Feral: Losing Myself and Finding My Way in America’s National Parks

Travel writer Pennington recounts her yearlong road trip to 62 of America’s national parks in her winning debut. After three years of saving and planning, 32-year-old Pennington left behind her life in Los Angeles to cultivate an identity that was “free of the confines of city or man.” Her boyfriend, Adam, accompanied her on parts of the trip, which exposed the couple’s “core incompatibilities.” After the pair reached Alaska, Pennington confronted Adam about his “relationship indecision,” and he broke up with her, but they finished the trip “like a pair of old friends.” After returning to California, Pennington resumed her travels alone in an attempt to turn her heartache into inner strength: “I had one job and one job only: to take care of Emily while I drew a constellation across America with my wheels.” Pennington lyrically describes the wonders of the natural world (“Stars began twinkling onto the obsidian tapestry of night”), and she examines her solo life on the road with unsentimental insight (“Loneliness began to grow limbs and pummel me”). Readers will relish this hopeful portrayal of personal growth. Agent: Chad Luibl, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Feb.)