A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson (review)

Molly, Hank, and Traylor were an inseparable trio until Hank fell at the climbing gym, leaving him in a coma for weeks and resulting in brain fog, memory loss, and mobility issues. Molly blames Traylor for her brother’s accident since he was meant to be spotting Hank at the time, but neither these new tensions nor Hank’s post-concussive syndrome will stop the group from following through their postgraduation summer plans of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, though Hank only joins mid-trip. Together now on the trail, the trio are forced to have conversations they’ve been tiptoeing around for months in the case of Hank’s accident, and for years regarding Traylor’s long-time crush on Molly. The story is at its best during discussions of relationship dynamics within the group as they negotiate their pent-up and changing feelings, which overflow with an intensity that is made more chaotic by their forced proximity on the trail. Rotating through Molly, Hank, and Traylor’s points of view provides better access to the friendship and family dynamics as they evolve throughout the story, and the people the trio meet along their journey further complicate the inner workings of the group. Largely character-driven, the story offers authentic depictions of the difficulties of burgeoning adulthood and the thorny interactions that come along with changing personalities and feelings toward one another—in matters of friendship, romance, and altered sibling dynamics alike. Conversations around love and intersectional analysis of Indigeneity, fatness, disability, queerness, blended families, and human interactions with nature are sure to pique the interest of readers also exploring the many facets of what makes them whole. Includes author’s note.