Have you read any good books lately? We like to share reviews on books that our members have read that are hiking or outdoors related. From infants board books to adult page-turners, we love to hear about what you are reading! Share a review with us on this form and we may feature it in an upcoming blog post!
Reviews
Beth Klein, from Chicago, has reviewed these seven books for us this month!
Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle
When Tony’s mother is sent to jail, he is sent to live with an uncle he has never met. His uncle lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains with his search and rescue dog, Gabe. Appropriate for ages 10-12, this novel in verse is told from the alternative viewpoints of boy and dog. Peppered with survival tips, this is a fun, easy read.
Savage Mountain by John E. Smelcer
Teen brothers Sebastian and James decide to climb one of the tallest mountains in Alaska to prove themselves to their abusive father. This is targeted to a teen audience and is an engaging survival story for those that are ready for heavier themes than Hatchet.
Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace
Jake and Taylor Wilder have been taking care of themselves since their dad took off for the wilds of Wyoming and their mom got a new, terrible boyfriend. Realizing they are no longer safe, they run away to find their father using only their survival skills and cryptic clues. The sequel is also available.
Ages 8-12
No Summit out of Sight: The True Story of the Youngest Person to Climb the Seven Summits by Jordan Romero and Linda LeBlanc
On May 22, 2010, at the age of thirteen, American teenager Jordan Romero became the youngest person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. At fifteen, he became the youngest person to reach the summits of the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. In this energizing memoir for young adults, Jordan recounts his experience, which started as a spark of an idea at the age of nine and, many years of training and hard work later, turned into a dream come true.(from publisher- I can’t do much better!)
Lost in the Backyard by Alison Hughes
Flynn hates being outside. He would rather play video games all day, and he never pays attention in Outdoor Ed. But when he gets lost in the woods near a friend’s house, he has to try to remember what he learned, like packing leaves in his clothes,and how to build a shelter. This is a quick read for ages 9-12.
Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts
This memoir recounts Suzanne’s hiking trip with a few friends after college graduation. This is a unique look at a thru hike, with a definite feminine (and feminist) spin. Highly recommended for Hike it Baby mamas!
Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar
In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. This is an interesting investigation of what happened to these young hikers. Fascinating and eerie.
