Synopses & Reviews
Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.
Review
"Even those with little interest in Thoreau will find this a solid psychological mystery about a teen who's made a mistake that he can't keep running from." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April 1, 2013
Review
"Think James Dashner's Maze Runner series meets High School Musical: an engaging and unique book." Booklist, March 1, 2013
Review
"Introspective high schoolers will appreciate this engimatic coming-of-age story." School Library Journal, March 2013
Review
"This compelling, suspenseful debut, a tough-love riff on guilt, forgiveness and redemption, asks hard questions to which there are no easy answers." Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2013
Review
"Cal Armistead's story of Hank is not only an English teacher's dream. . .it's also a clever look at identity and who we are without our baggage." The Boston Globe, March 30, 2013
Review
". . .Hank's personal tragedies are touching, as are his interactions with everyone from street kids Jack and Nessa to the more sedate citizens of Concord. His quests for answers and redemption should easily engage readers." Publishers Weekly, January 28, 2013
Synopsis
STARRED REVIEW This compelling, suspenseful debut, a tough-love riff on guilt, forgiveness and redemption, asks hard questions to which there are no easy answers.--Kirkus Reviews starred review
Best Teen Books of 2013, Kirkus Reviews
2014 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People
The Best Children's Books of the Year 2014, Bank Street College
Seventeen-year-old Hank has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything--who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David--or Hank--and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel about a teen in search of himself. As Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past he realizes that the only way he can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past to stop running and find his way home.
Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old "Hank," who can't remember his identity, finds himself in Penn Station with a copy of Thoreau's Walden as his only possession and must figure out where he's from and why he ran away.
About the Author
Cal Armistead is a musician, singer, voice actress and independent bookseller in Massachusetts. She lives in Concord with her husband. This is her first novel.