Alligator Crossing

By Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Book Overview

Thirteen-year-old Henry Bunks escapes neighborhood bullies and a grim, overcrowded apartment building by spending hours exploring the canal near his Miami home. A split-second decision to stow away aboard the boat of an outlaw alligator hunter begins Henry's journey away from the city and into the Everglades, a trip that will open up the wonders of the vast wilderness, the boundaries of his own spirit, and the adventure of a lifetime.

Making his way among the egrets, alligators, saw grasses, and towering mangroves of the Everglades, Henry finds friends (including a nature photographer and a park ranger) who share his passion for the river of grass. But when his travels turn dangerous, Henry begins to realize just how far from home he is. He must summon courage and determination to save the watery wilderness he loves.

First published in 1959, Alligator Crossing is a charming tale from the "savior of the Everglades," Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571316442
• ISBN13: 9781571316448
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A world of beauty and danger

Originally published in 1959, Alligator Crossing by Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998) is an engaging novel about Henry Bunks, a thirteen-year-old boy who stows away in the boat of an outlaw alligator hunter in Florida. Henry's journey through the Everglades will take him into a world of beauty and danger, where he must rely on his own courage and resourcefulness to protect himself and the land alike. Also available in a paperback edition ... is highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to school and community library collections.