My Abandonment by Peter Rock

13-year-old Caroline lives with her father (only known as Father throughout the book) outside of Portland, Oregon. The two don’t live like a normal family, instead choosing to live hidden in caves and shelters in an Oregon state park. Father is meticulous about not being detected, and has worked out an elaborate life full of living off the forest, covering their tracks, and having separate “city” clothes for when the two venture weekly into the city for trips to the bank, library, and grocery store. Extremely intelligent for her age, and loving Father dearly, Caroline accepts this way of life and relishes her freedom in the forest. Unfortunately the two are detected by police one afternoon because of Caroline not being careful enough.

Based on a true story, yet a fictional account, Rock draws readers in to the quiet, simple survival-based life of Caroline and Father. When their unconventional lifestyle forces authorities to house them on a farm, making Father work on the farm and preparing Caroline for school, it becomes too much for Father and he takes Caroline back into the woods, with tragic consequences. In real life, the father and daughter have never been seen again since retreating back to the woods. In Rock’s fictional tale, readers slowly begin to realize what is actually happening to the two and why they need to retreat from the real world.

While the story is full of unsettling moments, and readers may want to look away at the end of the story, it is also a gorgeous story of love, survival, and human mystery. Rock has captured the innocence of Caroline as a 13-year-old confused girl perfectly, and also the counter-culture community of Portland rings true. I finished this book at 1 A.M. one morning and could not stop thinking about it. While people may be intrigued that this is based on a true story, Rock is a confident writer who takes readers onto a journey they won’t forget, even if he used real life for inspiration. Highly recommended if you are looking for something different to read or if you are interested in fiction set in the Northwest. -Reviewed by Sarah