Abrilliant,boundary-leapingdebutnoveltracingtwelve-year-oldgeniusmapmakerT.S.Spivet’sattemptstounderstandthewaysoftheworld
Whentwelve-year-oldgeniuscartographerT.S.SpivetreceivesanunexpectedphonecallfromtheSmithsonianannouncinghehaswontheprestigiousBairdAward,lifeasnormal-ifyouconsidermappingfamilydinnertableconversationnormal-isinterruptedandawildcross-countryadventurebegins,takingT.S.fromhisfamilyranchjustnorthofDivide,Montana,tothemuseum’shallowedhalls.
T.S.setsoutalone,leavingbeforedawnwithaplantohopafreighttrainandhoboeast.Onceaboard,hisadventuresstepintohighgearandhemeticulouslymaps,charts,andillustrateshisexploits,documentingmythicalwormholesintheMidwest,theurbanphenomenonof“rims,“andthepleasuresofMcDonald’s,amongotherthings.WecometoseetheworldthroughT.S.’seyesandinhisthoroughinvestigationoftheoutsideworldhealsorevealshimself.
Ashetravelsawayfromtheranchandhisfamilywelearnhowthejourneyalsobringshimclosertohome.AsecretfamilyhistoryfoundwithinhisluggagetellsthestoryofT.S.’sancestorsandtheirlong-agopassagewest,offeringprofoundinsightintothefamilyheleftbehindandhisrolewithinit.AsT.S.readshediscoversthesometimesshadowyboundarybetweenfactandfictionandrealizesthat,forallhisanalyticalrigor,theworldaroundhimisamystery.
Allthathehaslearnedistestedwhenhearrivesatthecapitaltoclaimhisprizeandiswelcomedintoscience’sinnercircle.Forallitsshine,fameseemsmorehighlyvaluedthanideasinthisnewworldandfriendsarehardtofind.
T.S.’stripbeginsattheCopperTopRanchandthelastknownplacehestandsisWashington,D.C.,buthisjourney’smovementisfarhardertotrack:Howdoyoumapthedelicatelessonslearnedaboutfamilyandself?Howdoyoudepicthowitfeelstofirstventureoutonyourown?Isthereadefinitivewaytocommunicatetheebbsandtidesofheartbreak,loss,loneliness,love?Thesearethequestionsthatstrikeatthecoreofthisveryspecialdebut.
Montana LOVE NOVEL SELECTED D.C. WORKS YEAR
