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46th out of 124 books
—
125 voters
The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic
by
Jennifer Trafton (Goodreads Author),
Brett Helquist , Barnabas Quill
Ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge leads (much to her chagrin) a very dull life on the Island at the Center of Everything . . . until the night she overhears a life-changing secret. It seems that Mount Majestic, the rising and falling mountain in the center of the island, is not a mountain at all-it's the belly of a sleeping giant, moving as the giant breathes. Now Persimmony...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published
December 2nd 2010
by Dial
(first published October 25th 2010)
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Persimmony Smudge can't help but march to a different saxophone.. er... accordion... Well, you get the idea. To the rote and unimaginative, she's an odd little girl with the vexing inclinations of an explorer or even (gasp) an artist. Yet her unwillingness to conform to the mundane ultimately leads her on a grand journey of redemption.
Trafton's writing voice is vibrant. She brings the levity and wit of Lemony Snicket into a story less dolorous but equally rousing. Her craftsmanship is creative a...more
Trafton's writing voice is vibrant. She brings the levity and wit of Lemony Snicket into a story less dolorous but equally rousing. Her craftsmanship is creative a...more
Persimmony Smudge lives on the peaceful Island at the Center of Everything. When she gets lost in the woods, she starts a series of events that will change her life and the life of those on the island.
Persimmony longs for adventure, and with her very active imagination it's hard for her family to understand. Her mother morally objects from everything from using soap to reading books. Her sister, Prunella, is not much different. Persimmony takes after her long missing father, who may have gone of...more
Persimmony longs for adventure, and with her very active imagination it's hard for her family to understand. Her mother morally objects from everything from using soap to reading books. Her sister, Prunella, is not much different. Persimmony takes after her long missing father, who may have gone of...more
This was just what I was lookig for - lighthearted, cute and whimsical. It reminded me alot of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and not just because it featured the same illustrator, but the tone and Voice was very similar. Perhaps a little too similar. In a way, I almost felt like the author was trying a little too hard to write like Lemony Snickett. But it is something I can look past because it was a fun story and I enjoyed reading it (and I happen to be a fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events...more
I'm always on the lookout for a fun, lighthearted book. I knew I wanted to read The Rise and Fall of Mt. Majestic when I first heard about it on Andrew Peterson's Rabbit Room website. The recommendations at The Rabbit Room have always panned out for me and resulted in some very enjoyable reads and new favorite authors. To my surprise I won a copy on a Good Reads' contest that Jennifer Trafton (the author) was holding. The book arrived a few days later and I dug right in.
I'll start by saying that...more
I'll start by saying that...more
Persimmony Smudge, a plucky young girl, head-strong though she is, leads her friends, Worvil the worrier, and Guafnoggle, the Rumblebump on an adventure to warn the inhabitants of Mount Majestic (especially clueless King Lucas, the Lofty) that their mountain isn't really a mountain at all, but a giant sleeping peacefully, who must not, under any circumstances, be woken. Waking the giant would surely mean the end of their peaceful little island and all that they know and love. Persimmony, upon he...more
Persimmony Smudge has learned an earth-shaking secret--literally. Their peaceful little island has a sleeping giant underneath it. A giant who must not be woken up--because what will happen if he tries to sit up or something? Unfortunately, hardly anyone is willing to believe her--just an annoying girl--and various excavations and other giant-waking projects are moving forward. With the help of Worvil the Worrier, a wise potter, and perhaps some very good luck, she sets out to prove the truth......more
It is not very unusual to become lost in the woods on a stormy night, but for a young girl named Persimmony Smudge, it is these very circumstances that lift her out of an ordinary life and set her on a path to adventure. Life on the Island at the Center of Everything is as predictable as the daily rise and fall of the prominent Mount Majestic, so the revelation that there may be a sleeping giant underneath the island - a giant whose awakening would mean certain destruction - calls for Persimmony...more
When Persimmony Smudge breaks the Giving Pot accidentally in a fit of anger at her sister, she leaves the house to find Theodore the potter and get a new one. But on her way she gets lost, nearly eaten by a poison-tongued jumping tortoise, and begins the adventure of her life. This is an intelligent, sweet little fantasy but it doesn't really stand out from other recent books. The art by Brett Helquist is also nothing novel, since his style is so recognizable. Fun but forgettable. 4th grade and...more
4.5 stars
I didn't know a thing about The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic when I started reading it, so I was a bit surprised at what the story ends up being about(in a good way). Persimmony Smudge has broken her family's Giving Pot(a pot that provides what you NEED, not want), so she heads to the woods to get another one. Little did she know that this would be the start of quite an adventure in trying to save her entire island! I'm also a bit surprised that Persimmony wasn't my favorite characte...more
I didn't know a thing about The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic when I started reading it, so I was a bit surprised at what the story ends up being about(in a good way). Persimmony Smudge has broken her family's Giving Pot(a pot that provides what you NEED, not want), so she heads to the woods to get another one. Little did she know that this would be the start of quite an adventure in trying to save her entire island! I'm also a bit surprised that Persimmony wasn't my favorite characte...more
Very solid kid-lit and also entirely wacked. If I didn't know better, I would assume that Trafton was imbibing something hallucinatory. It's got a bit of that Alice in Wonderland quality to it where everything is just slightly . . . off. But unlike Alice in Wonderland there's actually a plot.
