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Braving It: A Father, a Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey into the Alaskan Wild

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The powerful and affirming story of a father's journey with his teenage daughter to the far reaches of Alaska
 
Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to only a handful of people, is a harsh and lonely place. So when James Campbell’s cousin Heimo Korth asked him to spend a summer building a cabin in the rugged Interior, Campbell hesitated about inviting his fifteen-year-old daughter, Aidan, to join Would she be able to withstand clouds of mosquitoes, the threat of grizzlies, bathing in an ice-cold river, and hours of grueling labor peeling and hauling logs?

But once there, Aidan embraced the wild. She even agreed to return a few months later to help the Korths work their traplines and hunt for caribou and moose. Despite windchills of 50 degrees below zero, father and daughter ventured out daily to track, hunt, and trap. Under the supervision of Edna, Heimo’s Yupik Eskimo wife, Aidan grew more confident in the woods.

Campbell knew that in traditional Eskimo cultures, some daughters earned a rite of passage usually reserved for young men. So he decided to take Aidan back to Alaska one final time before she left home. It would be their third and most ambitious trip, backpacking over Alaska’s Brooks Range to the headwaters of the mighty Hulahula River, where they would assemble a folding canoe and paddle to the Arctic Ocean. The journey would test them, and their relationship, in one of the planet’s most remote a land of wolves, musk oxen, Dall sheep, golden eagles, and polar bears.

At turns poignant and humorous, Braving It is an ode to America’s disappearing wilderness and a profound meditation on what it means for a child to grow up—and a parent to finally, fully let go.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2016

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About the author

James Campbell

4 books117 followers
Author, adventurer and producer James Campbell is a native of Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. He has written stories for Outside, National Geographic Adventure, Military History, Backpacker, Audubon, Field and Stream, and many other magazines and newspapers. His first book, The Final Frontiersman was chosen by Amazon in 2004 as the #1 Outdoor title of the Year and one of the Top 50 books of the Year and by the Midwest Booksellers Association as one of the Top 2 nonfiction titles of the year. His fascination with New Guinea and the war in the South Pacific led him to the story of the 32nd Division, the Ghost Mountain Boys, and his book of the same name. In 2006, he followed the route of the Ghost Mountain Boys across New Guinea -- a journey that historians describe as "one of the cruelest in military history" -- and shot a documentary film in the process. His story, “Chasing Ghosts,” about that expedition, which appeared in the May 2007 issue of Outside magazine, was chosen for The Best American Travel Writing 2008. The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea – the Forgotten War of the South Pacific was chosen as a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and History and Military BOMC selections. It also won the 2008 RR Donnelley Literary Award, given for the highest literary achievement by a Wisconsin author. Campbell’s newest book, Braving It: A Father, A Daughter, and an Unforgettable Journey into the Alaskan Wild will be released by Penguin-Random House in May 2016.

Campbell is the co-Executive Producer of the Discovery Channel series, The Last Alaskans, which was inspired by his first book, The Final Frontiersman.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 470 reviews
Profile Image for Diane S ☔.
4,901 reviews14.6k followers
June 28, 2016
Have been reading this off and on throughout the past week and I have enjoyed everything about this amazing adventure story. Though it turned out to be so much more. James decided to take his daughter Sudan, fifteen, with him to Alaska to help his cousin Heimo build a new cabin. There Aidan will learn new skills, grow in confidence and experience something most never experience. They would return two other times, though their last trip would be the most difficult.

Reading about a way of life, a place, that I know will never be mine is so wonderfully interesting. Alaska with its wilderness, the dangers, animals, hunting, fishing, a whole different mindset. Loved how Aidan and her father bonded, everything she learned, how she grew to love this wild place. So special. Though I can't get over the fact that Alaska has over forty types of mosquitoes. Can you imagine? Loved all these facts and figures, bits of history that went along with the story. The writing so clear and concise. I often wonder when reading a book like this about the personalities of the people, families, that make this place their home. A place where your nearest neighbor is over four hundred miles away.

