Wyoming Books

This was a delightful book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My husband is from Clan MacGregor, and I learned a lot about the MacGregor's, as well as about the highland cattle. I'm a member of Clan MacLeod, who also raised these beautiful animals. I live in the area where the book took place, and it was historically very accurate. I've been to many of the places she mentions. In fact, the Como Depot is still there, and is now a delightful restaurant.

Ms. Brown wrote wonderfully, with a Scottish accent, and I found myself reading aloud quite often, to get the sounds of the words and phrases. I can hardly wait for her next book, which she tells me maybe available in December!

I took a long time to get through this book. I lugged it about the country on my motorcycle tour of the US Heartland. I found the book to be a bit of roller coaster in its pace. It is well written, but the pace varies. Most of the action oriented writing clicks right along. The emotionally driven elements slowed things down. It is a woman's book. As with most women writers that I have read, there is a lack of authenticity when it comes to violence. The anthropomorphism about the horse, Bonniedoone, did not capture the wildness or genuine psychology of horses.

The characters were moderately well developed and the writing style was clear and clean. The Scottish brogue was enchanting. There were elements of the style of Frank Yerby that I found very appealing.

I look forward to more books by this author.

This is Chrysan Deng from China, I happened to know that my friend Corrine Brown wrote a book and I am very curious to know it, Mrs Corrine Brown gave me the website to download her books and I found it. I got a little about USA western transportation while I was in the colleague, I hope to know more if I read over this book

In this debut novel by Colorado writer and historian Corinne Joy Brown, the life of cattlemen in 1870's Colorado and Wyoming, formerly earned by nothing more and nothing less than sweat and blood-comes to face with big business-dealings with Scottish investors who conquer their worlds with prestige and money.
Margaret Dowling, the daughter of a Philadelphia bank president, finds herself in the middle of this venture when she weds a Scot investor, Kerr McKennon. Though this marriage is not one based on the true romantic natures one would expect, Maggie welcomes the opportunity to go west and start a new life, and develops an instant and everlasting fondness to the landscape and wildlife of the American West.
Maggie McKennon comes face to face with her destiny when her husband is killed, and rather than leave a country and lifestyle that she has come to love, she vows to take his place in the partnership he had formed with Hugh MacGregor and see his dream through. This challenge would be tremendous for any man who on a daily basis deals with the rugged and violent nature of their adversaries, but Maggie McKennon proves herself capable of surviving such a world that can be as ruthless as it is beautiful.
Corinne Joy Brown is a welcomed voice to Western literature, one that captures her readers with a clear, concise prose, and a compelling story reminiscent of the great historical author John Jakes. MacGregor's Lantern is a novel for all times, and Corinne Joy Brown a treasure to the new millennium. -Steven Law, ReadWest Online Magazine

My book club read this book and we were in general agreement that this was a very good read, especially realizing that it is the author's first novel. Being from Denver, I found myself being transported back in time to the 1880s making the trip from Denver to Como, Colo, where much of the action takes place. The historical research that went into producing the novel was accurate, yet it is a history of the west that most westerners aren't even aware of: How Scottish cattle barons became influential ranchers in Colorado and Wyoming.
The Scottish broage dialect was delightful, bringing another flair of authenticity to the novel. It's an Hisorical novel, a romance, a women's rights book (for which it must be read and recommended by Oprah) and a western adventure story all rolled into one. I highly recommend this book!

Famous, flamboyant, but brilliant Wyoming attorney Gerry Spence tells the start-to-finish story of a murder trial he was involved in.

For years, this book was out-of-print; few libraries had copies. So, when I ran across this book in the 'true crime' section of a University bookstore, I was elated.

Once I began reading it, there was no stopping me. [Spence is THAT kind of writer. He doesn't bore you for ten pages. He puts the hook in you after a few pages].

The book is rather lengthy, but that's okay. All he has to say needs to be said...in order to understand the crime committed, the background info that LED to the crime, and the actual courtroom drama itself.

This book is a VERY good read for anyone undecided on the death penalty. [It might even confuse you more as to where you're at regarding the death penalty. But that's fine. It will give you something to think about for quite some time].

Yes. This book is a definite page turner. Once started, I doubt you'll be able to put it down. I know I couldn't.

Best part is: it's the type of 'true crime' that could happen in Anywhere, U.S.A. NOT like the Charles Manson "Helter Skelter" true-crime that is sensationalized.

