Wow this book was soooo good. So deep. So emotional. I spent a good half of the book ugly crying.

The Great Alone is almost like a coming of age story about a girl named Leni. Her family moves out to Alaska to create a new life for themselves. Leni’s dad had been dealing with PTSD since he came back from fighting in the Vietnam war. They begin to make Alaska their home when challenges start to arise (or rearise in some cases), that causes a domino affect of incidences.

The book deals with some very deep topics like PTSD, toxic relationship, and life off the grid in a potentially hostile environment. It deals with loss and tragedy, and dealing with grief. But somehow, the book can be so uplifting as well. It talks of hope and love and true friendship and forgiveness.

Leni deals with A LOT in this book, but she really is such an amazing character. She’s strong-willed and independent, and because of that she really finds herself in Alaska. I loved the story of her growing up and making decisions of her own. I loved experiencing first love with her. I loved her relationship with her mom. Their relationship was so beautiful and unyielding and it’s mother-daughter duos like this that make me so happy. I always miss my mom when I read relationships like this.

Overall this book was really great, and Hannah Writes Alaska so amazingly. It’s so atmospheric and descriptive. I loved it, and I wanna read more by her and about Alaska. My only complaint (and the reason I docked a star) was the fact that some of the pacing of the book was a little weird for me.

Again, a really lovely story and one that I will remember for a long time.