An interesting thing happened when I was reading this, an amazing coincidence. Was watching PBS Sunday night, ran into a show called The Last Alaskans and their was Heimo, on TV, stripping the bark off the trees to make his new cabin. So I saw what he looked like, his wife, daughter and grandchild too. Made the book more visual, hearing he and his wife describe raising their family in the wilderness, seeing them talk. Anyway loved this little glimpse into a different slice of life, armchair traveling is not the same but the closest I will get.

ARC from librarything.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,652 reviews1,703 followers
August 24, 2016
I received a copy of Braving It through the Giveaways on Goodreads. My appreciation to Penguin Random House and to James Campbell for the opportunity.

"We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us." (John Muir)

No finer words to describe any place of wonder that speaks to you. And Alaska has always harbored that voice inside of me. I lived there in 2013. James Campbell's reflections on Talkeetna, Palmer, and, of course, fishing in the Susitna River conjured fine memories. But Campbell's memories traveled even further north into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

James Campbell and his daughter, Aidan, reside in Lodi, Wisconsin. They possess that hardnosed "outdoor gene" that makes the heart wander to where the air is fresh and the water is pure and clean. Campbell describes his phone call from his distant cousin, Heimo, inviting them to the "wilderness" to build a cabin from scratch. I smiled as I read this since Heimo and Edna Korth are hardly strangers. Their story is told on the Animal Planet's show, The Last Alaskans. Rarely do we have the opportunity to see the familiarity of the faces and places within the pages of our actual reading. "To live as Heimo and Edna do binds one to a place."

The story is split into three different trips showcasing the adventures that they experienced in the rawness of Alaska. Campbell fills his pages with humor, tenderness, tragedy, and the relentless human spirit. The uncertainties of the raging river, the wolverines, grizzly bears, and caribou are evidences of a life dependent upon the land and upon the waywardness of nature itself. He doesn't shy away from his vivid descriptives of the jawdropping beauty nor even the brutality of this rugged, earthy, not-for-the-squeamish lifestyle. Campbell takes on the discussion of preserving "the wilderness" touched or possibly untouched by the presence of man/woman.

Aidan's words: "This isn't the way I imagined it." And isn't that like any new challenge that we let simmer in our minds? Does it only stay in those corridors, mulling and hesitating? The Chinese say: "The journey of a lifetime begins with one small step." And that first step may be brutal, but it beckons to the next and the next.

I enjoyed Braving It with Campbell's open and honest writing style. The theme is based upon relationships: father/daughter, family, and a deep respect between humans and their interaction with nature. Very well done, Campbell. Very well done.
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,441 reviews218 followers
September 27, 2023
Nonfiction/Travel Memoir/Adventure

This is a fantastic travel adventure story!

There’s a little bit of me that would love nothing more than to leave it all behind and head for the Alaskan wilderness…this story fed that tiny piece within.

In short: a father’s unforgettable journey with his teenage daughter to the far reaches of Alaska

Have you watched The Last Alaskans? Heard of Heimo and Edna Korth?

I didn’t know a thing about either until I gobbled up this book. A friend gave me this for my holiday and it ignited the “fernweh” within. I absolutely loved all three travels this father-daughter team made.

Heimo is the author’s cousin and he invited James and his 15-year-old daughter, Aidan, to Alaska to help build a cabin….from scratch. No prefab building. No modern technology. I was glued to the pages learning about the wilderness, the interplay between the 4, and what life was like living a hunter-trapper-gatherer lifestyle in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I saw quite a bit of myself in Aiden and enjoyed my armchair journey through her eyes. This amazing teen withstood grizzly threats, bathing in ice-cold rivers, swarms of mosquitoes, and strenuous labour building the log house.

