Navigating Early

Following WWII, a young Jack Baker is sent to a boarding school, where he meets an unusual boy by the name of Early. The two connect right away, and they soon realize that they have much in common. The boys embark on a journey in search of an elusive black bear on the Appalachian Trail, while finding themselves following Early’s story of the number pi. The young boys encounter many challenges and situations along the way on this dramatic adventure, and in the process end up discovering much about themselves and each other. “Navigating Early” is suitable for the intermediate classroom, as well as for junior secondary students. In the classroom, the novel’s themes of friendship and overcoming adversity are appropriate for a variety of Language Arts activities, and its use of the number pi lends itself to be used as a supplementary resource for the Math curriculum.