I'd suggest this book to anyone interested in: 1) death penalty cases. Pro or con. 2) real life justice and our legal system.

This is not a book for the faint hearted. Be cautious.

What a wonderful surprise this book is. Spence may be an "aw shucks" country lawyer on his T.V. appearances but "Of Murder And Madness" reveals him to be a deep thinker and a talented writer. Here, he parallels his own life with that of a murderer he defends. It is really most extraordinary. A good read and an informative discussion of the insanity defense. Luckily it's still in print. What a clever combination of legal thriller and autobiography. Read it. You really won't be sorry.

A wonderful read. Jerry Spence has done it again

How Mr. Spence can be proud of getting a stone cold killer off is beyond me. Joe Esquibell wasn't insane at the time he shot his
wife in the head IN FRONT OF EIGHT WITNESSES ! Mr. Spence and the Doc at the hospital were just tired of the whole
case, it having dragged on for 7 yrs., and the Doc. finally agreed to say that in his opinion (his 3rd flip-flop) Joe was insane at the
time he pulled the trigger. It was a sham. It was a lie.

And then after Joe is freed he of course returns to his old violent abusive boozing lifestyle and gets himself killed. And of all things
Mr. Spence wants the killer of Joe punished even tho he knows it was in self defense, that Joe attacked the guy first.

As you can see I obviously missed whatever good point you all above got out of this book.

Joe Esquibell was a user, abuser, violently jealous, violent in general, boozer. He never worked a day in his life. He had 5
illegitimate kids by three women (one a 14 y/o) that we are told of (you know he had more) that he never supported in any way
shape or form. He was a killer. If there was anyone who deserved the gas chamber it was he. And as far as
insane or not, to me it makes no difference. You take a life...you pay with your own. What's the good in keeping an insane person alive anyway? Especially one who kills. I don't understand it...an insane person has no life. They are the LIVINGDEAD. I think it's cruel to keep them alive in those hospitals where you know damn well they are treated like sh!t.

And what kind of women and/or man has baby after baby after baby when they know they can not support them (they can't
even support themselves for chirst sake!)..., when they don't really want them nor care about them. That is SICK. That's abuse. It's a sin. Joe Esquibell's mother out to be shot. She and her sheepherder husband (alcoholic) are responsible for this whole bloody mess. But that in no way absolves Joe, as Mr. Spence seems to think. Gerry Spence ought to be ashamed.

It's an ugly story about stupid thoughtless trashy people and Mr. Spence attempt to parallel his own life to Joes is a stretch (mr. spence used condoms :o) )

Trial attorney Gerry Spence writes a fascinating tale about one of his trials in which he defends the American underdog. Spence describes a chivalrous undertaking on his part, feeling that a more intellectually advanced human being should become involved with the problems of the less advanced, the unfortunate and the meek. In his book Half Moon and Empty Stars, Spence writes a defense story about the fateful American Indians in modern times, and in Of Murder and Madness his subjects are Mexican Americans in Wyoming and their dire circumstances. As the defense lawyer in a murder case, he takes us behind the scenes unveiling the caprice of the "courthouse club" and the criminal shortcomings of the Welfare Department. He says an insane society produces "skitz" (schizophrenia sufferers). The story of psychotic Joe is interwoven with Spence's autobiography and philosophical outlooks. The battle in this trial is for the lost soul of the defendant, a noble cause for one determined trial attorney. Gerborg

This is a great follow up on the first Passport to Danger book.
Con's adventures get more interesting every time.

This is a book about family, a large sprawling mass of a family, that has unique individuals, who are able to come together and help each other and the world they live in. In this age of the noveau-family, with its single parent, or work-obsessed parents, or alternative-lifestyle parents, or whatever, it seems we have forgotten that the family is not just classified by the parents... nor should it be ruled by selfish desires. True, the nuclear family of the fifties is a myth, and in many ways I think we can be glad of that. But the extended family, the kind where there are grandparents, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, cousins, parents, and sons and daughters... that used to be the way all humanity lived. It gave us strength, stability, diversity, chaos, love. There are many reasons why that model is no longer the norm, but we can strive to have a sense of it, and that is what this book gives all who read it. Set in the vast expanses of the West, there is a sense of large empty spaces. But the heart of this quirky family beats loud and happy, and fills all the empty spaces. Read this book, and go talk to someone in your family you haven't talked to in a while. Both actions are well worth the effort.

