If you have been following my reviews, you probably thought The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, was my favorite book that I read in 2023. It was the only book that, upon reaching the end, I immediately returned to the first chapter and read it again. I loved it the second time around, perhaps even more than the first time. It is an astounding piece of literature. But, after much contemplation, it finished a close second.

The winner? The Camino Club, by Kevin Craig. Maybe the fact that I walked the Camino de Santiago influenced my choice, but I don’t think it was the deciding factor. The Camino Club moved me like no other this year, as I found myself wrapped up in the juvenile-delinquent characters and their journey. Pilgrims who have walked the Camino like to say the experience changed their lives. For these six youths, it went beyond that. Click on the link above to see my review. If you are inclined to read more about the Camino, it is the subject of my first book, Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows. My trekking experiences and my books would not have happened without my wife Sue’s talents and persistence.