Disclaimer: I bought this book because I was recommended it as a former American Historical Girl girl. Thanks for the rec whoever you were! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: The Great Alone 

 

Author: Kristin Hannah 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Spice Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: Black character, Native character 

 

Recommended For...: Adult readers, Historical Fiction, Romance, Alaska, Post-Vietnam War, Frontier/Homesteading 

 

Publication Date: February 6, 2018 

 

Genre: Historical Fiction 

 

Age Relevance: 17+ (domestic violence, PTSD, war, language, POW, death, misogyny, racism, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, underage alcohol consumption, sexual content, teenage pregnancy and birth, animal death, animal gore, parental death, cancer) 

 

Explanation of CWs: There are scenes and discussion about the Vietnam war, PTSD, and being a POW in the book. There are scenes involving domestic violence and death. There are some showings of misogyny and racism. There are some scenes showing alcohol consumption, underage alcohol consumption, and alcoholism. There is some vague sexual content mentioned and teenage pregnancy and birth. There is animal death and gore shown. Parental death is shown. Cancer is mentioned. 

 

If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home 

 

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 

 

Pages: 560 

 

Synopsis: Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown. At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves. In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature. 

 

Review: I don't know how to express into words how wonderful this read was while on my adventures in Alaska. I loved everything about this book, but also loved looking out onto the landscape of the land I was stepping on and seeing for myself how wild and wonderful Alaska truly is. I loved the story, I felt for the characters instantly, and I loved how much it discussed the aftermath of the Vietnam War that was felt on the homefront. I also loved how raw the book was about the ill effects of PTSD on a person, how something can change you so irrovacably. This book also utilized the multi POV well and I feel like this truly was the "grown up" version of an American Girls book. It was truly one of the best historical fiction books I've ever read.
 
 The only issues I had is that I wished it told you when the POV changed in the book so I wasn't confused and that I had to come home from Alaska (although that isn't the fault of the book but on my own that I booked a return plane ticket). 

 

Verdict: I have found my newest hyper-fixation. Highly recommend.