If the idea of a memoir is holding you back. Don’t let it! This is more of an adventure travel story with focus on the Alaska bush experience rather than a traditional memoir. The reflective message is at the end of the book.
Profile Image for Carlos.
672 reviews304 followers
February 26, 2017
they say a book is good when it draws you into the story in a way that makes the story yours, as if you lived it too. This book achieved that for me ...I felt like i was the one hiking in the Alaskan wilderness, like i was the one kayaking in the hula-hula River along Aidan and James, I was able to experience the Alaskan wilderness as i read this book , its detailing was formidable and i feel like i am ready to go to Alaska now (not that I'm actually going to go ...lol). This book was about a father-daughter relationship and the trip of a lifetime ...but it achieved much more ... I loved the simplicity of its writing, the amazing details of the background and the tender moments between father and daughter .... I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to go in an adventure without leaving their house!!...I had a good time reading this.
Profile Image for Dorine.
632 reviews35 followers
May 12, 2016
Rated 4.5 - An excellent adventure memoir, BRAVING IT by James Campbell describes three thrilling expeditions into the Alaskan arctic wild with his daughter. It’s not just the individual journeys that are thrilling but the fact that a father and his fifteen-year-old daughter willingly went three times to brave the elements, when each experience threatens to break their adventurous spirit.

For more reviews, plus travel, garden and food topics with photos, visit The Zest Quest, my pursuit of a zestful life.

Author James Campbell writes a memoir like a suspense novelist. There really aren’t any boring chunks of time spent with the real people involved while reading this book. Every task is fascinating and necessary for their survival, but there’s still enough humor in the book to be entertaining. I have to express how impressed I am with Aidan. Not many teenage girls would want to battle the elements once, let alone do it three times. I love the wilderness but I don’t think I could survive one trip out of the three they accomplished.

The only time I paused in the book was during a descriptive section on gutting game, which was just too much for me. I’m not against eating meat, I just can’t stomach the process of preparing it myself. No matter how much I romanticize about living off the land, a dream I’ve had my entire life, I can’t imagine butchering meat. It surely influenced the choice of never hunting with my dad. And it’s also probably why my meat consumption becomes less every year. I just skipped a couple paragraphs when the descriptions became too in-depth for me and I didn’t feel as if I missed anything.

If you love the idea of building a cabin in the wilderness by hand, or living off the land in an inhospitable place, or hiking to a river to battle rapids for miles by canoe, with no way to turn around and go home, then this adventure memoir will fascinate you as much as it did me. James Campbell is a compelling storyteller, adding just the right amount of ratcheting suspense to keep the reader glued to the pages. I loved this so much that I’m ready to add THE FINAL FRONTIERSMAN by the same author to my library. If you love outdoor adventures and dream about them for yourself, then BRAVING IT will enthrall you from beginning to end. A beautiful message in the final pages make this book more than a memoir by melding a journey of life’s lessons in a sigh-worthy package. I’m a fan and I will look forward to gifting a copy of this book to my dad, who taught me about nature, and still influences my preferences.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Marjorie.
565 reviews76 followers
June 22, 2016
It takes a certain kind of person to want to face the perils and hardships of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Grizzly bears, polar bears, wolverines, wolves and extremely bitter cold weather would soon make anyone hesitant to explore the area. But none of that deters James Campbell or his 15-year-old daughter, Aidan.

Campbell and his daughter actually make three trips to Alaska. The first is to help James’ cousin Heimo build a new cabin in the wilderness. The second time they return to help Heimo and his wife Edna set up their trap lines and hunt. Their last trip is to hike across Alaska’s Brooks Range and to paddle the Hulahula River in a canoe.

The book is written in a very down-to-earth engaging manner. The author gives you a front-row seat to all of the adventures and I feel like I made the journey with them without all of the dangers or discomforts. What I liked best about the book, though, was reading about the relationship between this father and daughter and their love for each other despite their ups and downs. There is suspense and humor and beauty. The only caution I would have is for those of you who may not enjoy reading about hunting and trapping as there are some explicit scenes. That is not something I personally care to read about and I did skim those parts. But the rest of the book held my interest and I enjoyed the adventure.

