Eighth grader Ginny Shepard, in Sara St. Antoine’s new book Front Country, falls prey to a sudden obsession that overshadows the rest of her life. She falls in love with the most adorable animal she has ever seen, the pika, and then learns that it may not survive in the midst of climate change. Suddenly her homework, tennis, and summer college prep lose their importance.
The author’s portrayal of this fixated middle schooler rings true as does her portrayal of the overreaction by her parents when they ship her to a summer camp with five borderline delinquent boys in the Montana wilderness. Two counselors, who have their own issues, are supposed to straighten out all of the irresponsible kids in this back country and ready them for reentry into the front country. Their methods include lots of rules and wilderness challenges and a scarcity of teenagers’ favorite foods.
In the beginning, Ginny remains at a loss to discover why she has been sent into this wilderness. She comes to understand the process behind her parents’ thinking and slowly forms relationships with the boys and the counselors. Eventually, she will find her beloved pikas in the wilderness about the time her parents realize they may have made a mistake in sending her there.
The universal issue of climate change and the more personal issues for kids of keeping focus and for adults of parenting with understanding are woven into an engaging story. This would be a good book for parents and middle grade students to read and discuss together.