The Great Outdoors

For being only 14 years old Rick Walker has already had more than his fair share of troubles.  Orphaned and left in the foster care system Rick has a couple of brushes with the law.  During his second court appearance the judge sentences him to time at a juvenile detention center with a rough reputation.  Rick escapes (not a spoiler-it happens in the first chapter) and ends up in the great outdoors.

This is the set-up for Will Hobbs' The Maze- not to be confused with the current series The Maze Runner. The Maze has more similarities to the Hatchet series than The Maze Runner.  In fact this would be a great read for anyone who liked Hatchet.  

After escaping the detention center Rick runs into (almost literally) Lon and starts a new chapter of life in the great outdoors.  To be honest (or tbh as the kids are saying) this wasn't my favorite read.  It just wasn't my taste.  I don't have an interest in any of the things that Rick and Lon liked so it was hard for me to relate to the characters.  That being said, I do know several students who would like this book.  It will definitely go on my list for those students who only like realistic books with action.

Living wild...that's kids stuff.