The plot goes something like this: There's this island that's called "The Island at the Center of Everything," and an obnoxious boy king who, because he lives at the center of the Island of the Center of Eve...more
The plot goes something like this: There's this island that's called "The Island at the Center of Everything," and an obnoxious boy king who, because he lives at the center of the Island of the Center of Eve...more
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
Heroic adventures can start in so many different ways. They can start with prophesies and magical destinies, or they can start with something as simple as the wind blowing away your hat while you trek through the forest. This is how the adventures of Persimmony Smudge begin in The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton. They begin with such a simple act of losing her hat, but they continue on, leading her into a face-off with a poison-tongued jumping to...more
Heroic adventures can start in so many different ways. They can start with prophesies and magical destinies, or they can start with something as simple as the wind blowing away your hat while you trek through the forest. This is how the adventures of Persimmony Smudge begin in The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton. They begin with such a simple act of losing her hat, but they continue on, leading her into a face-off with a poison-tongued jumping to...more
Apr 23, 2012
Michael Jones
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
ok-for-the-young
this book is fiction, but it's not a fairytale! What I mean by that is that the main character, Persimmony, goes through many difficulties and doesn't end up in a perfect world either. This book was very inspiring for my 4, 7 and 11-year-olds as we read it together.
It was great for them to imagine a giant under the mountain and the pencil sketches are wonderful! My four-year-old wanted to keep going back and look at the drawings and they added immensely to his understanding of the story!
Refreshi...more
It was great for them to imagine a giant under the mountain and the pencil sketches are wonderful! My four-year-old wanted to keep going back and look at the drawings and they added immensely to his understanding of the story!
Refreshi...more
Wow. This was one refreshing book. The new concept was nothing I've ever read before but it still had a Gulliver's Travels feel to it. The writing over all was great, it kept me hooked.
What I most liked about this book was the character development. The main characters particularly Persimmony, Lucas, and Worvil really grew into even more special people at the end. I love how Persimmony matured more, how Lucas became a better ruler, and how Worvil started believing in himself and found his coura...more
What I most liked about this book was the character development. The main characters particularly Persimmony, Lucas, and Worvil really grew into even more special people at the end. I love how Persimmony matured more, how Lucas became a better ruler, and how Worvil started believing in himself and found his coura...more
I'm seriously going to name a kid Persimmony... Such a pleasant change of pace from the sour and gloomy fantasy books that seem so available these days. I like a good dystopia too, but it's harder to find something this light and comical that still carries worth about human nature and difficult choices. The book is a physical delight as well - kudos to publishers who make a book worth having on the shelf for years.
charming story of a young girl who dreams of being a hero. the story is about Persimmony Smudge and a giant who is asleep in the center of the island (which everyone believes is the center of EVERYTHING) on which she lives. Only no one knows that he's there, and that it is the rising and falling of his single breath each day that causes Mount Majestic to rise and fall as it is actually the giants stomach.
The notion of island growing upon a sleeping giant is pretty compelling. Children will relate to the young heroine's curse of never being included or taken seriously. Rather jumpy narrative - needed a bit more editing. Brett Helquist illustrations are always a welcome sight. On the whole satisfying, but not awesome. Recommend to Snicket fans, and gentle fantasy readers - 4th-6th grade.
