Far Less
by Kathy Wollenberg
GENRE: Young Adult/Contemporary Fiction
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/08/2020
DESCRIPTION:
Homeless 17-year-old Jesse lives in the forest behind the local university with his drug-addicted mom and six-year-old sister. He finds solace recklessly climbing the towering redwoods surrounding their hidden forest camp, observing everything while escaping his reality on the ground. If it weren't for his sister, he probably would have abandoned his mom and their forest life years ago. Diligent about doing laundry and taking showers wherever he can in an attempt to wash away the smells of wood smoke and dirt, Jesse's greatest fear is that one of his high school peers will discover his circumstances. But even his dogged efforts don't stop one girl from finding out the truth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathy Wollenberg has a degree in geology and is inspired to write pieces that blend her knowledge of science with her love of fiction. She lives and works in Northern California. Far Less is her debut novel. Far Less is the recipient of two Silver Nautilus Awards, a Gold Forward Indies Award, and most recently, Bronze and Gold CIPA EVVY Awards.
REVIEWS:
"There's something magical about observing the beauty of nature from the vantage point of a large redwood tree high above a California forest, looking down at the tranquility and the possibilities the world has to offer.
There's something more poignant when the person on that perch is the homeless 17-year-old Jesse Glen, who lives in the forest and camps with his younger sister and drug-addicted mother and is struggling - longing - for the kind of life where basic needs are abundant and he doesn't have to hide his reality from friends and colleagues." -Jim Akron, Editorial Director, BookTrib.com
"Terrific debut novel. Wollenberg does an amazing job of taking us into the forest with Jesse Glen, letting the reader experience the exhilaration of climbing the big redwoods. Along with this comes the desperation of being a homeless kid, trying to protect a small sister and survive in the woods of Northern California. I never for a page lost interest. Mesmerizing." -Norma Watkins, Author
COMPARATIVE FILM/BOOK:
CODA, Lady Bird, Juno
CASTING:
Xolo Mariduena as Jesse, the protagonist; Maria Bello as Carla, the mom; Viggo Mortensen as Ben, the homeless Vietnam vet.
PRIMARY VENUES/LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BOOK:
Redwood forest, small Northern California coastal college town
BOOK EXCERPT:
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