Against the wishes of his mother, sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a steady pace of four miles per hour without ever stopping . . . with the winner being awarded “The Prize”— anything he wants for the rest of his life. But, as part of this national tournament that sweeps through a dystopian America year after year, there are some harsh rules - there is no finish line and the winner is the last one standing.

THE LONG WALK is a brilliant novel that explores the depths of the human condition. Most of the Walkers have no idea what they have gotten themselves into once they begin the Walk. It isn't until the first shot is fired that most of the walkers realize exactly what is going on: that they are walking towards their deaths. As the Walk progresses the Walkers learn a lifetime of knowledge about themselves, about each other, and about humanity. How should a person live? What makes life living for? How is it that a group of strangers can become closer than brothers in a few hours? Is life just a game or is it a journey?