Author: Erin Soderberg Downing
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa
Rating: 4/5 stars
This month’s children’s book might have been better featured last month for Mother’s Day, but regardless, it’s summertime, and I couldn’t bypass a book about a long-distance backpacking trip. Just Keep Walking is a middle-grade novel by author Erin Soderberg Downing that was released last year and is actually a 2026 Sequoyah book.
12-year-old Jo and her mother, Sarah, set out to hike 100 miles over two weeks on the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. Jo had always planned on going with her father, but after her parents separate, her mother steps in instead. The first few days of the hike are terribly difficult for the two, and they definitely have moments where they think about quitting. Jo is determined to prove though – to her dad and, ultimately, to herself – that she can do it. Even when the weather alternates between scorching hot days and scary thunderstorms. Even when bears and moose cross the trail in front of her. Even when she smells like the inside of her brother’s gym bag! She is stronger and braver than she ever knew and capable of more than she could ever imagine.
My one qualm is that the book got to be a little repetitive by the end, but that’s just a minor critique. I thought the story was great, and the message, especially for young girls, was fantastic. Plus, in a fun fact, the author actually hiked the trail with her young son, so you know what Jo and her mother see and hear and experience was influenced by a real-life trek. I think for any youngster who loves the outdoors or is dealing with changing family dynamics or is struggling with self-doubt, this book is a must-read.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Just Keep Walking today!
