THERE IS NO MAP FOR THIS

Tragedy, emotional conflicts, and uncertain prospects dog a teenager on the cusp of independence.

Birdseye constructs this outdoorsy outing around multiple metaphors, most notably that of a jigsaw puzzle, pieces of which fall down around 17-year-old Ren at a rate that threatens to bury him. Fleeing from his widowed, obnoxiously born-again mom to take refuge in the Cascade Range in Oregon with beloved big brother Levi doesn’t provide the security he hoped for. First, Levi dies tragically in an avalanche. Then Levi’s traumatized girlfriend, Ellie, disappears, leaving behind an alarming note after sliding into Ren’s bed for a night of ecstatic comfort. And just for a kicker, amid the resulting turmoil, the devastated teen manages to lose both of his part-time jobs. The title aptly conveys Ren’s gnawing fear and confusion, which readers will feel keenly as he frantically chases after Ellie while undertaking the understandably painful process of fitting the various parts of his life together into a recognizable self-image and a tentative personal road map. Some seemingly fragmentary pieces come together to help resolve unanswered questions, especially after a dramatic climax leads to sudden revelations and clarity. Better yet, at the end, the author leaves Ren credibly on his feet and moving forward. Main characters are cued white.

An unusually raw, frank bildungsroman.