Into the Wild

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Original ISBN 978-0-385-48680-4
Anchor Books, 1996.
207 pages

Plot Summary: Christopher McCandless seemed to have it all: a loving and rich family and degree from Emory University. But some unknown reason, Christopher walked away from it all. He donated his money to charity, changed his name to Alexander Supertramp, and embarked on a journey that would have him doing odd jobs and living off the land. He would eventually find his way to Fairbanks, Alaska where his emaciated body was found in an abandoned bus on the Stampede Trail. Journalist Jon Krakauer retraced McCandless’ steps from college graduation to his death in Alaska two years later. Krakauer used McCandless’ own journal, interviews from family and people that had helped McCandless along his journey, and a bit of deductive reasoning to tell this chilling story of adventure…and death.

Critical Evaluation: While a compelling story in and of itself, there are some interesting questions posed in the telling of the tale of Chris McCandless. Was Chris crazy or was he looking for deeper meaning in his life? Krakauer introduces the aspects of idealism and transcendentalism, at one point discussing the situations of several people who gave up everything to live in the wild. Pathos and logos are used by the author in the telling of the story. In the end, it is the reader that can decide the reasoning for McCandless’ behavior.

Reader’s Annotation: Why would a young man with seemingly everything, give it all away and wander into the brush of Alaska? Journalist Jon Krakauer attempts to find the answers.

Author Information: An avid outdoorsman, Krakauer (born in 1954) was a journalist for Outside magazine when he wrote an article outlining the life of Christopher McCandless who walked away from a “perfect” life and was later found dead in the middle of nowhere in the brush of Alaska. The article was later expanded into the book and was adapted into a movie in 2007. Krakauer’s other books are also works of nonfiction including Into Thin Air about his own treacherous climb of Mt Everest.

Into the Wild was the 1997 YALSA Best Book for Young Adults.

I could not locate a personal webpage, but Krakauer’s FaceBook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/jonkrakauer

Genre: Nonfiction biography; Adult crossover

Curriculum Ties: In English Language Arts as a companion piece to Transcendentalist writers, and to illustrate use of rhetorical appeals and investigative writing.

Booktalking Ideas: I would read the “Author’s Notes” at the beginning of the book.

Reading Level / Interest Age: Grade 9 and up

Lexile: 1270

Challenge Issues: NA

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: Into the Wild is one book most often asked for by high school males. This book runs a close second in requests to Friday Night Lights.

References:

Jon Krakauer. (2012, November 16). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Krakauer

Jon Krakauer: Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/krakauer/author.html