Storm Mountain
Gr 4-6–Left on her own for a weekend, Cat, a precocious 13-year-old, finds herself drawn into a life-threatening adventure by her hyperactive cousin, Ty. Their eminent mountain-climbing fathers died during an expedition; now, Ty insists on scattering their ashes on the same mountain. Despite her protests, Ty begins his journey and Cat reluctantly takes the same harrowing steps to save not only him, but her beloved dog. These intrepid climbers face an avalanche, broken limbs, and snowstorms. Every incident comes to a neat conclusion, thus limiting tension that could prolong suspense. Vocabulary is mundane, dialogue is colloquial and fast-paced, and the story moves rapidly from scene to scene. The characters are never fully developed so they sound whiny and act foolishly rather than scared and emotionally conflicted. Mountain-climbing references abound, including how-to descriptions, serious climbing magazines, and survival details, making the book interesting on a technical level.–Tina Hudak, St. Albans School, Washington, DC. (c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.