I had really enjoyed Bell's first book, Secret of the Mezuzah, so I was looking forward to Con's further exploits. While it's a good adventure story with interesting characters, I wished that the themes of Indian rights, eco-terrorism and the "new west" had been explored more thoroughly. Bell has already demonstrated that she can handle complicated issues in a sensitive way. Still, it's an entertaining read with strong family values.

I echo the thoughts of previous reviewers on the strengths of this book: a very good middle-school level story, and an excellent description about interrelationships in a functional extended family. I would add that, compared to many "policitcally correct" portrayals of the contemporary West, this story is a nice counterweight by presenting life from the viewpoint of the rancher, as opposed to that of the environmentalist, the Bureau of Land Management and the native American. In this story, the sterotypes are not extended. Everyone in it is portrayed truthfully, meaning less-than-perfect. It is healthy for children to realize that any special interest group, including environmentalists and the BLM, can have less-than-pure motives for what they do. And, I believe the portrayal of a Hollywood star whose self-righteousness turns out to be something less than meets the eye, is a refreshing non-Politically Correct perspective. The point is, it's good to have different kinds of portrayals of people and their motives--that way kids can learn how some folks may behave and allow them to be more prepared to evaluate situations at a deeper level than face value.

I've read a lot of children's literature, being a fourth grade teacher. I read and enjoyed THE SECRET OF THE MEZUZAH a couple years ago, so I was very glad to learn that Mary Ann Bell's book was part of a trilogy. This second book features the same confident, adventurous Con, but this time in an American setting. The central plot and themes were not, to me, as meaningful as the first book, but I really enjoyed learning more about the adventures of Con and his interactions with his family in Wyoming. This book will be very appealing to kids who enjoy books about kids who are "on their own" (like the ever popular Box Car Children books) because Con and his cousins are staying on the ranch without their parents, with only the occasional supervision of their grandparents. The cousins have many adventures taking care of the cattle on the ranch, as well as trying to solve mysteries in town. I'm looking forward to the third book!

As a lover of the Grand Tetons I couldnt wait to read a book written by a guide who has spent much of his life in the Teton range. Jack Turner has guided many clients to the Grand Teton summit as well as climbed a majority of other peaks in the Teton range. If you are expecting a spell binding thriller about mountain climbing, you will be dissapointed. However, if you want to get a feel for the experience of simply being in the Teton range during the 4 seasons, then this book is for you. Turner's knowledge of wildlife and plantlife in the Teton range is amazing, as is his ability to describe the ever changing seasons in the mountains. His Zen religious influences are also referenced but never heavy handed as he manages to weave the Zen philosophy with the seasons and changing climate. Turner does get to be a bit preachy on the subject of man encroaching upon natural habitats and the destruction of our wild eco system; but his love for the natural beauty of the Tetons allowed me to forgive this minor annoyance. Turner takes us through the seasons of the Teton range in a smooth flowing narrative that is satisfying and enlightening. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy the Tetons as well as others who are simply interested in one person's perception of one of our finest wildlife areas.

This beautifully crafted narrative presents a month-by-month, May through April, description of a 58 year old mountain climbing guide's recollections and reflections on living and working Grand Teton National park. Teewinot is the nearest peak visible from the author's seasonal cabin in the park.

Each chapter is an essay about climbing, wildlife, plants, environmental management or personality profiles related to events that happened during that month. The book begins in May because that's when spring begins to overtake winter, covers the intense summer climbing season, describes autumn wildlife viewing treks to remote corners of the park and tells about winter ski treks. The lifestyle and habits of climbing guides, rangers and other professional outdoors people are profiled throughout.

One of the best aspects of the book is that while it's written by a technical climbing guide and has interesting stories about both guided and highly challenging climbs, the book goes beyond that to reflect the author's wide-ranging, eclectic interest and knowledge about everything related to the Tetons.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in mountaineering, national parks, wildlife and the contemporary American West. There are 11 unexceptional color photographs, two maps with sufficient detail to follow the ground covered in the essays, and a six-page bibliography of reference sources for the Tetons and other topics covered, although many books cited are probably available only in large reference libraries.

