The Farthest-Away Mountain

by Lynne Reid Banks, Victor G. Ambrus (Illustrator), Ambers Ambrus (Illustrator)

Once upon a time, in a village nestled in a mountain valley, lived a girl named Dakin. Dakin wants three things more than anything else: to visit the farthest-away mountain, to meet a gargoyle, and to marry a prince. Everyone in her village thinks she's crazy, especially since no one has ever been to the farthest-away mountain. But one day, when she is nearly 15, she hears the mountain calling her. Dakin sets off on a tantalizing journey that will change her life, and the lives of others, forever.


From the Hardcover Library Binding edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fairy Tales, Adventure

160 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Lynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and been made into a film.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after the war was over. She attended St Teresa's School in Surrey. Prior to becoming a writer Banks was an actress, and also worked as a television journalist in Britain, one of the first women to do so. Her first novel, The L-Shaped Room, was published in 1960.
In 1962 Banks emigrated to Israel, where she taught for eight years on an Israeli kibbutz Yasur. In 1965 she married Chaim Stephenson, with whom she had three sons. Although the family returned to England in 1971 and Banks now lives in Dorset, the influence of her time in Israel can be seen in some of her books which are set partially or mainly on kibbutzim.

Reviews

[Eilonwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dakin and her family live in a tiny village on the far side of the woods from the Farthest-Away Mountain, a peak that changes color regularly and which no one can reach, no matter how hard they try. But one day, the mountain nods at her, and she knows she has to go to it, no matter how impossible the journey may be.

I first read this book when I was around the same age as Dakin (mid teens), and I loved it with all my heart. I then half wanted to reread it sometime, and half feared that no way could it possibly live up to all that love ever again, now that I have an old, cold, cynical adult heart.

I finally decided to reread it anyway. And thank goodness, I really enjoyed it this time, as well.

This is so different from modern YA books, both in the writing style and in its potential age range, as this could absolutely be read and enjoyed by both young kids and teens. On the one hand, it's mature-ish, as Dakin is of an age to be considering marriage and giving up kid stuff. On the other hand, it's an age-group-less, pragmatic, sunny story about a young girl who gets where she wants to go via a combination of her own problem-solving skills and some help from her friends, since she has the sense to treat everyone she meets on her journey with respect and kindness, which they then reciprocate. It doesn't quite fit into a modern literary category.

I loved the sheer creativity of this story. It's got unusual characters and surprising solutions to the obstacles Dakin confronts as she tackles her quest with determination, cleverness, and resilience despite some setbacks.

There are also great illustrations, which capture both the charm of the story and the menace Dakin faces (some of those obstacles are a bit scary).

I might give this book four stars, because I'm just a sourpuss these years. But Teen Eilonwy would have given this five stars, and she's who this book was written for. So her rating stands.

[Krysta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Everything a child's fairytale should be. While I enjoy many current junior fiction titles, they just can't capture the vintage charm that stories such as this contain. "The Farthest-away Mountain" is going right up there with "The Ordinary Princess" as a book that will, without question, be read to my daughter. The heroine is brave and kind and good, but not immune from making mistakes or struggling in the midst of trials. I found the moral to be wonderful and the story balanced with enough simplicity that a child could grasp it, but enough interest to keep it from being just another "carbon-copy fairytale" to be dismissed. The prose is enjoyable, easily understood but not dumbed-down. For adults, this is a very light read, but a perfect break from heavy, dull "grown-up" fare. ;)

[Ysabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has sentimental value for me. This was the first book I read when I was a young girl, roughly around the age of 7. It made me feel magical, and truly was my escape at the time, which is probably why I love it so much. I remember while reading this, imagining that I was Darkin on this wild adventure to get to the farthest-away mountain. This really is the ultimate fairy-tale! And as a young girl, this book was so incredibly magical to me, I must of read it about a thousand times. Definitely would recommend this to the younger crowd. It's a great way to open up to reading. If it wasn't for this book, I don't think I'd be reading right now.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Forests always gave Dakin a shivery feeling, half unease and half excitement.”

The Farthest-Away Mountain was a delightful read. From purple, orange and blue coloured snow to dinosaurs, this book delivered some unique traits and twists - despite following the rather typical fantasy setting of our protagonist, Dakin, setting out on a quest (oh, I do love those adventure/quest fantasy stories, though!). Dakin was a lovely character - even though she dreamed of marrying a prince, she was courageous and went out to meet the dangers she knew were waiting for her in order to help those she cared about. She is smart and kind-hearted and able to fight back.

