Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail

by Jennifer Thermes

Overview

Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail.

With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. She braved angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises. When things got particularly tough, she relied on the kindness of strangers or sheer luck to get her through the night. When the newspapers got wind of her amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her trek, which came just a few months after she set out. A story of true grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak is insurmountable.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419728396
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	05/08/2018
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	157,193
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD890L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Thermes is the children’s book author and illustrator of Charles Darwin’s Around-the-World Adventure and an accomplished map illustrator. She lives in Connecticut.

Editorial Reviews

"This story of determination is also an ode to the principle of walking down a road just to see what one can see."

Booklist

03/01/2018
Gr 2–5—This book recounts the story of how Emma "Grandma" Gatewood became the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail from start to finish at the astounding age of 67. Beginning in Georgia, in the year 1955, she hiked all 2,160 miles with very little supplies and just a pair of canvas shoes on her feet. Chronicling Gatewood's journey, Thermes recounts the information in story form, making this a great example of narrative nonfiction. Fact boxes reveal tidbits of information about the trail, while maps show the pathway of her incredible trek. Thermes's artwork, done in watercolor and colored pencil, has a warm homey feel to it. Back matter includes a more detailed biography of Gatewood and some information about the trail. VERDICT Beautiful illustrations and an emphasis on the value of nature, determination, and grit make this a great nonfiction selection for any library.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh

School Library Journal

2018-02-19
Thermes presents the tale of the first woman thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. Emma Gatewood always found a bit of an escape in rambling through the hills near her farm in Ohio, and with 11 children and the farm and house chores, she sure needed one. In 1955, at the age of 67, Emma headed out on the A.T. She had read in a magazine that no woman had ever hiked the whole thing and that it was easy. Alternating pages tell the tale of Emma's thru-hike and facts about the trail, the backdrop double-page spreads of sectional maps of the A.T. pointing out notable sights and mountains and marking Emma's progress. Dubbed Grandma Gatewood by the kindly people she met along the way, she was the recipient of much trail magic—she carried no stove, little food, and no tent, and she wore through five pairs of canvas sneakers. Thermes presents both the good and the bad about Emma's hike: a bear, rain (a hurricane!), a few injuries, gorgeous scenery, and many new friends. Quite a few of the softly colored, cartoony, watercolor-and-colored pencil spreads will have readers packing their own backpacks, most notably those of McAfee Knob, the backwoods night sky, and the top of Katahdin. Emma is white; among a group of fellow hikers are some people of color. A text-heavy backmatter spread includes a biography of Emma Gatewood, the history of the A.T., and selected sources.An inspiring story for readers of all ages and genders. (Informational picture book. 4-10)

Kirkus Reviews

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