A CONSTELLATION OF MINOR BEARS, by Jen Ferguson, Heartdrum, Sept. 24, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Three friends grapple with the fallout from a life-changing accident in A Constellation of Minor Bears, by Jen Feguson.
Before that awful Saturday, Molly used to be inseparable from her brother, Hank, and his best friend, Tray. The indoor climbing accident that left Hank with a traumatic brain injury filled Molly with anger.
While she knows the accident wasn’t Tray’s fault, she will never forgive him for being there and failing to stop the damage. But she can’t forgive herself for not being there either.
Determined to go on the trio’s postgraduation hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, even without Hank, Molly packs her bag. But when her parents put Tray in charge of looking out for her, she is stuck backpacking with the person who incites her easy anger.
Despite all her planning, the trail she’ll walk has a few more twists and turns ahead. . .. —Synopsis provided by Heartdrum
A Constellation of Minor Bears is one of those books that will speak in some way to whomever reads it. Author Jen Ferguson tackles topics ranging from racism and body image to parental expectations and differing kinds of love.
The story unfolds from Molly and Traylor’s first-person accounts and Hank’s AITA (Am I The Asshole?) posts. These three unique voices are very personal, raw and real. These are well-developed main characters that are dealing with real-life implications. Their individual struggles with what they want for themselves and their friends makes for a compelling read.
Author Jen Ferguson has crafted a novel that ebbs and flows like the Pacific Crest Trail. She captures nature’s rugged beauty, making you feel like you are right on the trail next to Molly, Traylor and Hank.
A Constellation of Minor Bears isn’t a particularly fast-moving novel, but it’s one you want to stick with. It’s a story of self-discovery and connection that will resonate with many readers.
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