* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

A girl and her father are alone in the wilderness, perhaps the last of humankind. An accident occurs on their trek to the ocean for salt and the girl must find her way back alone. Alone, that is, save for the help of a talking bear.

I put this one off for longer than I should have...it was a surprisingly great read. There is so much packed in this short book. It was a mix of dystopian and magical realism that I would place at a young adult level. The writing style is very accessible and I felt like I really got to know the girl, despite the fact that I never knew her name. There is a LOT of very specific outdoors and survival information that fits compactly, but smoothly in the narrative.

I would've liked more backstory...more information regarding the world and the circumstances that has led to the apparently dystopian society as well as the history of the girl's parents in particular. As it was, I was still entirely wrapped up in this tale, finding it both intriguing and educational from beginning to end.