A high-adrenaline story of what it really means to man up. Seventeen-year-old Ren Adams feels lucky to be living with his brother, Levi, and Levi’s girlfriend, Ellie ― a welcome escape from his mother and her fundamentalist husband. Ren finally feels able to breathe, even if Levi and Ellie insist on trying to make him push his limits, live up to his potential ― “man up” … whatever that means.

The next morning, Ellie has disappeared. Ren throws himself into full Ren-to-the-rescue mode ― out of love, brotherly loyalty, guilt or grief? He doesn’t quite know. His search is by turns enlightening and reckless, as he discovers that there is no map for becoming a man.

This high-octane novel features two lost souls spinning out of control — and delivers nonstop adventure and tension in the name of exploring what it means to be a man. The twists and turns, including shocking events at the beginning and end, keep the reader glued throughout. The plot is well paced and clever; the writing is snappy and fun.

Ren knocks a glob of slush off one foot with the other. Not that it helps. His toes are completely popsicled.

Ren understands that Levi and Ellie’s intentions are good – they think of it as tough love, their way of helping him become his own man. Or, as Levi puts it, to “grow a pair.” Which, yes, stings. But deep down, Ren does want to change who he is. Change into what, though? And how? If he’s to become his own man, shouldn’t it be… well, it seems like it should be with his map, not theirs.

It’s told in Ren’s point of view as he struggles to come to terms with “manning up.” But he’s soon also trying to cope with grief, resist Ellie’s wild side and protect her without getting burned.

Note: The book includes a very descriptive sex scene appropriate for older rather than younger teens.

The language is totally authentic to teens and loaded with power and humour. The characters are not only believable, but the reader comes to care about each of them in a rather intense way, also realizing they must unlock from one another’s orbits to survive.

Between the careening plot points are well-researched outdoor adventure crises sure to give readers as much of an adrenalin rush as Ren and Ellie. But above all, teen boys searching for their footing will relate to Ren, while anyone who knows or is drawn to a high-energy, charismatic, manically reckless individual like Ellie will grip the story for that portion of its wild ride.

One of the novel’s strengths is its fine writing, especially when it comes to conveying emotion in few words and clever metaphors.

Ren tiptoes for the next several days. Maybe, he thinks, if he keeps his weight evenly distributed, avoids sudden outbursts, nothing else will disintegrate into jagged pieces. Maybe, if he breathes with a controlled pace, grief will take five.

Who the hell was I before? Sure, a kid brother, an unsure son, a pretty-damn-good student, a not-so-reliable employee, a completely clueless lover. But that was just him following the line of least resistance, like a drop of water headed downhill. Gravity was in charge, not him.

If there’s a weak element, it’s the frequency with which Ren refers to philosophy books (it feels a little pretentious and concocted), as if the author felt it necessary to mix that with Ren’s search for self.

The mental health element (Ellie’s issues become ever more alarming as the book goes forward) is well-played, and even though both Ren and Ellie change by the end of the novel, they remain in large part who they are, which makes them feel totally relatable and the book incredibly real.

In summary: one of the best reads out there this year.

– Pam Withers