HOW TO LOSE YOURSELF COMPLETELY

An anxious teen’s wilderness therapy trip becomes an unexpected survival experience.

In the months since his brother, Sean, died, Case has struggled immensely. His anxiety is even more overwhelming than usual, and in fear of losing a second child, his parents convince him to go on a therapeutic group wilderness retreat. Things begin to unravel as soon as he gets on the bus with the appearance of Diana, Sean’s former girlfriend whom Case has been trying desperately to avoid. Just when Case thinks he’s wrapped his head around her presence, Silas, their only counselor and guide, disappears—along with all the group members’ medications. Stranded in the woods with few outdoors skills, little food, and a variety of anxieties, the group of five has no real idea where to go. But as they put their minds together, trying to stay alive, they begin to open up to each other, knitting their individual strengths into a strong support network. Surprisingly action-packed and told almost entirely in the second person, the novel explores Case’s contemporary circumstances and the past that led him there with precise and careful pacing. Bognanni strikes an exceptional balance between the suspenseful survival tale and Sean’s mysterious backstory, gently and authentically weaving in what it’s like to live with an anxiety disorder without sensationalism. The central cast presents white, and some diversity is cued among the group members.

A gripping adventure and a deeply affecting exploration of grief and mental health.