As I read, Turner took me on an alpine guided trip that allowed me to vicariously absorb the intimacies of nature and "sit" with him as he basked, observed and recorded the essence of nature and the Tetons. I felt like I was with him for every step and hold. This is a very sensual account of his year in the Tetons. The intimacies of his account are to be relished. He was generous to share his otherworldly view and "heightened" sense of what it is like to humbly share the earth with other beings.

As I read, Turner took me on an alpine guided trip that allowed me to vicariously absorb the intimacies of nature and "sit" with him as he basked, observed and recorded the essence of nature and the Tetons. I felt like I was with him for every step and hold. This is a very sensual account of his year in the Tetons. The intimacies of his account are to be relished. He was generous to share his otherworldly view and "heightened" sense of what it is like to humbly share the earth with other beings.

Jack Turner has yet again produced a book with a sense of place and sometimes even an aura of the Tetons where he has climbed and guided for 40 years. Although this book is more relaxed and less intense than his powerful "Abstract Wild" it nevertheless provides a mature outlook on life in the Tetons. Turner is not afraid to reveal himself in this book and yet does not fall into sentimentality, the accounts of climbing and the experiences with friends are especially moving such as the tragic consequences of a fall for his friend Kim Schmitz who suffered in incredible agony after breaking just about everything or the death of Leigh Ortenburger, and yet there are great times too like the remarkable skiing of Mark Newcombe and Turner's love of Rilke and Haiku which also appeals very much to me. Surrounding these images of lost friends and at times extreme experiences is the national park itself which never leaves the scene always providing the glue which binds the whole together. Turner has a remarkable grasp of both the scientific aspects of the park such as the geology and the biology/ecology which is added to the feel of it at the same time, I mean the sense of being experienced when the mind is stilled, something which is always enhanced in a wild area where existence is forced upon you no longer escapable such as in a big city. Through the stories of the park, the people and his own very human outlook you can't help but feel Turner loves where he is and lives for it wholeheartedly, his own journey into philosophy, Zen show how deeply he thinks about his life and the natural environment. I also feel that he loves what he does and where he is so much that he not willing to give it up to go that extra distance needed in really deep meditation. My own experiences in this mean that joy can be found everywhere whether it is a city or in natural surroundings. Jack Turner is a man that I would like to meet, his energy, his dynamic outlook, his interest in just about everything is not that common nowadays. A wonderful book of a man and his love.

...I have found that this guide documents alot of the climbing at Vedauwoo very well, but misses the mark entirely in some cases. After getting to know the long time local climbers it is really sad to find out that Skip Harper has taken lots of liberties with renaming routes, or assigning grades to routes that he abviously has not done. I give his book a two star rating just because of the lack of investigation in some cases and the complete disregarding of history that he puts forth in his book.

My wife and I are 50ish and have been climbing for three years. We cut our outdoor teeth on Veedauwoo and found Heel and Toe invaluable. Based on our knowledge of the area and compared with other guidebooks we've used, the book is an excellent aid. Area directions and photos are great, route descriptions accurate, and route grades on target. Some tongue-in-cheek humor mixed in (Jurassic Park). More important than our assessment, it is the guide that is used. Skip and Rob did a great job. Hope there's a sequel with updates.

The Vedauwoo area is unique in it's diversity of climbs and the climbers that frequent this area. This Guide Book has captured both aspects: the wild and mystical Spirit of Vedauwoo and the Hard Core attitude of the climbers. It covers the range of climbs from the Raw Gut Beginners to the Hard Skinned Off-Width Crack climbers that Shred their way up impossible looking ascents. The photos and route lay-outs are simply the best of any guide book in the Rocky Mtn. region and route descriptions give you JUST enough information without taking all the Adventure out of the climb!! A MUST HAVE !! for any climber in the area.

Heel and Toe is a necessity for anyone planning on spending time climbing, hiking or camping at Vedauwoo. The maps and photographs clearly illustrate the area.

We used this book on a family vacation to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The books have excellent advice for parents of young children. The suggested hikes come with reasonably accurate information to help in choosing easy, moderate or difficult hikes. For a couple of the hikes, I found it a little hard to find the starting points. However, overall, this was an invaluable aide in making the most of our visit to Yellowstone, which can be somewhat overwhelming due to its sheer size.

