Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
It’s just after World War II and Jack Baker has been sent to a boarding school in Maine following the death of his mother. Feeling lost and unsure of what life holds for him anymore, Jack is drawn to Early Auden, an odd yet intelligent boy who reads the number pi as a story and refuses to believe the rumours surrounding the Great Appalachian Bear and the fate of Fish, a popular ex-student who was lost at war. When the two boys are left on campus during the holidays, they decide to take to the Appalachian Trail in search of the black bear. Along the way they meet some of the most intriguing (although a few of them frightening) people, all of whom are written into Early’s story of pi. The pair will find some answers to their questions – however, sometimes those answers are not what you were expecting.
From the author of Moon Over Manifest (one of my all-time favourite books), Navigating Early is a beautifully written novel about believing in something and not stopping until you have found the answers. The fascinating story of pi that Early narrates is unique and creative, making this a book for kids who are interested in a truly different narrative. A must-read for ages 10 and up.
