96 Miles

Nevada’s topography includes mountains, valleys, and deserts. The isolated desert setting is key to the conflict the main characters face as they must navigate the harsh terrain. Nevada has a semiarid climate, which accentuates the problem of dehydration; not only do the main characters face a lack of water at home, but they also must walk in hot, dusty, and dry conditions while dehydrated.

The majority of Nevada’s population lives in urban areas; the Lockwood’s homestead in a small, remote town is unusual. The small town of Lund, in which the Lockwoods live, is a tiny dot located along State Route 318, 200 miles north of Las Vegas. This road becomes the setting for most of the novel as the boys must take it to reach Brighton Ranch. Long-distance travelers mostly use this road as a shortcut between the town of Ely in the north and Crystal Springs to the south. The road is not heavily trafficked, nor does it have many stopping points such as restaurants, bathrooms, or gas stations. It is straight and flat, offering little diversion or variation.

This adds to the remoteness of the novel’s setting. The