It is a children’s book and as such may not be as deep as others but it was good the way it was. Although I would not have minded if it would have been longer, the plot had something magical about it. All the while I kept thinking to myself that this would make a wonderful Ghibli adaptation; the quirky creatures would have worked so well! Plus, I would never have thought gargoyles could be so cute! If you enjoy fantasy and fairy tales and can accept a children’s book for what it is without nitpicking at all that should have been explained with more depth, you might find Dakin’s adventure just as magical as I did and enjoy a simple but delightful read.

[Owen]

An old-school story about a plucky heroine who saves the day. I was worried it would feel dated in bad ways, but it mostly sidesteps antiquated gender roles and the like. The shape of the story is old-fashioned, but it's old-fashioned like a warm quilt from your grandparents and not, like, political ideas from your grandparents. I will probably read this to my daughter someday soon and I'll enjoy that.

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and quick simple fantasy.

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Linds had this on her shelf and suggested I give it a try - being short and having time during our hang out I figured sure!

This is very much like the Gail Carson Levine fairy tale books - though this predates them by 20 years of course. A young girl with a very set dream, the will to make it happen and fearlessness to see it through. This would have been one of my favorites as a child if I had read it then.

I like that for Dakin it wasn't her being stubborn or arrogant, she had QUESTIONS and NOTIONS and didn't see why she shouldn't have the answers. Ok well only wanting to marry a prince was a bit arrogant, but plenty of folk want to marry royalty and princes do seem dashing from far away and in stories.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recognized this cover immediately when I stumbled across it here, even though I haven't seen my copy of the book in probably a decade. I loved this story because it was one of the first books I read about a girl who was willing to set out on her own to explore the world she wanted to see. She's not forced to head to the mountain because of war or a mysterious quest--she wants to see it, and she goes. The world she finds there might seem overly familiar now that every fantasy archetype risks being labeled cliche, but at the time I read it I couldn't imagine a more compelling world to find waiting outside the window.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just picked this up for a quick re-read. This was a book from elementary school that I read once and loved so much, the name stuck in my head and I was able to look it up years later. I loved fantasy as a child, and I think this book may be one of the reasons why.

Re-reading it, I can see why I loved it. Dakin is independent and adventurous, and the story has really vivid imagery. And I really like that the ending didn't have her marrying a prince, and instead finding her true happiness.

Definitely a keeper to read to my future hypothetical children.

[Aaron Dettmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just fyi, I'm reading this for the first time at 26 years old. I'm reading it because a friend said it was her favorite book growing up.

My first reaction was happiness because I saw this book was written by the same author as The Indian in the Cupboard, which I remember I liked as a child. But then after I read 20 pages, I became scared to go back and re-read my favorite childhood books like The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, The Great Brain, and The Castle in the Attic in case I realize they're actually terrible. So yeah, I did not enjoy this book very much, especially the beginning. Midway through it got a little bit better.

Here's a partial list of the particulars I didn't like:

p.9: The little brass troll figure came to life. I mean, really!? I'm not sure if it was because my mind was on the Indian in the Cupboard book that she also wrote, but it was so obvious that troll was going to come to life.

p. 12: She gets lost within 3 minutes of her journey into the woods!? Too bad nobody taught her which side of the tree moss grows on so she wouldn't get lost.

p. 16: Really!? The Troll's advice on how not to get lost is to walk along the pine needles, never across them!? Why not at least give real advice, like my moss example?

p. 17: Wait a second, she knew the troll was alive for all of two minutes, and now all of a sudden he's her friend?

p. 12-16: She's super frightened, was lost and crying, yet she doesn't go back home when given a chance by the troll?

p. 23: She can accept a brass talking troll and a talking frog, but has trouble believing in the existence of a witch?

p. 26: Of course, now the frog is her friend after two minutes.

p. 34: Ha, it's only now that she realizes she's a fool and is in over her head?

p. 117: If she's now going the opposite direction in the woods towards home, shouldn't she be going across the pine needles now, not along them?

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute delight of a read! The story moves along at a brisk pace with all the charm a fairytale should have. Dakin herself is an incredibly likable protagonist; and though the story length does not leave much time to flesh out most of the supporting cast, its not really the type of story that needs that and it doesn't suffer from it in the least. The mountain is basically a character in itself, full of interesting and magical locations and different obstacles for Dakin to overcome. Even at times where Dakin is not quite prepared for the situations she finds herself in, she often finds creative ways to circumvent them; her kind heart and determination winning out even with the odds stacked against her. All in all, a light, charming fantasy!

