Kathryn Holmes

Blending elements of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak and Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, this gripping story from Kathryn Holmes was deemed “a page turner” by author Richard Peck and “an intense story of survival” by ALA Booklist in its starred review. Sophomore Hallie Calhoun has just endured the most excruciating six months of her life. Once the rumors about her and the preacher’s son, Luke, made their way around school, her friends abandoned her, and as a result, Hallie has completely withdrawn. Now on a hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains with the same people who have relentlessly taunted her, Hallie is pushed to her limit. Then Hallie, outgoing newcomer Rachel, and Jonah—Hallie’s former friend—get separated from the rest of the group. As days go by without rescue, their struggle for survival turns deadly. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to trust one another in order to stay alive…and for Hallie, that means opening up about what really happened that night with Luke. From the catty atmosphere of high school to the unpredictable terrain of the mountains, this novel is a poignant, raw journey about finding yourself after having been lost for so long.

The Distance Between Lost and Found

Blending elements of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and Gary Paulsen's Hatchet, debut novelist Kathryn Holmes delivers a gripping story that author Richard Peck calls a "page-turner about several kinds of survival." Sophomore Hallie Calhoun has just endured the most excruciating six months of her life. Once the rumors about her and the preacher's son, Luke, made their way around school, her friends abandoned her, and Hallie has completely withdrawn. Now, on a hike in the Smoky Mountains with the same people who have relentlessly taunted her, Hallie is pushed to her limit. Then Hallie, outgoing newcomer Rachel, and Jonah—Hallie's former friend—get separated from the rest of the group. As days go by without rescue, their struggle for survival turns deadly. Stranded in the wilderness, the three have no choice but to trust one another in order to stay alive . . . and for Hallie, that means opening up about what really happened that night with Luke. From the catty atmosphere of high school to the unpredictable terrain of the mountains, this novel is a poignant, raw journey about finding yourself after having been lost for so long.

Jen Estrella

Actual Rating: 3.5/5
- Again, fairly easy and predictable character development
- Some loose ends here and there (not much change in their environment/circumstances)
- Even though this book is not so much about the romance as it is about friendship and survival, it still made me swoon. 
- More thoughts soon

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If I'm being totally honest, I was a little hesitant to read this book just because I'm not one who enjoys a lot of religion in her books. Don't get me wrong, I'm ok when a character has strong beliefs. I just don't like to feel like there's an agenda or like I'm being preached to. It's a fine line for me. Since this book is set during a youth group retreat, I was nervous. But, in the end, I had nothing to worry about. That's not to say there isn't religion in this book. There is. It's a centerpiece of the entire story. And I loved how it was woven into this book. 

I've read a couple survivalist stories as of late and while they're not something I want to read A LOT of, I've thoroughly enjoyed those I've read. I'm a big fan of contemporary stories and have enjoyed the addition of "something else" to the storylines. Something more than just relationship and family drama that tend to drive the plot in contemporary books. The Distance Between Lost and Found wasn't simply a survivalist story, however. It was the story of a girl struggling to find her place in the world... at the time she was the most lost. Literally and figuratively. I loved how seamlessly the two paired together. That's what made this book stand out most for me.

I found it easy to relate to Hallelujah, despite the obvious differences between us. When the book begins, we know Hallie is keeping a secret. It's one that's affected her life in a number of ways and left her an outcast among her peers. The secret isn't revealed until quite awhile into the book and the bit of mystery surrounding it definitely added to the story. Hallie's character growth throughout this book was wonderful. She started out the book fairly weak and more than a little conflicted, but her time spent lost in the woods served to bring out another side of her. By the end, I found her more confident and physically and mentally stronger. So much more sure of herself.

The secondary characters in this book were great, too. The ever-shifting dynamics between Hallie, Jonah and Rachel moved the story forward just as much as the things that happened to them while they were lost. I was unsure of Jonah in the beginning, but it didn't take long for me to be singing his praises and wanting him and Hallie to move past the drama of their pasts and find something together. They were just too perfect together. 

I really enjoyed this book. It started off a bit slow for me, but I was invested from the start. Once the action really started and the truth began pouring out, I couldn't put the book down. Literally. I read it in one sitting, unwilling to leave my sofa long enough to even eat lunch. I never had the false sense of security where I believed everything would work out for this trio. I was kept on my toes, desperately needing a resolution. Excellent book. I look forward to more from Kathryn Holmes in the future. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

 Bruna Acioly Leão

New addition to my favorite contemporary reads. I'm enjoying this sort of character based/friendship based sort of YA contemporary. 
I really enjoyed the story - the atmosphere of the woods is so gripping and the way the book was written made me feel like I really understood the characters and what they were going through.

Danielle 

Megan During

zaynah

riley dawson

Maegan Kennedy

𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮

Reyna 

Chelsea Hunter

Sophomore Hallie Calhoun has just endured the most excruciating six months of her life. Once the rumors about her and the preacher's son, Luke, made their way around school, her friends abandoned her, and as a result, Hallie has completely withdrawn.

The Distance Between Lost and Found

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