Review Detail

Nikki Shannon Smith takes readers on an immersive thrill ride from beginning to end in Stranded. This high-action and fast-paced novel follows a young city Black girl named Ava who has a strong love for the outdoors. When she gets the chance to spend time in Adirondack Mountains what seems like a dream becomes a nightmare when a mixup causes Ava to be alone in the wilderness. She must take all of the knowledge she's learned and put her survival skills to the test to stay alive.

Smith makes Stranded an intense and suspenseful read from beginning to end. The story starts slow, but once we get to the turning point the story races forward keeping readers on the edge of my seat. Smith's descriptive writing makes you put yourself in Ava's shoes. It truly places you within the beauty of the mountains and the many dangerous situations where Mother Nature turns its back on you.

Ava's feelings about nature come across realistically as she encounters many obstacles during her journey which adds to the overall story. She felt well developed and I loved the growth of her character during the novel. On top of that, I also appreciated that Ava's family backstory was fleshed out and showed how nature (in a sense) has affected the relationship between her mother and aunt.

I think Stranded is a great story about family, the outdoors, and survival. Smith has a way with words and I am interested in checking out more novels from her.