Gessner, a pseudonym for author Nina de Gramont (The Boy I Love), offers a wilderness adventure dashed with romance and danger. High school grad McKenna decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone—and withholds that detail from her parents—after her best friend Courtney backs out of their planned months-long trip. Everyone underestimates McKenna’s ability to complete the journey (even when they think she’s still with Courtney), and she is determined to prove them wrong. Meanwhile, Sam is on the same trail, hiking neck and neck with McKenna and escaping an abusive family.