All Persimmony Smudge wants is an adventure, but she gets stranded in the woods near her house one night, she takes on more than she was expecting. It turns out that underneath the island she calls home, is a sleeping giant, and it is up to Persimmony to convince the islands to keep the giant asleep.
Lots of great characters, and tongue twisting dialog, make for an enjoyable read.
Lots of great characters, and tongue twisting dialog, make for an enjoyable read.
I adored this tale. While written for children, this is a book for all ages.
Join Persimmony Smudge and a whole cast of characters as they discover that the world is a bigger place than they ever imagined.
Superbly written and fantastically imaginative "The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic" beautifully illustrates the truth that "Life is a mess and life is a miracle."
Join Persimmony Smudge and a whole cast of characters as they discover that the world is a bigger place than they ever imagined.
Superbly written and fantastically imaginative "The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic" beautifully illustrates the truth that "Life is a mess and life is a miracle."
Wow. A very fun read. The story is imaginative and quirky. It has suspense and plenty of action, but nothing intense for young children and nothing gory. We did this as a family read-aloud and everybody loved it. The kids were begging me to read and asking me to read more. There were several times that we all laughed out loud. I recommend it for your family. You will enjoy it.
In The Rise And Fall Of Mount Majestic by Jennifer Trafton 10 year old Persimmony Smudge dreams of adventures and a life bigger than her daily drudgery of sweeping the house. Lucky for her she just so happens to over hear a secret that will lead to her having adventures! The safe and wonderful Island At The Center Of Everything is not so safe and wonderful. In fact, Mount Majestic, where boy king Lucas The Lofty lives in his castle is right on top of a sleeping giant! Oh noes!! It’s on Persimmon...more
A great mix of adventure and hilarity. The residents of the island are all unique/strange/bizarre/interesting, and the situation they find themselves in is dangerous but also unbelievable (in a rather believable way!) I definitely enjoyed this story and look forward to future novels by Ms. Trafton.
The fantasy world portrayed here was surprisingly original and unlike anything else I'd ever seen or read about before, no small feat in children's or fantasy literature in general. I had no idea where things were going and no predictions in mind, which made this an awesome, quick read that any imaginative kid would love.
Feb 07, 2013
Rosaleen Leclair
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Prentice and Alexandra
Shelves:
ariana-khodadad
The rise and fall of mount majestic was an amazing book filled with the willow woods, rumblebumps, leaf eaters, sunspitters, poisoned tongued jumping tortoises, but most of all it is filled with the most amazing adventures.
This book is a delightful, whimsical, and compelling read. It's a story of courage and imagination and being true to yourself. Naomi, James and I all really enjoyed it.
With magical creatures and a plucky heroine, this is a delightful fantasy about an island and its people, and what happens when they learn their mount is really a sleeping giant.
Feels like a fairytale, but wholly original. And Brett Helquist's illustrations are glorious--fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events are already well aware of his talents.
The story rides on a tidal wave of whimsy. At times, the narration is too cute by far, but the story is so brisk and delightful that it's hard to resist.
1 like · like · see review
This was a great fantasy quest tale reminiscent of oz and wonderland with just a hint of snickerlike wordplay. Ending might be a touch preachy but just a sweet story.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The author really created a magical world for the reader to step into, which is always a good thing, especially for a kids fiction novel.The heroine, ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge, is a character that I think children will really be able to relate to. The illustrations were great, they really brought the story to life. I also thought the glossary at the end of the book was a cute idea. I enjoyed it!
The author really created a magical world for the reader to step into, which is always a good thing, especially for a kids fiction novel.The heroine, ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge, is a character that I think children will really be able to relate to. The illustrations were great, they really brought the story to life. I also thought the glossary at the end of the book was a cute idea. I enjoyed it!
Loved the language, lots of lovely words like discombobulating, quirky characters, a heroine called Persimmony. A fun read.
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I am a writer, editor, art lover, daughter of teachers, sister of musicians & actors, adoring dog owner, and incurable chocolate addict. My first novel for children, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic, will be published in December 2010.
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Apr 24, 2012 06:01am