Death Mountain

by Sherry Shahan

Book Overview

An afternoon hike in the Sierra Mountains turns into a struggle for survival when two teenage girls become hopelessly lost in an electrical storm and must rely on their own wits and strength to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561453536
• ISBN13: 9781561453535
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

A book both young adults and adults can enjoy and learn from

At least, I sure did. And that was before I even saw the words "Young Adult Fiction" on the back cover, which didn't happen until I was three-quarters of the way though the book. Anyone who enjoys hiking can learn something from this story. Death Mountain isn't a how-to, but we can all benefit from the young heroine's trials, tribulations and triumphs. Her actions touch upon what to do and not do when lost in the backcountry and when caught in a thunderstorm while outdoors. The story illustrates the importance of carrying a map as well as knowing how to read it even if one is following a well-marked trail, how to build an emergency shelter, start a fire and how to cross swiftly moving water with a strong current. Death Mountain is a excellent basis for discussion between parents or teachers and kids about backcountry safety.

DEATH MOUNTAIN

My cousin mailed me a copy of "Death Mountain" because one of the chapters shows the main characters struggling to cross a raging river. She even dog-eared the page where one kid nearly drowns. The book was one of many peace-offerings over the years; I nearly drowned in a resevoir as a kid while in her care. Flipping through the pages I saw the Author's Note; the novel is based on something that really happened. Interesting. So instead of just reading the river scene (pg. 90) I actually started at the beginning. No spoilers here; you gotta read the whole thing yourself.

Fabulous book - My daughter loved it!

My daughter and I went on a camping trip together this summer and I thought it'd be fun if we read a book aloud to each other. A friend recommended this book and I am so glad we took it along in the backpack! I liked the characters - they aren't perfect which makes them relatable. I cared about what happened to them. My daughter loved the main character and rolled her eyes whenever I said, "See?" to the character not listening to the adults in her life. It was full of suspense which made it hard to put it down each night. This book gave my daughter and I something to talk about over the campfire - thank you to my friend for recommending it to us!

Strong girls adventure

Bought this book for my daughter who is an avid backpacker and a teacher. Read it first and believe that she and her class may enjoy the adventure of the 2 girls in the story.

Death Mounatin

One of the most importants things about Death Mounatin was my connection to the main character, Erin. From the first paragraph I was engaged with her. I liked her seriousness and spunk. By the end of the first page Erin was stranded with only her grandmother's words of wisdom playing in her head. Great start! But soon I learned Erin had an even bigger problem. Her mother had left the family and Erin didn't know why. At one time I thought maybe the mother was ill and didn't want to burden her family. Then I wondered if the father had somehow driven her away. The author let me come to understanding when Erin did and I liked that. The secondary characters of Mae and Levi brought another depth to the story. Especially Mae, with her "city girl" silliness. Seeing May grow because of Erin's strengths was rewarding. And when Erin's will sagged, Mae was strong enough for them both. It was a wonderfully woven subplot. Erin joins Mae and Levi for a Mt. Whitney hike. They get caught in a freak electrical storm. Mae panics and runs, and Erin tries to chases her down before she comes to harm. The girls end up lost but together. Now it's them against the mountain. I loved all the mountain education/information the author wrote into the story. It never felt forced. The realism of the storm scenes, the lightning strikes, the total chaos and scramble to stay alive in the midst of danger and death drew me in completely. The action and suspense kept the tension level high and each chapter ended in a way that pulled me on. Yet, the author let me "rest" when needed. The pacing was great. I really enjoyed Erin's grandmother. She mainly came in the backstory and in Erin's knowledge of the wilds, but she gave a strength to the story. She was a comforting character, strong and steady. Her balance helped keep Erin levelheaded in her life and death struggle for survival on Mt. Whitney. I especially appreciated the parallels between surviving in the wilderness and surviving life. The ending of the book was perfect. The author gave me enough resolution to made me smile. Yes, Erin still has some tough things to face, but she is going to be fine! I loved the symbolism--the tree healing over the carvings. The author did that well throughout the book. This is definetly a book worth reading. A book worthy of being made into a movie!