I purchased this book as well as Top Trails' "Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park" by Andrew Dean Nystrom, and was disappointed with "Family Guide" as compared with "Top Trails". As I am using these books to plan a family vacation, I am especially interested in finding child-friendly hikes. The "Top Trails" book provides a good summary of the hikes (mileage, difficulty, terrain, and activities) at the beginning of the book, an overview missing from "Family Guide".

We just got back from our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This and Frommer's Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons were the books we took with us.

We found this book to be right on target with each of the hikes we took. We appricated the overviews and descriptions of each of the hikes.

Traveling with small children can be a challenge, but this book did a good job at helping us choose which hikes would be enjoyed by all of us. I like how they had a chart of which hikes are good for animal sightings, which for historical value and which for exceptional beauty.

I was a bit disappointed that it didn't cover more aspects of each of the parks and things to do. Though it mentioned such things as horseback riding or rafting, it didn't offer any insight into what would be seen on a rafting trip or riding in the grand canyon of Yellowstone vs. in Roosevelt Lodge (for example). It stuck basically to the hiking trails, which was fine, but the title of the book would be more accurately called, "Hiking With The Family in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons".

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good over-all hiking reference for the parks (you certainly don't need kids to appriciate it). It was easy to read, easily formated and easy to throw in a backpack.

I was using an "Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone National Park" and "Top Trails" and I found Outdoor Family Guide to be much more up to date. Several of the trail guides in "Top Trails" were outdated when I actually arrived at the park. After several days in and around the park, my family and I left "Top Trails" in the car and only used the "Outdoor Family Guide." The family guide also proved more inclusive for other outdoor activities besides just hiking. It's a great all around book!

Joan Hohl is a new author for me and I find her writing style great! I read the entire book in two sittings. Can't wait to read more of her books. The only hic-up was the development of the relationship between Sean and Heather. That is the only reason I gave it a 4 out of 5.

I picked up this book because of Nora Roberts' endorsement on the cover. But, what a disappointment. This novel had the same stereotypical romance novel beginning (Alpha male makes man-hating super feminist woman look like a temper-tantrum throwing child) that caused me to take a break from new (at least to me) romance authors for a while. It seemed to redeem itself when the character Meg was introduced and she and Sean connected. Then, out of the blue, Duncan's 15 year old, inexperienced, immature sister appears and Sean's madly in love with her. What? I had to go back to make sure I didn't miss something. I can't understand why the author decided to dump the only strong woman in the book to replace her with a 15 year old child.

The fact that Meg was a prostitute and had such a tough childhood peaked my interest because I wanted to see how the author was going to work through Meg and Sean's relationship. Their storyline was more interesting to me than the main characters'.

I'm afraid that Nora Roberts' and Diana Galbadon's unconventional romances have spoiled me for most romances -- so my search for new authors to add to my short list continues.

This is the first historical that I read by Joan Hohl and I really enjoyed it. Usually I read her contemporaries, which I love. This was a pageturner that I read in one sitting.

This is my first Joan Hohl novel and it will not be my last. I'm always looking for new authors and this one seem pretty good. The story certainly filled my "entertainment" requirement. I really enjoy romance westerns such as the ones Johanna Lindsey writes, so I was happy to discover this one. Both authors also write modern romances and so far I like them all. I would recommend this one by Joan Hohl to anyone.

Wyoming Wildflower has a wonderful blend of all the things that make a romance novel what it is: vivid imagery, historic detail, and of course, steamy scenes. The relationship between Sonnie and Lance keeps the reader's heart racing. Be sure to keep an eye out for Ms. Crooks!

I was pleasantly surpised with this book. I was skeptical about reading this book, but it turned out to be a pretty good book. It held my interest from page one till the very end. I am glad that I took a chance and did not miss reading this book.

When Sonny Mancuso was summoned to her ailing father's side, she jumped at the chance to leave Boston. The youngest and most exasperating of six girls, Sonny had been sent to her aunt in the hopes she would receive polish her father had not been able to provide. But all Sonny ever wanted was to be needed by her father. Now was her chance to prove she could be as good as, if not better, than the son her father never had. The Rocking M would not only survive the current threat it faced, but under her care it would thrive.

When he was fifteen, Sonny's father had rescued Lance Harmon from the slums of New York. Lance fell in love with the land and learned enough to become Vince's top man. But the land was not the only thing Lance fell in love with. Sonny brought light into his life from the very beginning, and the fire burned stronger after her return from the East.

