, it was nice to see Wollenberg’s take on the area. Far Less is a perfect length, and deals with heavy topics that some of us may, unfortunately relate to. Overall, this is a book I will recommend people in the future.

[Chris Wollenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful coming of age story set in rural northern California. The story is authentic and the characters are true. The prose is as poetic as the setting. And, if you don’t come away with a better feel for lives of teens forced to live on the economic margin, you weren’t paying attention. Definitely one of those books that will teach as well as engage.

[Dhartridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book, written for teens, because it was by a local writer and set in my home town. I enjoyed it, liked the main character, who is a very responsible homeless high school kid living in the forest with his less responsible mother and little sister.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant homeless story from the point of a 17 year old teen set in the redwoods of Northern California.

[Deborah Dennert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing writer. So much depth in the character, Jesse, his thoughts and internal struggles and the hardships he is facing.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Once I read the first few pages I could not put it down. I was captivated by the characters, their struggles and successes. Kathy’s writing is beautiful. I highly recommend! I’m looking forward to reading it again.