This book was given to me by the publisher through Blogging for Books in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Angie Lathrop.
1 review2 followers
March 25, 2016
There are so many reasons to love this book. I have read a lot of adventure travel memoirs and this was one of my favorites. Braving It is a beautifully written book about a father who elects to take his 15 year old daughter into the Alaskan bush. Once there, they have multiple adventures and the reader gets to go along for the ride. However, Braving It is not just a journey through the wilderness, but an emotional journey as well. Campbell does an excellent job depicting the very real struggles that are inevitable between a teenager and her father. Without being heavy handed, Campbell subtly describes his daughter’s emotions , fears, and triumphs as she grows increasingly more confident in the Alaskan wild. This book will make you want to leave your comfort zone and explore the harsh beauty of wild places. I plan to buy two copies of this book—one for my teenager and one for my husband.
Profile Image for Randal White.
1,036 reviews94 followers
May 7, 2016


Campbell has penned a wonderful book about the bonding that occurred when he took his teenage daughter into the Alaskan wilderness on several trips. Not just any trip, but ones that involved building a cabin, spending a month on a trap line in the dead of winter, and hiking/canoeing an extremely difficult route. A somewhat typical teenager, we get to witness her growth into a confident, resourceful person. And witness the author's own fears and doubts as he confronts his own "slowing down" due to age. The book will make you laugh, worry, and reflect on your own life. While I at one time wished to have a similar adventures, I too have been forced to confront my own mortality and realize that it probably is not going to happening. That's why it is so enjoyable to witness through the author's eyes.
 
 


 
Profile Image for Dan.
1,249 reviews52 followers
March 17, 2023
4.5 stars

A wonderful narrative about a father and his teenage daughter and their adventures in the Arctic.

Campbell is also the author of another wonderful book about Heimo and Edna Korth entitled The Final Frontiersman. I loved that book as well.
Profile Image for Jen.
13 reviews
April 21, 2016
Whether you are a thrill-seeking traveler, a wanderer, an avid adventurer, or a cautious introvert that prefers to limit their risky expeditions to their living room, you will likely enjoy Braving It. While I've always recognized myself as the latter, I'm happy to say that I've walked away from this book feeling considerably more like the first.

In Braving It, Campbell writes of three experiences he shared with his eldest daughter (just 15 years old) in the Arctic Wilderness. Without being wordy, he is so incredibly descriptive that it makes you feel as though his experience is your own (think Blu-Ray vs. DVD, Campbell's writing style is definitively Blu-Ray). He captures your attention, and drags you in until you can feel the itch from the mosquitos, the frostbite on your nose, the heaviness of exhaustion, the fear and exhilaration of the rapids, and, most importantly, the pride of accomplishment. He paints such an intimate picture that you find yourself rooting for Aidan, while feeling immensely a part of an otherwise intimate memory.

Furthermore, within these tales of adventure you will find a fair depiction of adolescent perspective, the building of a more solid relationship with an adolescent, which I believe is every parent's dream, an introduction to real life people who live their lives in the Arctic Wilderness, as well as real world issues that threaten this way of life (without being preachy - at all).

