THE WILD TRUTH

Carine McCandless offers a memoir of her brother, Chris, who became posthumously famous by Jon Krakauer's INTO THE WILD. McCandless's book attempts to clear up the mystery of why her brother left their family to walk into the Alaskan wilderness, where he would starve to death at the age of 22. Although McCandless is clearly not a professional narrator--her pacing isn't always quite right, and some emotional scenes are slightly under- or overwrought--her story of family violence and the consequent search for peace and unconditional love is rendered honestly in a strong, clear voice. McCandless's undying love for her lost brother, who protected her from a violent father and a self-absorbed mother, pierces the heart. Her voice also portrays a solid loyalty to her half-siblings. A.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015]