n 1974, the Vietnam War had caused a perilous situation in the United States. Many of the men and women who had served had been drafted into this very unpopular war and spent time in an “unwinnable” situation. They also returned home to find that they were not appreciated and even viewed with disdain by some. Ernt Allbright returned from the Vietnam War with the added burden of being a prisoner of war. When he came back to his wife, Cora and thirteen year old daughter, Leni, he is a different man. Ernt finds out that he inherited a homestead in an off-the-grid location of Alaska and he immediately packs up his family and hits the road in search of a new beginning. I don’t want to reveal any more of this excellent story because I believe that each reader should experience it through their own eyes. Kristin Hannah is a fabulous author of many bestsellers but I love this book the best of all that I have read. I appreciated the story of surviving in the bush and Ms. Hannah’s careful development of complex and emotional characters and situations. This novel has it all! You will be thrilled by the beauty of Alaska, haunted by the specter of cruelty and abuse, then uplifted by the sweet, heartbreaking love from beginning to end. I highly recommend this book to all!

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah will be available February 6, 2018 by St. Martin’s Press. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.