[Kyla Bockholt · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was super hard to stop reading the characters had there own unique little personality

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book that I grew up loving. It was one of my favorites. I was so excited to read it out loud to Lucy. First, Lucy loved the book. My son even sat still for a good chunk of the book to listen and he is 3. Lucy is 6 and she loved it. She understood it mostly and I had to remind her of a couple things here and there. I didn't use all the vocab, sometimes just making it a little simpler. But she liked it.

I give the book 2 stars because reading it wasn't as enjoyable as I thought. I didn't like the story as much when I was younger and I found the writing not very fluent. I stumbled through sections once and a while. BUT.... Lucy loved it I think she would have given it 4 stars. I has magic and trolls, dragons, and a girl who is on an adventure.

I might recommend this book better for maybe a young reader to read to them selves, but also I read it and was fine. Happy when it was done to move on to the next one, but it was fine.

I rate the books on how it is for me as an adult since i am the one reading it. I am trying to find books that are great for parents and kids.

[Allison Tebo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little fantasy adventure draws on what are now often-used fantasy tropes, but there is a freshness and innocence to this story that makes them all new. From purple, orange, and blue colored snow to the darling little mountain gargoyles who help and comfort our heroine, the world building was engaging and had some elements that felt delightfully fresh.

Written in the old, melodic style that I’ll always love, this short novel drops our truly plucky heroine into one exciting hazard after another. Despite her obstacles, our heroine exhibits a determination and courage that is rarely see in more modern stories.

The ending / resolution did feel a little rushed and unsatisfactory to me and there were a few scenes that were very creepy, but that was the only thing that made me reduce a star from my rating. All in all, a sweet original fairy tale that I highly recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently I've read this before but I don't remember it. And I don't know why, as it does have enough fun details, including an authentically brave heroine, to be memorable. Perhaps because it's so very fast-paced that I just zoomed through it.

But the fast pace should make it appealing to more readers, including girls who struggle but are often overlooked when we speak of 'reluctant readers.' It should also appeal to youngsters who are more accustomed to movies than books... and in fact it would make a good movie, what with a helpful frog, sad gargoyles, aforementioned independent girl, colored snow, mountain with a soul, a non-binary master villain, peril, humor, and a happy ending.

Highly recommended.

(Just one flaw - peel for peal, twice in the same sentence, at least in the edition I read)

[Kayleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently reread this, and I have to say that it wasn't even half as good as when I first read it when I was seven or eight.
There were several misspelled words and sentences, and not enough plot development.
I know its a children's book, but that shouldn't mean anything. A book should have correct words and should tell you everything you need and want to know about the story. But sadly not all books are like that.

I remember this book being so good, but the truth is that it really isn't.

I wish I never reread it.

And what the hell kind of name is Dakin?

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the feels! My favorite middle-grade book as a kid. I just found a copy at a used bookstore and read it again, now that I live near a very big mountain myself.

Dakin doesn't want to marry someone from the village. She wants to go to the mountain, meet a gargoyle, and marry a prince. She wears boots, or just goes barefoot, and wears plaid petticoats because she doesn't feel like ironing a white one. Perfect setup and a darling ending.

[Nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book!

I remembered this book from when I was <10 years old. I loved it. My fond memories of this book led me to re-read it at 28. I still love it! This is a book for a young person who loves to read. I would recommend it to any child who is looking for a longer more challenging book. The themes are benign and the fantasy charming. There are some very mild scary parts but they come no where near disturbing. It's just precious :)

[Stephanie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books as a kid. When I was in fourth grade, my teacher read it to us with silly voices for all the characters. I think that is what really made me love the story!
But the idea of the story is really neat and fun. It is a great, original fantasy story!

[Jessamay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those foundational books for me. I read it as a child, I searched for it as an adult, and re-read it...and it's still magic. It has everything I need in a fantasy, and everything a children's book should have. I think this really influenced my taste in literature. Irrevocably.

[Stephanie Flinders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been looking for this book for years! I read it in elementary school, but forgot the title. I am one who loves mountains and so when the mountain called to the girl I felt an immediate connection to the story. I am so happy Goodreads suggested this to me!

[Bry · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books ever. I read this as a kid and still have my copy, and have reread it so many times. Even as an adult since it just takes me back!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ended up rereading this childhood favorite on a whim. It doesn't make a ton of sense and it isn't the best written, but I remembered why I loved it as a kid and it still delighted me!

