Krakauer's Into the Wild

I'd never read Krakauer's Into the Wild, though I'd heard of it a number of times. I am now very glad I read it, despite the number of heartbreaking moments that were difficult to read. McCandless' journey was incredibly interesting to read about, and I think that even as a high school student I would have enjoyed reading it for class. Many of McCandless' ideas, while eventually leading to his demise, are at least thought-provoking. Via Krakauer's research into McCandless' interests and story, the reader is introduced to questions about society, family, and nature. In high school I took Environmental Science as an elective science class my senior year, and this would have been a nice book to use to tie literature into what we were learning about natural resources and our relationship as humans to the natural world.

In the future, I could see myself using this for an English class. It's not what I would have typically thought of using, mostly because it is non-fiction, and I always assumed that a more historical text would make sense for non-fiction reading. However, I think this book would make for a nice break from the literature students are used to. This is the kind of book that my brother, a reluctant reader, would have found interesting and may have actually been motivated to read. It is a story about a young man who many students might find relatable, whether because of a desire to experience nature away from society or more simply even because of McCandless' strained relationship with much of his family. The book also deals with the idea/theme that even though it is good to be self-reliant to an extent, it is important to recognize that you can't do everything on your own. I think its a good reminder for young adults, who are usually striving for that radical independence when high-school aged (I know I was, anyway!).

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