I didn't just enjoy reading this book, I absolutely loved it. I will probably never experience anything like it in reality, but it was a hell of an expedition within the walls of my own home, and for that I am truly grateful. I am fulfilled.
Profile Image for Shelli.
1,234 reviews17 followers
July 12, 2016
This was an ok story, but I didn't love it. I thought it would be "more." Although the Alaskan wilderness is an extremely harsh place to live and visit, we already know that without reading this book. It was an interesting story of a father/daughter adventure, but it just wasn't very exciting. I learned a few new things, but much of it I already knew from reading other adventure books. I didn't particularly like the writing style. Much of the dialogue seemed juvenile and I wondered why the author chose that incident to tell.
The best part of reading this book was the fact that I read it with a bunch of my family. We decided to read it and then discuss it over the 4th of July when we would all be together. While we all pretty much agreed that it was just an ok book, we had a very "lively" discussion. It was funny that several of us found the same parts to bring up in discussion and "pick" on!
While not a favorite, still glad I read it. Others who aren't looking for a more extreme story might enjoy it very much.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,525 reviews31 followers
June 10, 2022
The book's title says journey, but the book actually covers three trips and three very different experiences of the author and his daughter in the Alaskan Arctic. Reading this makes me sure that when I finally get there I will definitely need a guide. Arctic conditions are nothing to take lightly.
Profile Image for Leslye Davidson.
353 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2018
Listened to this and found the narrator so very annoying when he read as the daughter. It would have been better to keep his normal voice. The book was ok but the adventures felt repetitive and I felt myself drifting off on a regular basis, the true sign of a three star audio book.
Profile Image for Luanne Ollivier.
1,958 reviews111 followers
November 24, 2017
This is the kind of thing I wish I could have done when I was younger. Seeing more of the world, being a little more adventures and taking chances. But, at this stage, I am just as happy to read about others' adventures.

That's the story in Braving It: A Father, A Daughter, and An Unforgettable Journey Into the Alaskan Wild by James Campbell.

James Campbell and his fifteen year old daughter Aidan headed to the Alaskan wilds not once, but three times. Winter and Summer. They visited Heimo Korth and his wife Edna twice, helping to build their new cabin, hunting and trapping. The third visit was braving and paddling the HulaHula river.

Campbell's descriptions of the land, people and lifestyle of Alaska are vivid and powerful, attesting to his love of the outdoors, notably Alaska. Campbell is an established writer and he knows how to tell a story. I was captivated by the details - what it takes to stay alive in this wild country, the dangers and the simple pleasures.

And while Braving It is on the face of it a travel adventure and memoir, its also the story of Campbell and his daughter Aidan's relationship. Campbell's decision to take his daughter to Alaska was not made lightly. We are witness to Aidan's burgeoning love of Alaska, her growing confidence and her continued love of the outdoors. These trips ignite a sense of wanderlust in Aidan - I would be curious to see where life takes her. Campbell is torn between protecting his daughter and allowing her to grow. These trips are almost a coming of age - for both of them.

I chose to listen to Braving It. The narrator was Roger Wayne. I thought he interpreted the novel really well. His voice is pleasant to listen to and easily understood. His reading depicted Campbell's thoughts and emotions well. His inflection and thoughtful pauses allowed the reader to feel as thought we were having a conversation with Campbell. He provided distinct voices for each person. Wonderfully written and a treat to listen to
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,426 reviews67 followers
April 18, 2016
"That is the thing about awe; beauty and fear are inseparable."

I have been to Alaska - in the wintertime - and loved every moment of it. But I never went north of Fairbanks and, even though I'd once considered moving to Alaska, after I visited that thought never crossed my mind again. It was just too big and too lonely for me.

It takes a special kind of person to live up there or even visit, especially in the sparsely populated outer northern reaches of Alaska. It IS one of the 50 United States but it's really like another country. Instead, nowadays I am an armchair adventurer and this book took me on quite a wild ride.

James Campbell is an outdoorsman and an adventurer. In 2013-14 he took his oldest daughter Aidan to Alaska - on three separate trips which are chronicled in BRAVING IT.

The first trip is a summer trip to help the author's cousin build a cabin. The second is a winter trip to help the cousin and his wife with their trapline and to get winter meat. The third is a summer trip also (although I just about froze just reading the tale) and tells of their canoe trip down (or is it up) the Hulahula River north to the Arctic Ocean.

This is quite an unusual father-daughter team. There were squabbles on all three of the trips but they got along amazingly well. My ONLY complaint about the book is that it's written totally from the father's point of view and I wish we, the readers, could have had more insight into Aidan's feelings during this coming of age story.

