Rating: 
Summary: Bland And Boring - Waste Of Time
Review: In all fairness, the author's love of the wilderness comes through in this largely boring account of time spent in a wilderness program with wayward teens. But, its poorly written and lacks the excitement of other, much better, outdoor books by better writers. I found myself plodding through the cheesy prose and finally giving up before the end. I totally agree with the review posted at the top of this page about the book being "seriously sappy" and like being on a "long camping trip with Shirley MacLaine." This obviously astute reviewer did elicit a chuckle and his comments made up (almost) for the money I wasted on this book. In short, spend your money on something better and don't engourage this author to waste our time with another book. I'll think twice before I make an impulse buy on an unknown writer I've never heard of before - and I think there's a good reason we haven't heard of this "author."
Rating: 
Summary: A mother's view---
Review: It is indescribable in words to express how deeply Gary Ferguson's book affected me. I began to read it on our way home after leaving my 16 year old son at Aspen. I could hardly put it down. In the five hour drive home I experienced sadness at leaving my son, resolve that we had made the right decision and even more importantly, comfort---reading about the outdoors, the staff and the groups of kids that Gary interacted with brought me so much comfort and hope. Upon arriving home, I picked up this book the following day and finished reading it. Now that my son has been gone three weeks I can identify with the stages of the program and well as his changes in outlook. I am so grateful that Mr. Ferguson took the time to prepare and write this excellent book. All those naysayers heaving criticism upon this book have obviously NOT had this heartwrenching experience of trying to save a troubled teen!
Rating:
Summary: A Proud Aspen Graduate
Review: It pains me to read these reviews seeing how disappointed some people were with this book. Not only was I sent to Aspen when I was only 14, but to be honest the experience has changed my life indefinitely. Not only is the author accurate, but by reading the book, I was able to reconnect to the wilderness. I only hope that one day I will have the ability to go back and work at Aspen and help troubling youth, like the staff there helped me.
Rating:
Summary: emotional truth in the wilderness
Review: It seems that the negative reviews being posted about this book are all from folks who picked up the book without realizing that it was not the typical "Oh, the trees and sky are so wonderful!" nature trek and were not able to get beyond their dissapointment. This is a well crafted, emotion packed book about how wilderness therapy can provide grounding for troubled teens. Several times I had to put the book down, wipe tears from my eyes and just walk until the sadness stablilized. This is a good opening look into what can happen to teens when we adults don't make room for them in our lives or our world. Gary Ferguson should be given great credit for going one on one with these kids and not writing from the viewpoint of the "detached observer". Read this book! It is important.
Rating:
Summary: A bore...
Review: The Kirkus review says "At its worst, it's like being stuck on a long camping trip with Shirley MacLaine."Please, does anybody have Shirley MacLaine's phone number? I'm not convinced a camping trip with her could be as bad as this book.
Rating: 
Summary: More of a promotion than anything else.
Review: The whole book seems like one big plug for the teen wilderness program. Its too bad that parents will pick up this book and think these places are such a healing place, when many teens actually die at these places each year.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't "click" with me
Review: This book is far from being the best read I've ever had like one other reviewrhere states. This in fact, could have been the absolute worst book I've ever read. Thank god I didn't pay for it and read most of it in the bookstore when I saw it in the cut-out bin. Save your cash.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book !!!
Review: This book was really helpful. We had just sent our son to long term wilderness program. I cried all the way through it because I felt such pain for these teens. Thanks so much for writing this book.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: This is Mr. Ferguson's best book to date. Not only did his writing come alive with what he saw and experienced with the kids, but the kids themselves were real, as were their transformations as they came face to face with themselves and the incredible and unforgiving natural world they had never spent time in. The book held me spellbound, both wanting to know the journeys the people were going to make, and if and how it was going to fit into their lives when they returned to their families, and in knowing the restorative powers that nature holds for me. It is truly unfortunate that similar, but affordable, programs are not readily available to adults and kids alike to allow them time to center during times of life changes and turmoil in safe but challenging natural settings. Great read!
Rating: 
Summary: The title is so true! I can't wait to re-read it!
Review: Very accurate account of the wilderness therapy program at the Aspen Achievement Academy. Excellent reading for anyone interested in this approach to helping teens. It would be insightful for any parent considering this type of program for their adolescent.
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