The fourth "Love Book" that is part of my February "Love Book" Reading Challenge (for the full details, click here) is Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard.
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 338
Date Published: March 13, 2012
First Published: March 8, 2011
First Published: March 8, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Goodreads:
It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story
***
My Thoughts:
I am not entirely sure of the exact sequence of events in the book and all the details because I read it almost four years ago. But what I'm sure of is that this is one of those books that will deeply satisfy you after (while) reading it. It's the kind of book that will take you places, make you see realities, and has characters that you can, in one way or another, relate to.
It's actually not just a the typical about boy meets girl story (or the other way around). Then, they have this undeniable connection, and they end up being together. There's also something about finding yourself, and knowing who you really are and who you are not. Self-rediscovery, according to the blurb. The author, being a traveler herself, also painted a wonderful picture of the places they have been and the sights they have seen through her words.
So, if you like stories about traveling, going on adventures or backpacking across foreign countries, this is your book. Aside from that, there are also beautiful sketches included within the pages drawn by the author herself (an author, an artist, and a traveler, what can you not do?)
It's actually not just a the typical about boy meets girl story (or the other way around). Then, they have this undeniable connection, and they end up being together. There's also something about finding yourself, and knowing who you really are and who you are not. Self-rediscovery, according to the blurb. The author, being a traveler herself, also painted a wonderful picture of the places they have been and the sights they have seen through her words.
So, if you like stories about traveling, going on adventures or backpacking across foreign countries, this is your book. Aside from that, there are also beautiful sketches included within the pages drawn by the author herself (an author, an artist, and a traveler, what can you not do?)
I actually posted a review of this book on the blog already. I don't know if you'll be able to find it considering it was posted back in December 2012. But if you really want to check it out and read my full review for Wanderlove, here's the link.
In search of transcendent backdrops for her novels, Kirsten Hubbard has hiked ancient ruins in Cambodia, dived with wild dolphins in Belize (one totally looked her in the eye), slept in a Slovenian jail cell, and navigated numerous desert apocalypses (usually in face paint and combat boots). But she always comes home to California.
Kirsten is the author of the young adult novels LIKE MANDARIN and WANDERLOVE (Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books), and the middle-grade novels WATCH THE SKY and RACE THE NIGHT (Disney-Hyperion). She is represented by Jaida Temperly of New Leaf Literary.
Sounds like an awesome read!
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