"Switchback" is an incredible story about friendship and survival. The number of situations these characters go through and still manage to have each others backs. If you like books about survival and the dangers that come from the unknown, you will definitely love this book.

Switchback is full of important and diverse representation, but unfortunately I had trouble getting into the story and will be DNF-ing for the time being.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really didn’t know what to expect from this story other than that it is a survival story. However, I really enjoyed this book! Not only is this a great survival story, but also a story of friendship. The two main characters, Vale and Ash, whose greatest adventures had typically been on the online D&D game are put in an unimaginable situation.

The story starts off slow. But within a couple chapters it started to take shape, at that point I was hooked. I can’t begin to describe how much I love Vale’s character. She is totally BA in my opinion. Her character is constantly bullied by the other students, while her best friend, Ash always seems to be the life of the party. However, when things begin to go wrong on their class trip, Vale draws from her love of nature to know what they must do to survive.

Majority of the survival books I have ever read the protagonist is typically male. It was pretty awesome to have a female in the leading role of a survival story. I found this to be a very empowering story for young girls. It is one that I have suggested to be purchased for our library. I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended.

Switchback surprised me in a very pleasant way. As soon as I started reading, I was already hooked. The beginning of the book isn't that intense, but the talk of Dungeons and Dragons was really interesting. I recently started a campaign with friends, so this was a fun way to start a read. Add some fun quotes to start each chapter, I was excited.

Our main characters Ash and Vale are best friends. Ash is a gamer and that's his life. He gets along with kids at school, but that's not his priority. Vale isn't as lucky at school. She gets bullied and Ash is her only friendly relationship at school. That aspect of the book did bother me. Vale is openly bullied at school and on the bus and the teacher seems oblivious. It isn't until the end after all the tragedy a teacher finally opens her mouth. I wish this would've gotten a bit more attention.

Okay, back to the rest of the story. They have to go a PE hiking trip. The weather starts turning and when Ash and Vale stop to pick up trash (the bullies left behind), they get seperated from the group. In a certain way this may have seemed a bit unrealistic that they got seperated, but with a book this good, I can handle that!

Switchback got intense once our main characters are lost and it gets dark. Vale and Ash aren't prepared for the storm coming and everything keeps going wrong. I loved how calm Vale was and actually really smart. She knew how to handle situations and thought out of the box to get things done! The way the weather conditions and their situation was described I felt like I was there. When both characters were both so cold they were shivering, I actually had goosebumps and was cold. I needed to know if these two would survive and I read this book in one sitting.

My favorite aspect of Switchback is that there was no aspect of romance between our main characters. Vale is aromantic and asexual and I really appreciated that in this story, it's not something we see often in YA book. The friendship between Ash and Vale really grew in this book. They learned to trust each other and work together. I have read a couple of reviews being upset they were laughing in their situation, but I can only applaud that. They needed to see something positive/hopeful in everything that was going on.

The dual POV was really interesting in this story and kept me on my toes. I loved knowing how they were both feeling. Add the POV from their teacher and rescue worker and I was hooked (I do wish we had a bit more of this during the book though). I am used to this author's books being fluffy, this was anything but, and I am so happy she wrote something like this. I forgot how amazing a book can feel that gives you such intense emotions while reading and that makes you hope the characters will make it.

Switchback is definitely an intense ride and one I never knew I needed. I definitely need more books like this in my life. If you need to cool down on a hot summer day, because the way she describes the cold in this books, will chill you to the bone!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Stone, as always, delivers. I struggled with the writing in the beginning but as the book progressed, the better the pace became. The plot had me sitting on the edge of my seat with my heart racing. The characters made me envious of their friendship but they also made me laugh and smile because of the connection they shared. I loved the representation of aro-ace in this book, I thought that Stone did a great job! Thank you so much to Xpresso Tours for providing me with a copy of this book.

**3.5 Stars**
Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Ash would much rather spend his time online gaming in his mom's basement than actually go outside, so when the class has their mandatory overnight hike he is less than thrilled. Vale loves the outdoors and hiking, but is dreading the hiking trip for another reason- the never ending bullying that she is the brunt of. When the friends find themselves left behind during the hike, they never expected that they would have to survive the wilderness alone- or all the challenges that would stalk them.

Vale was totally my hero! She was prepared and calm under pressure, assessing every situation and finagling her way to a solution. She gets a five out of five for survival- I would want to go camping/survivaling (hey, I can make up words!) with this smart girl. Ash on the other hand is a hot mess. He has a great personality and tries really hard, but basically he would have died the first night without Vale and her mad skills. He did have his uses, like the comic relief life always needs (and the packing of gum) and he came to realize how important Vale really is, how she kept him alive, and how friends need to be treated.

I really appreciated how no way was this a romance; it is refreshing to have a YA book without romance, just a great platonic friendship as the main relationship dynamic- and they really were the best of friends to each other. Both teens were supportive and respectful of each other's feelings and actions, which was really sweet actually. In a side note, Vale is aro-ace, which I did not know anything about before reading the book so it was really nice to learn about it and have a strong, capable representation in action.

Switchback was an intense action adventure that took place over a few days and focused on survival and friendship. Once the story got started, I don't believe there was a single dull moment. I read the book in just a few hours since the writing style was easy to read, and honestly I could not stop because I needed to know what would happen next! Danika is the queen of creating tension, I was so stressed out for Ash and Vale and the surprises just kept coming.

I reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.

