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The Trail
The Trail | Meika Hashimoto
3 posts | 3 read | 1 to read
Toby has to finish the final thing on The List. It's a list of brave, daring, totally awesome things that he and his best friend, Lucas, planned to do together, and the only item left is to hike the Appalachian Trail. But now Lucas isn't there to do it with him. Toby's determined to hike the trail alone and fulfill their pact, which means dealing with the little things -- the blisters, the heat, the hunger -- and the big things -- the bears, the loneliness, and the memories. When a storm comes, Toby finds himself tangled up in someone else's mess: Two boys desperately need his help. But does Toby have any help to give? The Trail is a remarkable story of physical survival and true friendship, about a boy who's determined to forge his own path -- and to survive.
LibraryThing
review
rebcamuse
rebcamuse
The Trail | Meika Hashimoto
post image
Mehso-so

I read a lot of reviews of this book because it occurred to me that I don't have a good sense of reading through an eleven or twelve-year old's eyes. My goddaughter was assigned this book for school, so I read it (as are her parents). I sat with it for awhile and looked back through it, trying to parse the pet peeves from the genuine criticisms.

rebcamuse There's a lot about it I don't like. The 12-year old protagonist Toby was not, in my opinion, at all memorable. When I think back to books I read at that age, even if I disliked them, the characters stuck with me (e.g. Holden Caulfield, Piggy, etc--and I REALLY disliked Lord of the Flies). 4mo
rebcamuse Again, I recognize that having spent over four decades on the planet may bias me, but it wasn't until the last 15 pages or so that I started to like this character. I understand that he's on a journey and I do want to say that I respect that the "journey" does turn out to be far deeper and metaphorical than a 12 year old hiking the Appalachian Trail. 4mo
rebcamuse This book barely passes the Bechdel test either--and while that normally isn't a huge issue for me, I think for a book that is assigned reading, it falls really short. There are only a few women characters: the "offscreen" Gran, Abbey with her "beautiful face", the spunky Sadie (who I wish had been a prominent character throughout), and the motherly Marsha. 4mo
See All 6 Comments
rebcamuse In the first part of the book the product placement was to the point of distraction. I do realize this may be targeted to the age group and their budding consumerism, and while I, too, am a fan of Darn Tough socks, I'm just not sure what these particular details (REI, Subarus, etc) added to the narrative except to reinforce branding and consumerist culture. 4mo
rebcamuse What I did like was the specifics about the Appalachian Trail. Children who live outside of hiking culture might struggle with some of the references or lose interest. I liked the map at the end, but would have loved to see it integrated---perhaps tracing Toby's path as he moves through the trail in each chapter. 4mo
rebcamuse Believe it or not, that‘s not my full review! Read it in full https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5700462053 4mo
19 likes6 comments
blurb
4thwallbreak
4thwallbreak
The Trail | Meika Hashimoto
post image

I finished this in one day. That does not mean this is an easy read, though.
Date: December 21st
Genre: Adventure/Contemporary fiction
There is a saying that goes, “Do not judge a book by it's cover“. This book is a fine example of that.
The genre, cover and synopsis may imply of a typical hiking trip, but that analogy is far from the truth. This book covers heavy real-life problems, such as alcohol addiction, divorces and child abuse, all coupled

4thwallbreak Cont. Summary
all coupled up with tasks that seem incredibly dangerous and insurmountable. There is deep character study and development, immersing the reader into emphasizing alongside our fellow protagonists as they continue through a perilous, traumatic journey. Bonding between man and dog is also an important concept here, a testament to the old-but-gold concept many readers love. 6y
4thwallbreak Cont. Summary
However, the plot is inconsistent with its predictability. Some parts are built up beautifully, with the ability to shock most readers, while others can be foreseen right away. It is a minor gripe, though, and it does not affect the story's overall message too much. Most importantly, the story's moral about perseverance and dedication is a great one, especially so when combined with the hard realities people face today in society. 6y
1 like2 comments
blurb
BeckyRoy
BeckyRoy
The Trail | Meika Hashimoto
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My 9 year old wanted me to read this because he really liked it. I was sooo happy!

tpixie Love it when a child loves a book!! 8y
14 likes1 stack add1 comment