Sonny sees Lance as a threat to her position at the ranch, fearing her father sees Lance as the son he'd craved. Nevertheless, her attraction to the handsome foreman is strong. Lance resolves to hide his feelings for Sonny, not wanting to bring pain to her, as all men had to his mother. He will not ever do that to a woman.

Ms. Crooks gives readers a nice read in her debut novel. While the theme of the story is familiar, she infuses it with an original style full of western flavor and vivid characters. A talent to be watched!

Pam Crooks is a bright new star making her debut into the world of romance with this endearing story of two hearts searching for love.

Sonnie Mancuso returns to her father's Wyoming ranch after learning her father has fallen ill. After years of attending school in Boston and studying animal husbandry, Sunnie is prepared to take over the ranch, but she is unprepared to find that someone else has already fulfilled that position: Lance Harmon, a ranch hand that had grown up on the Rocking M.

Lance had always watched and dreamed of the beautiful Sonnie Mancuso from afar. Sensing her need for her father's love, Lance could identify with wanting a love that always seemed elusive. Orphaned at a young age, Lance was brought to Wyoming by Sonnie's father, Vince Mancuso and given a job on the ranch. He grew up learning everything about the Rocking M and harboring a secret love for the youngest Mancuso daughter.

Now Sonnie is back just when there is trouble at the ranch. Danger and threats are coming from every direction. Slowly, Sonnie realizes that Lance is the one she can trust and depend on. After a soulful kiss, a yearning of her own spreads like wildfire. Together Sonnie and Lance would face the danger and fight for their beloved ranch.

Pam Crooks has captured the essence of the western romance with true to life situations and laces the love story with just enough spice and building passion. Pam Crooks will surely have her place among the historical romance writers.

Naturalist and award-winning author Jean Craighead George offers children a smoothly written account of the wildlife, both big and small, which inhabits the alpine tundra of Wyoming. The talents that won her the Newbery Medal for JULIE OF THE WOLVES and have helped her write nearly one hundred other marvelous environmental stories for young readers swing into action. On a mountaintop in the Teton Mountains, a great rock stands regally above the almost treeless landscape, and it is about to fall. A wide variety of rodents, birds, and mammals go about their daily business, unaware of the avalanche that will soon take place. Water pipits hop like sparrows across the ground; a sleepy marmot begins his time of hibernation; a golden eagle scans his kingdom, searching for prey. And a stranger to the area, a boy named Johnny, wakes up in his tent. This quiet story, which turns exciting when the rock tips, is a fascinating look into a unique environment. The human character in the story never manages to take over, as sometimes happens in some of Ms. George's other books. The accurate, interesting writing is reminiscent of Ms. George's earlier series about specific ecosystems, like the Thirteen Moons series, about the seasonal changes that take place with thirteen animals in thirteen environments. These books are now out-of-print, but one gets the same sense of fascination and new understanding of the animal world through the One Day series (you can find my review of the Thirteen Moons series by searching for the book THE MOON OF THE OWLS). The other books in the ONE DAY series are: ONE DAY IN THE. . .PRAIRIE, DESERT, TROPICAL RAIN FOREST, and WOODS. Jean Craighead George's dramatic words are also strengthened by Walter Gaffney-Kessell's expressive illustrations. Come to a whole new land with this fine, short but thourough investigation into one of nature's greatest landscapes.

As a reader, I have an excellent attention span. I can sit down and devour a book, be it a child or adult title, for hours at a time. I am not deficient in my ability to concentrate. I've even read all of Victor Hugo's, "Les Miserables" from cover to cover. So why, I ask you, did I have so much difficulty reading Jean Craighead George's, "One Day In the Alpine Tundra"? I did, you know. I'd sit down to read a passage from the book and find my eyes glazing over and my mind pondering such mundane subjects as, "I like bread. I wonder where I can get some good sourdough?". Then I'd shake myself thoroughly, sit back down to reread the same passage, and once again glaze over. Once you get about halfway through this book, it's an easier read. Until that point, however, you'd better be giving this book to a kid who is fascinated to the depths of their soul by alpine tundra info. Because if a 27-year-old children's librarian can't read five pages without yawning continually, I don't look favorably on your offspring's chances.

