Distance Between Lost and Found

Description: Sophomore Halley Calhoun, her former friend Jonah, and new friend Rachel leave a church youth group hike in the Great Smoky Mountains and become lost for five days, struggling to survive as Halley finally speaks about the incident that made her a social pariah and Jonah admits why it hurt him so much.

Brief description:

Kathryn Holmes grew up in Maryville, Tennessee, where she was an avid reader and an aspiring writer from an early age. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and piles upon piles of books. A graduate of the New School's MFA in creative writing program, Kathryn works as a freelance dance journalist, among other writing gigs. The Distance Between Lost and Found is her debut novel.

Review Quotes:

"The Distance Between Lost and Found is both a suspense-filled survival story and a thoughtful look at faith, trust, and courage that will stay with you after you've turned the last page. I didn't want it to end." - Trish Doller, author of Where the Stars Still Shine

"Kathryn Holmes has written a page-turner about several kinds of survival and several kinds of faith. This is an imposing debut novel." - Richard Peck, New York Times bestselling author

"Hallelujah Calhoun is a trailblazer for those who have endured lies and bullying and learn not only to survive, but to stand up for the truth." - Courtney C. Stevens, author of Faking Normal

"A beautifully written story of faith, friendship, and first love that is truly un-put-downable." - Lauren Morrill, author of Meant to Be and Being Sloane Jacobs

"This intimate portrayal of Hallelujah's dark night of the soul while lost and injured in the Smoky Mountains held me spellbound. Kathryn Holmes's debut is sensitively painted, deeply romantic, and profoundly hopeful." - Julie Berry, author of All the Truth That's in Me, ALA YALSA Top 10 Best Fiction for Young Adults

"Readers will root for Hallie, a compelling original, to find faith in herself. Vivid, gripping and believable from beginning to end-a strong debut." - Kirkus Reviews

"This is a perfectly balanced novel wherein the heroine wrestles with survival of not just her body but her spirit as well." - School Library Journal

"This is a novel of trauma, faith and hope. It will appeal to a diverse audience." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"The survival story effectively overlays adolescent crises over rugged nature; readers will find echoes of Hatchet as these teens find strength, courage, and redemption in their struggle to survive in a hostile yet breathtakingly beautiful environment. [R]eaders undergoing their own trials will be bolstered by Hallelujah's hard-won hope for a bright future following adversity." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The survival story effectively overlays adolescent crises over rugged nature; readers will find echoes of Hatchet as these teens find strength, courage, and redemption in their struggle to survive in a hostile yet breathtakingly beautiful environment." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"In this absorbing debut, Holmes--as well versed in survival tactics as she is in the teenage psyche--delivers plenty of excitement." - Publishers Weekly

"An intense story of survival. First-time author, Holmes, writes with the skill of far more experienced writer as she plots the teens' struggles to keep going and offers vivid descriptions of nature and its sometimes terrible beauty." - Booklist (starred review)