[Negar · Rating 3 out of 5]

all of it reminded me of cartoons full of trolls, witches, goblins and so on, I loved those cartoons as kid.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young child, this book was in my school library, and was one of my favorites, borrowed time and time again. In 6th grade, my final year at that school, the library had a giveaway, where students could pick out books to take home, to help the library pare down surplus books. This one, to my disappointment, was not in the stacks of books to be taken. I went and found it, and took it to the librarian, who knew me well. I told her that I knew it wasn't in the pile of books to go away, but this one was my absolute favorite, and please, if it were at all possible, could I have just this one? She smiled sympathetically, but ultimately I went home that day without it. In retrospect, I should have told my parents how desperately I wanted that book - they were the ones to give me my love of reading, they absolutely would have helped me find it and get it for myself. I have no idea why I didn't.

Time moved on, and I forgot the title, the author. I had a vague memory of the cover art. I remembered the story of a young girl on a journey, a magical pool and a frog who turned into a prince. Nearly 25 years passed, and I thought of this book often, wishing I could remember the title, that I might stumble across it in a used bookstore or at a yard sale. Whenever the topic of childhood favorite books came up, I told what little I could remember, asking everyone and anyone if they happened to know the book in question. It was my dad who came up with the idea to do a Google image search for the cover, based on my hazy recollections. And there it was. I couldn't be sure, it had been so long and my memory was so hazy, but this seemed promising, so I bought a used copy online and waited for the mail.

This was the book. My treasured elementary school library favorite. Reading it again now as an adult was such a satisfying, nostalgic joy. Maybe it's me being sentimental, but the book is as beautiful and adventurous as I remember. The fairy tale vibes, the magic, the humor, the beautiful imagery of the mountain and the Lithy Pool, Old Croak's woeful story, and Dakin's kindness and courage, it all stands the test of time. I had forgotten that it was illustrated; Dave Henderson's work is so beautiful and captures the characters well. The child in me is overjoyed to have one of my favorite adventures again. The adult in me sees so much more of the nuance to this book — the elements drawn from various fairy tales, the themes, the ways it engages with and fits into the genre of that era. I found myself wondering why this was never adapted for film, and thinking about it's potential to become one, or even a video game! A beautiful story, a fun adventure, a heroine who is kind and brave and determined. If you have elementary school aged children, and you're looking for good age-appropriate fantasy, I can't recommend this one highly enough.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun children’s fantasy book this is! It is a lovely adventure with creative challenges the heroine (Dakin) must overcome to save those who are under the master’s power on the mountain.

Probably my favorite things about this story are the way it was written and Dakin’s character. She was an excellent heroine who knew her mind and never gave up. I wish I could be more like that! She seemed very real and made mistakes as well. It was very refreshing to have a strong but real protagonist.

There is one thing about this book I do not like. I read it first when I was a kid, but I think I actually liked it better as an adult. I remember getting confused about the master of the mountain (the bad guy) and I can see why. The antagonist is three different people—the witch, the evil boy who came to the mountain 200 years ago, and a disembodied entity who is all-powerful by day and not made of flesh and bones. That really is the biggest flaw of this book. The bad guy is just a little too confusing. They sometimes call them “he” and then they say “she.” Well, which is it? I think it was supposed to add to the magic and evil that this bad person could be everything, but it really just confused me and seemed a bit ambiguous.

Favorite lines include:

“Nothing else happened, but all the same, Dakin knew. It was time to start.”
-I love how she just knows and doesn’t second guess herself.

“For a moment she paused on the stairs. Then she thought, ‘No. I must do what I’ve said I’ll do.”
-The determination is wonderful! Do what you have said you will do.

“The lesson of the story was clear. It wasn’t enough to be good. One had to be wise and brave as well. The young man Ravik had been good, but not wise, and so he had brought evil to to the Magic Mountain. The people of the mountain had been good, but not brave: they had run away and left the mountain in the power of evil boy, who now, 200 years later was both the master and the witch. Whether she herself was good or not, Dakin did not stop to think. What mattered now was to be wise and brave.”
-I thought this was very wise. You must be brave and wise as well as good. Good is great, but the other two can be just as important.

“He was coming—her prince! The door opened, and in walked the most dreary-looking young man Dakin had ever seen. Her mouth fell open. No. It just couldn’t be. Not that little, skinny, miserable youth with the skimpy beard and the stooped shoulders and the weak chin! This couldn’t be him! Why, she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last young man in the world!”
-Sometimes our dreams are not what we have imagined them to be. The prince we’ve dreamed up is not all that princely and it’s Old Croak we want truly.

