The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

“It was like drowning, only from the inside out.” 

Nine-year-old Trisha McFarland strays from the path while she and her recently divorced mother and brother take a hike along a branch of the Appalachian Trail. Lost for days, wandering farther and farther astray, Trisha has only her portable radio for comfort. A huge fan of Tom Gordon, a Boston Red Sox relief pitcher, she listens to baseball games and fantasizes that her hero will save her. Nature isn't her only adversary, though - something dangerous may be tracking Trisha through the dark woods.

While this isn't my favourite Stephen King novel (it's still Misery) you can't deny that he is a great storyteller.

The first impression of Trisha is that she is very mature ("9 years going on 10, but big for her age") so originally I was really shocked when she panicked so soon after realising she was lost, but then I thought back to 9 year old me, or my nephews and it was probably pretty accurate depiction of how they would react.

For a story that you are essentially only engaging with one character, King gives you a glimpse in to her family life, interests, and friendships, and shows you how tough a human spirit can be when in a hopeless situation, and how you can draw from these things to help get you through.