Book Review: Miya's Mountain

Fifteen-year-old Miya Skippingbird knows that she's let the family down. Her impulsiveness and lack of attention to detail has frustrated her father so much that he no longer trusts her to do what she's promised. She convinces him to give her one last chance, and he agrees to let her lead a cocky city slicker and his son on a trail ride and fishing expedition into the mountains. If she's successful, she'll prove that she can be trusted, and she's help relieve the burden on her financially strapped parents. 

But once the party is in the mountains, a massive rockslide traps them and one of the party becomes seriously ill. Miya is the only one who can cross the treacherous summit and go for help, but she must overcome her all-consuming anxiety and her paralyzing fear of heights to do so, and even her best friend, Jake Runningdeer can't help her. 

When things are at their worst, she does get help -- from a grizzly bear! No, this isn't fantasy. What happens is very believable, but you'll have to read it to understand. 

 This middle grade adventure novel is perfectly paced and kept me turning pages long after I was supposed to set the book aside. I really felt for the characters and wanted to know how things would turn out.

 

About the author 

 Cathy Ringler is a storyteller, cowgirl, and retired teacher. She lives at the foot of the beautiful Beartooth Mountains and rides in them as often as her busy schedule will allow. Her experience in the saddle and around horses really shines through in Miya's Mountain. Her details about saddling and watching the body language of horses will ring true to anyone who's been around horses.

There are discussion questions in the back of the book which make this a perfect read aloud for 4th-7th grade classes, and would make a great choice for book clubs in elementary and middle schools.

If you'd like Jennifer Bohnhoff's gently used copy of Miya's Mountain, leave a comment below. I'll pick on commenter to mail the book to.