I enjoyed this solid book about a boy with amnesia who has run away from home and, we later find out, he’s fighting to emotionally handle an accident that hurt his sister. I wasn’t sure what to think at first but I’m really glad that I stuck with the story. I picked it up because I’m a fan of Walden and I was surprised to find quotations from Thoreau throughout the entire book. I liked that Hank was able to find quotes that directly applied to what he was going through and the issues he was struggling through. Plus, the addition of some visions of chatting with a ghostly Thoreau are a fun addition for a person with no memory of friends or family. People who haven’t read Walden still get to experiences some great lines from the original book. It was paced nicely that Hank slowly remembered parts of his past. Overall, this book feels really special because of the location. I recently visited Concord and you can tell the author is closely familiar with the area. It was a thrill to recognize real spots, like the library and the areas around the pond. I would recommend this book to a friend.

Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.