The Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature 2023 2023 Banff Mountain Book Award finalist in Mountain Literature "As a teen phenomenon, Katie Brown raised the bar to a whole new level. Unraveled is an honest and bold recounting of how Katie was able to navigate the dark days of her childhood to become a world champion climber, mother, and amazing human being." --Lynn Hill, author of Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World As a teenager in the 1990s, Katie Brown was one of climbing's first "comp kids"--a young natural who, along with her peers, redefined the image of a strong and successful climber. After climbing for less than two years, Brown won her first junior national title. The next year she became the Junior World Champion at age 14 in Laval, France. In 1996 she won both the Rock Master--a prestigious international contest in Arco, Italy--and the esteemed X-Games. From 1996 on, Brown won every US Adult National that she entered, as well as a World Cup Title in France in 1999. Yet even as she reigned on the podium, Brown felt her life begin to unravel. A quiet child, she struggled with a home life that was very different behind closed doors than it seemed on television. A fundamentalist version of Christianity was at the center of the household, and Brown fought to live according to rules that were strict, ever-changing, and irrational. Isolated and feeling hopeless, Brown latched onto food as something she could control. She quit competitive climbing and bounced in and out of the industry, eventually disappearing in her late twenties. Now, more than two decades later, Brown is ready to share her story. Unraveled answers the question thousands of fans worldwide have wondered: "What ever happened to Katie Brown?"

About the Author
Recognized as one of the greatest female rock climbers in history, Katie Brown began climbing at age 12 and soon dominated national and international competitions. She mastered the discipline of climbing hard outdoor sport routes quickly, often on the first try. Retired from climbing, Brown is a writer, make-up artist, and mom. Find her on Instagram @katiebrownclimbs.

Reviews
Honest and raw.--Leslie Hsu Oh "American Alpine Journal" Katie Brown's book Unraveled broke my heart. I'm glad I read it.--Delaney Miller "Climbing Magazine" Tensions lie at the heart of Unraveled, Katie Brown...explores these tensions in an unapologetic way all the while staying close to events as they were experienced at the time.--Tom Valis "Gripped Magazine" Beautifully written, Unraveled is the story of overcoming darkness both within and from without. In this unflinching memoir, Katie Brown pulls back the veil on her desperate struggle with anorexia and the fallout of years of brutal emotional abuse, all while competing at the very highest levels on the international climbing scene. Her vulnerability is sure to help others conquer their own battles and inspire them to push beyond all limitations.--Ben Moon "Ben Moon, photographer and author of Denali: A Man, A Dog, a" Unraveled takes on a summit of its own. Through raw vulnerability and honesty, Katie Brown inspires the world of climbing in this riveting page turner. This coming-of-age memoir is a must-read.--Sasha DiGiulian "professional climber and founder of SEND bars"



Book Information
ISBN 9781680515466
Author Katie Brown
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Mountaineers Books
Publisher Mountaineers Books