I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer Published by HarperTeen on 1/9/24
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 335
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Atlas has lost her way.
In a last-ditch effort to pull her life together, she’s working on a community service program rehabbing trails in the Western Sierras. The only plus is that the days are so exhausting that Atlas might just be tired enough to forget that this was one of her dad’s favorite places in the world. Before cancer stole him from her life, that is.
Using real names is forbidden on the trail. So Atlas becomes Maps, and with her team—Books, Sugar, Junior, and King—she heads into the wilderness. As she sheds the lies she’s built up as walls to protect herself, she realizes that four strangers might know her better than anyone has before. And with the end of the trail racing to meet them, Maps is left counting down the days until she returns to her old life—without her new family, and without King, who’s become more than just a friend.
Short and Sweet Review
Atlas recently lost her dad and life hasn’t been so great. In an effort to finally try to get things back together she signs up for a community service program that focuses on rehabbing trails in the Western Sierra. The thing about this program is that her dad was also once involved. Using real names on the trail is out of the question so Atlas becomes Maps and her and four others, King, Books, Sugar, and Junior, hit the trails. Atlas has spent a lot of time building up these walls after her dad died and now that she’s on the trail she’s realizing that maybe she can trust the others on her team. Atlas also begins to have feelings for King and unfortunately the time they have to spend together before they go their separate ways is limited.
After losing her dad Atlas begins to feel lost in life, she fails to graduate and she loses her job and ends up becoming depressed. Her mom isn’t sure how to help Atlas, but in a last ditch attempt at getting things together Atlas signs up for the trail rehabbing community service which is led by a family friend Joe. Atlas embarks on a journey through the trail with her team and there’s strict rules but she’s also learning skills. Over the course of the book we see the group become closer and learn more about each other. Everyone grieves differently and Atlas didn’t want anyone to know about her dad passing away so she tries to talk about him like he was still around. Eventually Atlas learns that it’s okay to let people in. We see a romance between King and Atlas during the book and I did like it, being in a relationship is against the rules that Joe put forth but these two really felt something for each other.
Overall, this was a great book. Not going to lie I did not cry but I could see why other readers would. Dwyer does a great job at getting the most from these characters and putting their emotions on the page. I did feel for Atlas and what she was going through. I really enjoyed this book and following Atlas through the trails, she was learning more about herself during the process and had a lot of character growth. I also enjoyed the side characters that were involved, without them I don’t think Atlas would have made as much progress as she did. The Atlas of Us, did a beautiful job of portraying grief and the process of healing and lookin g forward to what’s next.
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