''Torch'' is the debut novel of

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

author Cheryl Strayed. Published in 2006 by

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (; HMH) is an American publisher of textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults. The company is based in the Financial Dist ...

, the book was a finalist for the Great Lakes Book Award and was selected by '' The Oregonian'' as one of the top ten books of 2006 by writers living in the Pacific Northwest. The book presents the story of family crisis and grief through the failing health and subsequent death of a mother of two children in Minnesota. The book is loosely based on the real life of the author.

Reception

''Torch'' has been reviewed by journalists on staff at the '' San Francisco Chronicle'', the '' Austin Chronicle'', '' Entertainment Weekly'', ''Curled Up'', ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...

'', and '' Publishers Weekly''.

References

2006 American novels American autobiographical novels Novels about orphans Novels set in Minnesota Houghton Mifflin books 2006 debut novels {{2000s-autobio-novel-stub