Two Thousand Miles to Happy: Earl Shaffer and the First Thru Hike of the Appalachian Trail

Shapiro tracks miles and moments in this evocative biography of Earl Shaffer (1918–2002), the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail (“Fourteen states./ Two thousand miles./ Five million steps”). “Tired and sad” after military deployment on “far-off Pacific isles,” Shaffer seeks solace in hiking. Free verse text presents the epic four-month-long journey, starting in April 1948, as one of endurance in pursuit of joy. From Georgia to Maine, the hiker withstands “face-scraping briars,” weather, and frightful wildlife encounters. Through it all, Harnish captures Shaffer’s emotions via the varied set of his mouth, which breaks into a broad grin upon achieving success. Showcasing the scenery and its immensity, landscapes wash the trail’s terrain in purples and greens, demonstrating the succor of nature’s beauty via a fitting tribute. Ages 5–9. (Feb.)