Navigating Early

By: Clare Vanderpool

Narrated by: Robbie Daymond, Mark Bramhall, Cassandra Campbell

From the author of Newbery Medal winner Moon Over Manifest comes the odyssey-like adventure of two boys’ incredible quest on the Appalachian Trail.

When Jack Baker’s father sends him from his home in Kansas to attend a boys’ boarding school in Maine, Jack doesn’t know what to expect. Certainly not Early Auden, the strangest of boys. Early keeps to himself, reads the number pi as a story, and refuses to accept truths others take for granted. Jack, feeling lonely and out of place, connects with Early, and the two become friends.

During a break from school, the boys set out for the Appalachian Trail on a quest for a great black bear. As Jack and Early travel deeper into the mountains, they meet peculiar and dangerous characters, and they make some shocking discoveries. But their adventure is only just beginning. Will Jack’s and Early’s friendship last the journey? Can the boys make it home alive?

©2013 Clare Vanderpool (P)2013 Listening Library

Critic reviews

A Michael L. Printz Honor Winner

An ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection

An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book

A New York Times Editor’s Choice

A New York Times Bestseller

An Indie Pick

A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

A Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice Selection

A BookPage Best Children’s Book

A Texas Lone Star Reading List Selection

A Notable Children's Book in Language Arts Book

A Down East Magazine Best of Maine Book

A North Carolina Young Adult Book Award Master List Selection

An Iowa Children's Choice Award Finalist

“Reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn.” (The Wall Street Journal)

"Returning to themes she explored so affectingly in Moon Over Manifest, Newbery Medalist Vanderpool delivers another winning picaresque about memories, personal journeys, interconnectedness - and the power of stories." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Great audio book

I gave performance a 4 instead of 5 because of the storytelling of Pi. It seemed as if it needed to be Early’s voice and bothered me every time the story switched to Pi. Jack was awesome at telling his part of the story however. Good, clean, feel-good read.
Like Vanderpool’s other book, Moon Over Manifest, this should be made into a movie. 💕

Navigating Early

I think I now have a new favorite author !! Clare Vanderpool can weave a story that will keep you captivated from first page to last! She is a master at weaving two stories together , and her characters are friends 7 would be happy to know..
Excellant narration, a masterful tale.
I want more..!!

Best Book I've Listened to or Read This Year!

I've had this book in my wish list for several years, since I finished (and loved) "Moon Over Manifest". I'm so glad I finally listened to it. It did not disappoint. Although it is marketed as a children's book, I think this book would appeal to ANYONE. It would be suitable for a classroom read, but also a book I think adults would enjoy. I certainly did. For sure, you can listen to this audio version with your kids. A perfect road trip listen.

Jack meets Early Auden when he is sent to a boarding school after the death of his mother. Jack finds Early to be a bit odd and eccentric. In reality, Early is an autistic savant, but those conditions had not been diagnosed in the 1940's, when this story takes place. The two form a bit of a friendship, and through a series of events, embark together on a journey; an adventure that takes them down the Appalachian trail.

I adore the writing style of Clare Vanderpool, and I wish that she would write more. But the two books she did write are wonderful reads and I fully expect them to become classics.

The narration for this book was PERFECT! I can not recommend this book highly enough. It is a real treasure; a beautiful story.

Inventive, heartfelt story

Navigating Early reaches deep into your heart and asks that you shed a tear or too, laugh a lot, and deeply consider your place in the universe.

Stunning story

Beautiful book with many amazing messages. Jack baker is an amazing protagonist who spreads love.

Great Character Study

I like coming of age stories and this one was very good. The picaresque elements are satisfying as the two engaging main characters search for important answers. The fairly obvious allegorical use of the Pi story makes an interesting background, and I really enjoyed Mark Bramhall's reading of those elements. I think this would make an excellent vehicle for teaching the novel to the middle-school grades.

A surprising wonderful read

I had the pleasure of reading this as a part of a book club. At first I wasn't really into it, but something shifted around Chapter 6 and I was hooked. I decided to try it audibly at that point and believe that made it an even more enjoyable book. There are no coincidences indeed Mrs. Baker.

My new favorite book!

I listened to this audio book with my daughter and it has become my new favorite book! We just got done listening to the whole thing a second time!
The characterization, the richness, depth and complexity of the plot... it is excellent, and a book that should go on the shelf with other classic required reading.

Also the performance was top notch. A quality production all around.

Nice, but predictable coming of age story

I liked the parallels between Early's made up story and real life. I always like stories about kids in boarding school.

Great story

Loved this story. It took me a while to get into it at first but... Early and Jackie are such well crafted interesting complex characters that I became wrapped up in their life!