Outcast Vale Shumway is deeply relieved when her best (and only school) friend Ash Hamid finally shows up for the phys ed camping trip into Waterton Lakes National Park. She knows how to camp and he knows how to navigate the social pitfalls and bullying that always seems aimed at her. But when a prank and a unseasonable storm split the duo from the group, it is far more than bullying they have to worry about, it is survival itself. Rutting elk, cold, cougar, avalanche, injuries, bear, rain, snow - the wilderness pulls no punches for youth or innocence. Overcoming the physical adversity is the thrilling part of the story, but the meat is the psychological adversity as both teens overcome their personal fears and weaknesses and discover strengths they never knew they had, and trust in the other person they never knew they could give. The piece by piece growth of that trust, that eventual knowledge that their friendship really can conquer all, really is the most powerful force they have to fight with, is a marvelous piece of storytelling. All the characters, including the teachers and charming bullies (hiss), ring very true and complex, the many other ways each scene could have been played out if any one of the teens had handled the situation just a little differently.... This is a great survival story, about survival after Vale and Ash return home as much as before. Highly recommended.

What happens when two suburban kids are dropped into the frozen wilderness of the Rocky Mountains? In Switchback by Danika Stone you'll struggle for survival along with Ash and Vale as they test the limits of their knowledge, strength, courage, friendship, and loyalty. Although Vale is an experienced camper and tried to prepare for her school field trip into the Rockies, she wasn't prepared to spend the night freezing, alone and scared. Ash, who is more used to fighting his battles online from the safety of a gaming chair, is totally unprepared for hiking, much less wilderness survival. Will Ash and Vale make it? Is it even possible for pampered city kids to have the wherewithal and courage to grit out this weekend? Read Switchback and find out!

It's a class requirement that they go on an overnight hike in the mountains. Vale does mind hiking but hates her classmates, except Ash. Ash gets along with the classmates but has never hiked. They team together for the mountain hike. She can help him hike, he can keep the bullies away from her. It's all going as it should until they stay to pick up some trash left by the bullies and then find themselves alone. The rest of the kids and the teachers have gone on without them. They had been counted as being part of the group but left it to make the area pristine again. Now they are alone and don't know where to go...

Macmillan's Children's Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on May 28th.

They start out on the trail thinking it won't take long to catch up again but they never see the others again. As they walk along it starts to get dark and begins raining. Vale knows how to make a shelter and they work on that. No one brought any matches so they can't start a fire. Then Vale remembers a technique she read about and uses gum wrappers and a battery to get it started.

She had to get the fire started because not only was it cold and wet, when she went out to go to the bathroom, she saw deer going through camp and a mountain lion leaped out of their tree to take one down. She didn't want him coming to visit them during the night.

There's snow in the morning and the trail is buried. It's getting more dangerous for them by the day. Especially since now they are in bear territory and it's grizzly bears they have to fear. They have no food or water so they find water first.

They learn just how far they can go. Elements can be cruel and so can animals. Will they finally find help or will they die in the mountains? It could go either way...

When out on an overnight school camping trip, best friends Vale and Ash become separated from their class. Frigid temperatures, snow, and bears threaten their lives over and over. Ash, is an easy-going gamer with zero outdoor skills. In contrast, Ash is socially withdrawn - due to bullying - but very comfortable with nature.

This was a quick read. It was well paced and moved nicely. However, the characters seemed a bit stereotypical and the plot was predictable. I think the dynamic between Ash and Vale will appeal to many teenagers, but the book just wasn't for me. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

Excellent adventure story with engaging characters - a first buy for high school and young adult collections.

Switchback is the first novel by Danica Stone that I've read, but it won't be the last. The two main characters are teens on a school PE field trip hiking in the Canadian Rockies. Vale is a social outcast, the target of bullies. She's smart and resourceful, but still learning how to advocate for herself. She self-describes as aro-ace (aromantic/asexual), which is a term I had not heard before reading the book. The discussion of this was tastefully done, giving just enough information for the reader to understand, but no graphic detail. It came across as believable and was appropriately handled for the target age group. The other main character, Ash, is Vale's best friend and has been since elementary school. Ash is a hard-core gamer who spends most of his free time in the basement playing various multi-player online games. He's also a bit of a slacker and a clown. The reader gets the feeling that he could easily be the target of the bullies as well, except he has developed a coping strategy of self-deprecating humor that shrugs everything off. There is no romance in this story to distract from the survival story, it's just platonic friendship. (Hallelujah! I love a good YA story that does NOT revolve around romance).

When Ash and Vale get separated from the rest of the group, they become hopelessly lost in country wild enough for elk, cougars, and grizzlies. Vale is a hiker with some experience, but nothing as primitive as what they're up against now. Ash has no clue. Still, it will be up to the two of them to help each other survive.

The characters were flawed and relatable, but also realistic. The drama could be a bit over the top at times, but teenage drama usually is. The book was well researched and well written and I will definitely be buying it for my library and recommending it to my patrons.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love survival books, so I was excited to read this one. The story touches on survival, bullying and friendship. It is well written and fast paced. The characters are flawed but relatable, and the backdrop for the story is amazing! You'll get sucked into the story and won't want to put it down!

I'm a big Danika Stone fan so I was thrilled to get an arc of Switchback to read. A little different setting from her other books, this takes place in the wilderness as two best friends are separated from their classmates on a hiking adventure. As the weather turns, they are stuck in the wilderness together, trying to survive. Vale has some knowledge of the outdoors and Ash doesn't. With their wits and their bond of friendship, these two must figure out how to survive until help arrives. I enjoyed this story and the dynamic of two friends who are in a truly platonic relationship. The story touches on survival, bullying and friendship. Well written, fast paced, I am glad I took the time to read it. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.