The Other Side of Lost

Gr 8 Up— As a child, Mari and her cousin Bri made a pact to hike the John Muir Trail for their shared 18th birthday. Since then, Mari has refocused her life on creating the ultimate social media image and Bri has passed away while pursuing her hiking dream. As Mari realizes the detriment her false life has brought her, she vows to quit social media and attempt the hike Bri trained years for instead. But the John Muir Trail is not for beginners and Mari might have encountered a challenge more difficult than she ever imagined. Kirby writes a classic journey through grief and adolescence in this coming-of-age novel. Full of adventure and heartfelt introspection, this work provides ample opportunity for thematic and symbolic analysis while maintaining a compelling plot inhabited by unique, if slightly underdeveloped, characters. Teens will find plenty of truth in Kirby's depiction of creating and cultivating a social media presence before walking the nearly 211 miles with Mari on her adventure. A compulsively readable title with a deep understanding of the trauma both grief and social media can bring.