[Mara Starlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book in every way. I would change nothing about it. In a world of tired, worn-out retellings of classic fairytales, here we have a sparkling and original tale. I am baffled by the number of rehashed versions of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White, that I have seen published in recent history. Enough is enough! How about a completely new tale? Well, that is exactly what you'll find inside the pages of The Farthest-Away Mountain.
I think it looks deceptively simple and perhaps juvenile just based on the length and the cover art, but I highly recommend it to fantasy book readers of all ages!

When I found a copy at a used bookshop, I decided to give it a chance just based on the author, but I didn't have high expectations. Now it has a place of honor on my bookshelf. This is a completely original storyline, as far as I'm aware. The archetypal quest of the young hero is gilded by Ms. Banks' inventiveness. I felt like I was on the quest with the main character, fourteen-year-old Dakin, who had no idea what she would find as she approached the mountain. The golden troll figure, the frog's cabin in the meadow, the gargoyles, the giant's castle, and especially the colored snow were all interesting and exciting. The idea of a Colored Snow Witch who paints the slopes of a mountain with cursed patches of snow is just spectacular! I particularly liked Dakin's personality. She is extremely determined and brave, though I don't think she would describe herself that way. She's headstrong, but has quick wit in the midst of danger. There is no arrogance about Dakin. Her family doesn't understand why she feels the deep need to seek the Farthest-Away Mountain or meet a gargoyle, and perhaps neither does she; but she keeps moving forward. Her little kindnesses, such as leaving toffee for Old Croak and cuddling with the gargoyles were touching. And the moments of her greatest peril had me on the edge of my seat.

The structure of the story was a bit unusual in the sense that the main climax with the villain ends on page 97 out of 130. There is still a decent amount that happens afterward. I found this very satisfying because there were certainly a number of loose ends to tie up. The pacing of the whole story feels just right. If you have the chance to read this book, do not pass it up. I believe it is no longer in print, but it's worth the work to dig up an old copy for yourself. This is buried treasure!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Farthest-Away Mountain is a simple but charming fantasy story. The main character, Dakin, leaves her little village and sets off on a journey to the Farthest-Away Mountain. No one has ever been to the mountain. Not even her father, the most traveled man in the village. At the start of the book, Dakin wants three things: To go to the Farthest-Away Mountain, to meet a gargoyle, and to marry a prince. I really liked Dakin. She's smart, brave, kindhearted, and perhaps most importantly, she never gives up.

As for the downsides...The fantasy setting is a little generic, and the story is pretty basic. It's all right, but don't expect anything deep or complex here. Other than Dakin, most of the characters were pretty one-dimensional. But the Farthest-Away Mountain is still a fun, charming little story. The likable main character and clever writing kept me reading all the way to the end. There's even a few fun surprises, like Dakin befriending some misunderstood gargoyles, meeting a witch who paints the snow different colors, and one of the villains having a pet pterodactyl. Now THAT'S something you don't normally see in a fantasy novel! I liked that, in the end, Dakin realizes she doesn't want to marry a prince after all.

Like another reviewer said, this would make a great Studio Ghibli film. Or a fantasy film by the Jim Henson Company- something like Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal. Bottom line? This is a fun, whimsical, children's fantasy novel that adults can enjoy too.

[Capn]

From Dakin's bedroom window, the farthest-away mountain looks quite close, its peak capped with pink and purple and green snow rising above the pine wood just beyond the village. No one knows why the snow isn't white, because no one has ever been there: for though the mountain looks close, however far you travel it never gets any closer.
Until one morning, Dakin is woken by a voice calling, summoning her through the wicked wood and over the sea of spikes, ro fight the evil on the mountain and set it free . . .

(back jacket)
Illustrated by Victor Ambrus (illustrator) ISBN0006729983

Cover (not yet on GR at time of writing) is celtic-style knotwork border, red title text (centred at top), mountain centre with white-blonde girl with bangs in blue Fairisle cardigan over a white with red embellishment folkloric dress, holding a golden ring in upturned palms which levitates and glows.

Queued

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book on a facebook fantasy/sci-fi group. I am surprised I did not read it as a child since it is exactly the sort of book I would have been drawn to. This was a fun adventurous story with a heroine (14, about to turn 15) who keeps trying even when things get difficult. She works her way through the challenges she faces with a mind that thinks through her options and comes to a solution. Sometimes those choices don't end the way she had hoped, but she doesn't give up. I wish I found this book when my children were younger and liked being read to. It is a great fantasy adventure. The author also wrote The Indian in the Cupboard, which my children loved to watch on my old VHS, as did I. I'll have to read the book now.