This book gave me some of the same feelings as reading some of Jack London's books, those based in the Klondike. The difference is that Campbell wrote his as a memoir whereas London chose to fictionalize some of his stories.

This was a great adventure story, a coming of age story, and a travelogue, expounding on the beauty of Alaska. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in any of these attributes.

Also, I liked Campbell's writing so much that I just ordered copies of his two other non-fiction books - THE FINAL FRONTIERSMAN and THE GHOST MOUNTAIN BOYS.

NOTE : I received this book from Crown Publishing in exchange for my unbiased review.
Profile Image for ♏ Gina☽.
901 reviews167 followers
March 13, 2018
Aidan is a young 15 years of age when she accompanies her father, James Campbell, into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Heimo Korth, James' cousin, had asked him for help with building a cabin in the interior - where very few people live and where living is difficult to say the least.

James had misgivings about taking his teenage daughter with him, but he was sure glad he did. Much to his surprise, Aidan thrives in the wilderness of Alaska. When she had the opportunity to return many months later to help the Korths, she was thrilled to do so. Heimo Korth's wife, Edna, took Aidan under her wing and taught her many valuable lessons about surviving in the wilderness.

This book tells the story of their third escapade - one which follows an indigenous tradition usually reserved for boys, but can be completed by girls with the aptitude, desire, and knowledge to do so. It would be an arduous test involving backpacking over a range to get to the Hulahula River, assemble a canoe, and take that into the Arctic Ocean.

Aiden and her father know this trip is dangerous. There's wildlife (not the least of which are the polar bears), severe cold, long hikes in moutainous regions, paddling a canoe into the Arctic Circle of all places, and always the threat of illness or accident.

Go along with Aiden and her father as they form a close bond while taking on this journey, one I admit I would never be brave enough to even consider!
Profile Image for Karyl.
2,131 reviews151 followers
September 6, 2016
This book makes me want to lace up my shoes and head to Alaska right now, even as winter is starting to settle in at the northern reaches. James Campbell and his daughter Aidan travel to Alaska three times during this memoir, first to assist Campbell's cousin Heimo in building a new log cabin for him and his wife, secondly to experience a true Alaskan winter in the depths of the forest, and thirdly to canoe up the Hulahula River to the Arctic Ocean. Each trip north leaves Campbell, but especially Aidan, longing to return to the difficult yet rewarding life in the northern reaches.

I was extremely impressed by Aidan's maturity and ability to deal with the tribulations of living without even what we soft Americans have come to take as necessities -- no running water, no electricity, no heat aside from a wood stove, let alone Internet or the ability to text or call anyone in the Lower 48. You'd think a 15-year-old girl would be worried about her hair, the lack of the ability to shower, whether she could paint her nails. And while she does fuss a little about her appearance at times (she *is* only 15), she buckles down and does what's necessary with a minimum of teenage attitude and angst. She comes to love the Alaskan wilderness as much as her father does, and accomplishes some tasks that most 15 year olds would be too squeamish to even contemplate (like helping Heimo's wife Edna butcher a caribou).

This book also gave me a huge warm fuzzy to see the wonderful relationship between James and his daughter. Of course, they battle at times (what father and daughter don't?!), but for the most part, he learns to lessen his need for control and to let Aidan take the reins at times. The canoe trip especially was not only a time for them to bond, but also for James to let go a little and allow Aidan to take more of a leadership role. He's helping his daughter to grow into a fierce and fearless woman.

I do admit that I enjoyed the first two sections of the book more, mainly because I prefer descriptions of living day-to-day in a situation completely foreign to what I'm used to. Some of the passages in the canoe trip section just weren't descriptive enough for me to imagine successfully what was going on, and sometimes Campbell would use a lot of jargon that I wasn't familiar with, which made it more difficult to envision. In fact, it wasn't until I referred back to the maps at the beginning of the book that I realized that they were canoeing north on the Hulahula River towards the Arctic Ocean. But the way in which he would describe the scenery was amazing; I could almost see the coastal plains, where depth perception is so skewed so as to make it seem like caribou 50 yards away look like they're going to hit the canoe.