The book opens with information about a large boulder that sits 10,000 feet up on the Rendezvous Mountain in the Tetons. It's just about ready to plummet to the ground and in its path is a boy's tent. The boy is asleep, though he slowly begins to wake as the sun comes out. Various mountain animals also pull themselves together and go about their daily routines. A marmot (mountain woodchuck) offers warning cries whenever predators are about. A family of pikas (rabbits without the long ears) gather and dry food for the coming winter. Birds fly and hunt, mammals eat in preparation for hibernation, and elk call to their mates. The boy leaves the destructive area and begins to climb higher when a violent storm hits. He finds safety but the boulder at last works its way free and an avalanche of rocks and boulders destroys everything in its path. We can safely assume by the end that the weasel and marmot that we met earlier in the tale have been killed, but the pika is still there. Finally, a bit of lichen drops onto a gash created by the falling rocks. "The healing began".

You'd think that any book that begins with a boulder just waiting to land on a boy's head would be a thrilling read. You would be wrong. Once George begins talking about the daily interactions between various alpine tundra animals, the story picks up the pace. Until then, however, you have to deal with sentences like, "In Souther California's Sierra Nevada it starts at 10,500 feet. In the Teton Mountains of Wyoming it appears at approximate 9,500 feet, and in the Cascades and Olympic Mountains at 6,500 feet. The alpine tundra on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire is low, between 4,200 and 5,00 feet...", and so it goes. This kind of talk goes on for long periods of time, gently lulling the reader to sleep. My advice to kids that are assigned this book in class is to skip all the stuff that isn't about animals. The wildlife portions are quite lively, and with good reason. Jean Craighead George is kind of the patron saint of the realistic children's animal novel. From "My Side of the Mountain" to "Julie of the Wolves", she knows her stuff, and it shows. Unfortunately, she has a difficult time balancing factual information about her setting with interesting information about its inhabitants. By the time you finally get to the cataclysmic storm, half your fourth-grade readers have given up on the book.

A good edit could've saved this title. Because of the nature of its subject, this book doesn't age. Its pen and ink illustrations (provided by artist Walter Gafffney-Kessell) are wonderfully realistic additions. Unfortunately, no such edit exists and the dull 14 or so pages at the start will turn-off potential kid readers. This can be a great read if you slog through its initial tediousness. Otherwise, its just so much dead wood.

This nonfiction book is presented very well to its readers because the author, Jean George, spent many hours observing the animals and plants in the tundra. As a naturalist and an animal lover, George gives an excellent idea of how life would be in the Alpines. Because of the short chapters, it's easy for the younger readers to follow along with. Also, unfamiliar words are defined within the reading as well. The book describes the effects on wildlife, trees, and plants due to the climate and geological disasters, which occur in the tundra. This makes for a very informative book, which is also filled with excellent reference aids. These include the complete Bibliography of books about animals that were used to create this particular book. This helps establish credibility for the author. Also, a very helpful index is available at the end of the work as well.

The book also contains excellent illustrations. The pictures convey a vivid image of the lifestyle of the seven specific mammals that are fit to inhabit this area of land. The pictures clarify themselves without any needed captions to explain them. The cover of the book is very enticing to children because of the animals and the mountaintop landscape that are displayed on the front. It is a very attractive book that is sure to be enjoyed by its readers, both young and old.

When using this in the classroom, encourage the students to draw their own pictures to help explain what life would be like on the tundra. They can include plants and animals to show the interrelationship of each one upon the other after reading the book.

This was a pretty interesting book. Timmy's family doesn't have a lot of money, and after a bad winter they lost quite a few animals. They cannot afford to keep their ranch. Timmy does all she can do to save her ranch, but she doesn't know how much she can do without much money. None of her family wants to leave the ranch, but pretty soon there isn't going to be a choice.

I am an elementary school librarian in Colorado and this is a terrific book for anyone who loves the outdoors and the west. The passages at the beginning of each chapter are wonderful descriptions of the changing wildlife and environment. The story is compelling and the characters are real and likeable. I don't usually post reviews like this...but I really like this book and encourage others to read it!

This was a pretty interesting book. Timmy's family doesn't have a lot of money, and after a bad winter they lost quite a few animals. They cannot afford to keep their ranch. Timmy does all she can do to save her ranch, but she doesn't know how much she can do without much money. None of her family wants to leave the ranch, but pretty soon there isn't going to be a choice.