Front Country

Now in paperback,My Side of the Mountain meets Greta Thunberg in this heartfelt, exciting novel about one girl's growing awareness of herself, the world, and the relationship between the two.

"Give this novel to every young reader worried about the future of our fragile planet." -Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Timesbestselling author of The One and Only Ivan

The world is not okay. Now what?

Ginny Shepard is glad to be in Montana for a month of backcountry camping before she starts high school. The world is on fire. That's the awful truth. And Ginny would much rather be hiking in the mountains than doing the summer college prep classes her parents think will help her future. Because, the future? Who even knows what that is anymore.

But once Ginny gets to camp, things get complicated fast. She meets her tripmates: five challenging, rebellious, tech-addicted boys. And she finds out TrackFinders is designed for kids who need extra "support." Instead of feeling free as a bird, Ginny feels trapped . . . and betrayed.

As her friendships with her fellow campers deepen on the trail, though, Ginny starts to see new sides of them-and of herself. Maybe out here in the backcountry, she'll actually find what she needs to face the front country again.

Set in Montana's sweeping alpine wilderness, this epic adventure captures the tremendous heartbreak of realizing the world isn't okay at all and shows how that knowledge, and what we choose to do with it, shapes us into who we are.

• A TIMELY ADVENTURE WITH HEART: Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Montana's wilderness, this page-turning coming-of-age story explores friendship, resilience, climate anxiety, and finding hope through action.
• AN EMPOWERING STORY FOR TODAY'S YOUNG READERS: Tackling climate change with honesty, warmth, and optimism, Front Country encourages kids to care deeply about the world around them without ever feeling preachy.
• PERFECT FOR ADVENTURE & NATURE LOVERS: In the tradition of Hatchet and Wolf Hollow, this is an excellent, fast-paced story that's impossible to put down. Ideal for readers who enjoy wilderness survival, environmental themes, animal stories, and unforgettable journeys of self-discovery.
• A CLASSROOM & BOOK CLUB FAVORITE: Rich with connections to environmental science, ecology, biology, and conservation, this novel is an excellent choice for middle school classrooms, libraries, homeschool families, and community reads.
• AWARD-WINNING & CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED: Winner of a Green Earth Book Award Silver Medal and recognized as both a CBC Teacher Favorite and Librarian Favorite, with praise from renowned authors Katherine Applegate and Gary D. Schmidt.