Highly recommended to anyone who wishes for a little more adventure in her life.
Profile Image for Amy.
685 reviews41 followers
July 27, 2017
I chose 'Braving it' because the concept of taking off into the Alaskan wildlife refuge really intrigued me. We are an avid outdoorsy family, and my husband would like nothing more than this very thing. Also with 2 teenage daughters I wonder if they could have tackled this very challenge. The thought scares me but at the same time I think, of the learning process one could get from this experience.

We watch shows like Alone, and there has to be said there is something to being out there away from the world and exposed to the very rawness and vulnerability of nature. As the book progresses you get a grasp of the emotions they experience. I felt like it was well written and sufficient to make the reader feel like you are actually there, and not just reading an account of events.

Age and growing older and the challenges that brings are a concept that I took away from this book. James Campbell expresses his fears in that process, as well as the deep desire to actually follow through on a plan he made when his daughter Aidan was still small. That was that he would take her on a trip to Alaska. I quite liked his explanation of the Eskimo way to switch up the roles between boys and girls and allow them the opportunities to learn the skills that the other would gain. Some may argue that 15 is not very old, but having a 15 year old that works hard to be strong physically and has a mature outlook I can see how this would be the perfect age for shaping and developing the mental health that would come from a trip like this.

They are not entirely alone. His cousin Heimo is with them. They have a purpose, and that is to build a cabin. What begins is a series of adventures that allows you an insiders look into a trip that maybe you wouldn't have the guts to do, but is absolutely perfect 'fly on the wall' experience for any reader. If you've always wanted to go to the Alaskan wild, the descriptions here will make you feel like you are actually there!

I do wonder that once you have done something like this - and especially for Aidan where she may choose to go in the future, I can only imagine that this kind of experience just fuels the desire for adventure.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Ryan Brandt.
42 reviews
January 22, 2022
This book has everything I could ask for. Scenery, wilderness, adventure, and a father daughter love. Now that I’m the father of a young daughter, I can only hope to have similar experiences with her. This quote from the book perfectly encapsulates what I aspire for: “Her words were a kind of incantation. If ever there is a moment in a father’s life when his heart feels as if it will burst with joy and gratitude, this was it: when his child is talking about her life with such fondness.”
Profile Image for Annapurna Holtzapple.
273 reviews3 followers
Read
January 20, 2022

This book is such a wild and intense adventure. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator does an awful cartoony job of Aidan’s voice which is such a shame bc it undermines that she actually has lovely, bright, insightful dialogue.
Profile Image for Carlie Duquette.
78 reviews3 followers
April 21, 2024
The amount of wanderlust this book creates is absolutely wild - the amount of logistics and planning that goes into every Arctic expedition is not a feat for the faint of heart and James and Aiden tackle is bravely and straight on! Such a great mix of a coming of age story and tales from the late stages of parenting and midlife. I highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Lara.
4,213 reviews346 followers
July 27, 2018
I enjoyed this story of a father and daughter and their three trips to Alaska, living in the wild. I liked seeing both Aidan and Jim grow during their experiences, as they survive extreme cold, hard work, bear encounters, rushing rapids, bad weather, and short tempers.

There are a couple of things that bothered me. The narrator's "girl voice" is kind of awful, so I found it super annoying anytime Aidan, Edna, or Elizabeth were speaking. He makes every one of them sound like whiny 10-year-olds. And there's a completely unnecessary inclusion of an old-timey trapper word for a certain type of flower that includes a racial slur. WHY.

But other than those things and wanting to know what happened when they got home after the third trip, I found it really interesting. If Campbell ever takes that trip to New Guinea with another of his daughters and writes about it, I'll read it!
4 reviews
December 29, 2019
This was a great read. I enjoyed the relationships throughout and the transformation of the daughter from start to finish. Exciting and adventurous through every page, I’m sad it ended!
Profile Image for Caitlin.
2,623 reviews30 followers
May 2, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from Penguin First to Read, in exchange for an honest review.

