This was my first book by Will Hobbs I received thru Free Friday NOOK selections. The protagonist is Will Thrasher a half-Inuit half-Caucasian teenager that has the opportunity to spend time with his 13 years older half-brother from Arizona on a three week rafting trip through the Yukon. His half-brother is a photo-journalist for National Geographic. 
 The only major distraction for me was the overwhelmingly Liberal view of Global Warming or Human Induced Climate Change and the melting of Arctic Ice, stance against oil exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and limiting the number of Caribou taken by indigenous groups. I understand the importance of leaving a small footprint when in the woods and forests, wildlife maintenance, and generally being responsible for maintaining this planet. There was just too much of this for my taste. 
 However, I did not let that impact my opinion of the book, although it was a rather short book. This book reminds me of my teen years when I was reading Jack London novels specifically, "White Fang" and "The Call of the Wild". 
 This book would be a great gift to a young teenage boy. Thrasher is a likable and as a male can identify with some of the issues he faced trying to cross the chasm from teenage boy to young man. Exciting and adventuress. Fun read.