Summary:

Jenna may hail from the ’burbs of New Jersey, but Green Teen activism is her life. So when her mom suggests they spend the summer at Grandma’s Florida condo, Jenna pleads instead to visit her hippie godmother, Susie, up in rural Canada. Jenna is psyched at the chance to commune with this nature she’s heard about — and the cute, plaidwearing boys she’s certain must roam there. But after a few run-ins with local wildlife (from a larger-than-life moose to Susie’s sullen Goth stepdaughter to a hot but hostile boy named Reeve), Jenna gets the idea that her long-held ideals, like vegetarianism and conservation, don’t play so well with this population of real outdoorsmen. A dusty survival guide offers Jenna amusing tips on navigating the wilderness — but can she learn to navigate the turns of her heart?

Anna’s Thoughts:

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots was a seriously cute book! It wasn’t cute in the way that was fluffy, but it was in the way that was real. Jenna and her friends, and the situation seemed to really root itself in the book in a way that seems totally realistic. I could see the situations happening, and the feelings and actions of Jenna and the people who are surrounding her play out in my mind. The only thing that seemed a little unrealistic is her parents allowing her to travel by herself all the way up to Canada, I know at 16 there is no way my parents would have allowed me to do that. However, beyond that it’s a cute read with really strong characters, and one hell of a lesson, which is: People change. I loved the evolution of the friendship between Jenna and her best friend, Olivia, and especially between Jenna and her cousin Fiona. Jenna also reminded me a lot of myself, trying to mend burnt bridges with ruthless insistence. Stubbornness can be a good quality to have but it’s also one that needs to rest sometimes, which I think Jenna sadly learns the hard way. There are twists that I didn’t expect in the book (or really really REALLY didn’t expect), as well as ones that you could see from a mile away.

All in all Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots was a light, fun, fast read. I had never heard of Abby McDonald before, but now I have and I will certainly have to check out her previous book Sophomore Switch, as well as any other books from here on out.