James Campbell, father and perpetual sufferer of wanderlust, jumps at the chance to help his cousin Heimo Korth build a cabin in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He isn't so sure about inviting his fifteen-year-old daughter Aidan to come along, with all the dangers present, but he wants her to learn the wild beauty of the place, so he does--and despite his reservations, she blooms there. Though sometimes exhausted, she pushes through the cold and hard work, and loves the experience, so they return to work the trap lines, and then make a third trip along a river, camping and traveling through the frozen wastes, rough river, and polar bear territory with two friends of Campbell's.

Far from home, Campbell and his daughter explore the wild, and learn more about each other, and their relationship, building trust and a solid foundation.

Though the life out on the Arctic is quite tough at times, with icy fingers and ears, back-breaking work, strange foods, and difficult treks, Campbell focuses on the positive. He acknowledges the blisters and sore muscles, and bigger health or wildlife-related scares, but doesn't dwell on them. You can feel the danger of the boat trapped on a rock, without being too scared--there's a sense that things will somehow work out. The landscape is beautiful, in a wild and empty way, and Campbell describes it with love. And even more, he charts the difficulties of relating to a child growing into an adult, of learning to trust his teenage daughter's choices, of bonding with his wife and younger children when he's home, and of longing to be somewhere else and then longing to be where he's put down roots. A fun adventure for people who aren't willing to risk frostbite, bears, and being seriously smelly.
Profile Image for Erin Cataldi.
2,536 reviews63 followers
May 16, 2016
I fell harder for this book than I would have expected. I'm not much of an outdoorsy person, but the thrills that the father and daughter seek in Alaska and the ways that it binds them together and closer to nature, really spoke to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it makes me want to go seek adventure of my own. I want to cultivate my own "fernweh"(craving for travel) and create travel memories. Fifteen year old Aiden and her father James go on three separate trips to Alaska and in the process help build a cabin , scare off bears, hunt caribou, journey a dangerous river, and experience beauty like no other. It's wonderfully written and their experiences will charm you and make you want to get working on an adventure of your own.

I received this book for free from Librarything in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Rachel.
368 reviews37 followers
March 31, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! I was planning to give it to my nephew or niece, but decided to keep my copy since I really enjoyed it. I will probably never get to explore Alaska ... not like the way Campbell and his daughter did, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Campbell has a way of describing his adventures that leave one feeling sentimental and in awe of the beautiful wilds, of the arctic tundra and the roaring rivers. I love how he described his relationship with his daughter; makes me nostalgic for my dad.

Even if you're an armchair traveler like me, you will enjoy this memoir. I thoroughly appreciate this story and I hope he will write of similar adventures with his other two daughters. He is such a wonderful writer.

This is a must-read for all adventurers.
Profile Image for Dave Allen.
39 reviews3 followers
October 12, 2016
Having read a lot of coming to, visiting Alaska stories, I will have to say this one was just ok. Much of the story revolves around the author's relationship with his oldest daughter, in the first part of the book visiting their friend who lives the hard-core trappers life in "bush" Alaska. I really felt it dragging and almost gave up here, but felt things pick up in the second half of the book, which documents their return trip to AK and a float down the Hulahula River. I enjoyed that section much more. I think readers who are parents, especially fathers with daughters, might have more interest in this book than I did.
Profile Image for Melody.
197 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2016
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. My opinion is just that...mine...and completely unbiased.

I love a really good memoir and this does not disappoint. Mr. Campbell and his 15 year old daughter, Aidan's, adventures in the Alaskan wilderness will bring out the wanderlust in all who read it. Well, maybe not, if you don't like extreme cold temperatures, wild animals, and lack of food and civilization emotionally and physically enlightening. This well-written tale has left me wanting to find out what adventures Mr. Campbell will undertake with his two younger daughters in the future!
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