One year ago, Nora’s life changed forever. A random shooting left her and her dad alone in the world, and ever since, Nora has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. A year after that terrible anniversary, the two of them decide to explore a slot canyon in Arizona, hoping that it will restore a little bit of normalcy to their lives. But when the unthinkable happens and Nora’s dad is washed away in a flash flood along with all their supplies, Nora is suddenly lost, alone, and struggling to survive. Faced with desperate circumstances, Nora must overcome her fears if she wants to save her father and find the courage to live another day.

This was truly an exceptional book. Written in a mix of prose and verse, the creative structure brought me directly into the story and made me feel as if I was experiencing Nora’s suffering with her. I haven’t read many books that take place in my desert backyard, and this one was crafted so well that it brought a smile to my face every time an Arizona or desert reference was made. Bowling’s writing is fast-paced and urgent but also lyrical and fluid, making it easy and enjoyable to read this high-stakes survival novel in one sitting. Nora’s struggles with PTSD felt realistic and heart-breaking, but as she begins to discover the strength she possesses, I found myself cheering her along. Readers will be able to sympathize with themes of loss, fear for the future, the love of a family, and the fight to find one’s courage. Fans of middle-grade survival stories and novels written in verse will love this powerful book.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Dusti Bowling does it again with The Canyon’s Edge. On the first anniversary of a deadly shooting that altered their lives forever, Nora and her father escape to the Arizona desert to explore a slot canyon and to find peace and solitude. The day starts off normally, until a terrifying flash flood rips through the canyon. The novel is divided into three parts: before the flood, during Nora’s fight for survival, and after. The first and last parts are written in prose, but the middle section, while Nora is literally fighting for her life, is written in verse. The poetic form of the verse fits the tense mood and mirrors Nora’s struggle. This is a novel about grief, survival, and finding strength in the most horrible situations. I cannot wait to add this one to my middle school library.

Perfect for fans of survival stories and for those who love author Dan Gemeinhart.

“Be defined by your post-traumatic growth” (unpaged eARC). This beautiful quote summed up the book for me. It is a novel of fear, courage, and strength. Nora’s life shattered one year ago. Now it’s her birthday and she and her dad are hiking in a canyon in the desert when a flash flood rips away her dad. Nora needs to find strength to overcome her fears, brave the elements and dangerous creatures, find her dad, and save them both.

This novel in verse is captivating, haunting, powerful, and beautifully written. It hooked me immediately and kept me reading. It would be a wonderful mentor text, read aloud, book club book, independent reading book, etc. It will engage readers. I highly recommend it.

I was attracted to this novel because of the description of it, that it was like Hatchet, and that it takes place in the Arizona desert. The book met both of those milestones easily with a tense adventure of just barely surviving a disaster, and with accurate descriptions of the natural history of a desert canyon. And there is more to the story, too. She has survived a mass shooting while her mother and another mother did not. Emotionally, she is a wreck, who even pushed away her best friend. No spoilers here, that all is set up for you pretty early.
The main story of the book is in the adventure that Nora and her father go on, as experienced climbers, into a canyon that is rarely visited. Much of it, but not all, is told in verse. I did not want to put it down until I finished it.

Nora's therapist asks, "What do you fear?" (Dying.) and "Are you likely to die in this situation?" (Yes.)
It's been a year since Nora and her dad lost her mother in a violent, unprovoked event. Dad has been grieving by taking Nora out of school and avoiding people; Nora doesn't want to deal with the questions, either, and has pushed away her best friend in the process. After a year, it's time to start healing. Dad and Nora take the Jeep to the canyon's edge, where the family spent their lives climbing and hiking -- a favorite family activity. To move forward, Nora and Dad must come to understand why, avoiding the "what ifs" of this new life. Nora writes in her notebook to capture what was, and what might be in the future.

As the father/daughter team climb through the canyon, terrible things happen. When a flash flood smashes them and sweeps her father away, Nora is left alone to face the scorpions, snakes, and The Beast. Can she use what her therapist taught her (breathe, move, hope) to find her father again, or will the canyon take what is left of her family?

Dusti Bowling is a master of words in this gripping and suspenseful new middle-grade Southwest story. Students should study the character development, the writing of scenes, the figurative language, and the poetry (I love haiku, too!). Any reader who loves outdoor adventures will love this book. Coming September 2020.

I had to blast through this book as Nora fights for her life in more ways than one. So beautifully written, this book is one I'm already thinking of students who need it.

I was fortunate enough to win a NetGalley copy of this book from Dusti! Thank you!!
I downloaded it on April 8. I began reading it before I went to bed that evening and read about 8%. This small taste grabbed my attention. I picked it up again the next day around 11:00 pm. I couldn't put it down. I finished it two hours later!

The father-daughter relationship shows so much love. You know a tragedy had taken place in the past, but you never quite understood what it was until later. Even though Nora and her dad have an amazing relationship, Nora is missing a part of her life that she wants back. Anger comes out of both of them and she says something she regrets. But at that moment what seems like an earthquake or a stampede comes rushing in and separates Nora from her father. Nora is alone with no supplies in the desert. This fact will obviously impact her ability to survive the desert's nightly cold and its afternoon heat. She's got one goal in mind: she has to find her dad!

Then Part 2 begins. I found myself breathless reading it. I read quickly and slowed down when Nora did. I felt dizzy when the words on the page took on shapes and movement. I cringed when she was in pain. I feared for her when she encountered dangerous creatures. I came to understand why her internal monster crippled her ability to be freed from PTSD. I cried harder when Part 2 came to an end and I breathed in deeply.

Part 3 brought Nora to a door that will complete her healing.

I loved it! I loved the way it ended. This is a book that I will recommend to students constantly.