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Blood Mountain
Feiwel and Friends has acquired James Preller's Blood Mountain, a middle-grade mystery/thriller and survival story told from multiple perspectives. In the book, a brother and sister, lost and injured in the wilderness, become separately reliant upon a strange hermit, only to find their savior is an isolated former soldier whose mind now exists in a dangerous alternative reality. Publication is planned for fall 2018.
Hardcover
First published October 8, 2019
9 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
James Preller
200 books142 followersJames Preller (born 1961) is the children's book author of the Jigsaw Jones Mysteries, which are published by Scholastic Corporation. He grew up in Wantagh, New York and went to college in Oneonta, New York. After graduating from college in 1983, James Preller was employed as a waiter for one year before being hired as a copywriter by Scholastic Corporation, where he was introduced (through their books) to many noatable children's authors. This inspired James Preller to try writing his own books. James Preller published his first book, entitled MAXX TRAX: Avalanche Rescue, in 1986. Since that time, James Preller has written a variety of books, and has written under a number of pen names, including Mitzy Kafka, James Patrick, and Izzy Bonkers. James Preller lives in Delmar, New York with his wife Lisa and their three children.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesp...
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 27, 2021
It was good! Little language, but still good!
May 24, 2021
What starts out as a day hike with their father, suddenly turns into a six day ordeal of survival, search and rescue as the brother and sister duo gets separated from their father, and then from each other as they become lost in the rugged terrain of Blood Mountain.
July 22, 2020
This was a survival story cross with a captor/stalker story cross with an environmental philosophy lecture. I expected the survival story and the captor/stalker storyline was not necessary expected, but it did make it interesting. The philosophy trip was unexpected and I had no clue why it was there. Out of the three plotlines, the one I dislike was the captor/stalker plot, because I felt the mountain man was not put in the best light and almost had a villainous flair that was sometimes at odds with the savior moments. With that said, I want to talk about specific topics for the remainder of this review
Presentation
This book followed roughly 6 viewpoints that were flipping back-and-forth. There was Grace, Carter, Grace and Carter's Dad, Makayla, John, and Sitka the dog. With this presentation, it reminded me of survival/disaster movies. In these types of movies, there are the victims of the disaster or survivors of traumatic episode, the rescuer, sometimes a possible antagonist or someone who impedes the rescue mission, and a complication.
Makayla the mountain ranger definitely fits the rescuer role. If this was a movie then it could easily be filmed mostly from her perspective and the book kind of flow like that. It opened with our would-be victims before it switch to our quasi-antagonist/impediment/hero then it finally landed with our hero/rescuer.
Grace, Carter, and their Dad are our victims. That is pretty much self-explanatory. Of course, we see what happens to each of them in the initial disaster and then see what complicates their goal of being rescued.
John is our antagonist/impediment/hero. I want to discuss this character more in-depth, because I have some issues. There is definitely a complication that John helps out with, which is why he is also a hero. I cannot say anything more, because it can ruin the twist.
John
While Grace, Carter, and their Dad should not be in their position, the character my heart goes out towards is John. John's background is tragic to say the least and there are probably a lot of men and women, who might be living a similar life. That is why I did not like how it seemed John was cast as an antagonist, because this does not send a good message about people like John. Yes, people in John's situation actually need to figure out they need help on their own, but I feel they need to feel like people are not forcing them to change. I think in part that is what happened to John. If John was a protagonist in a Lindsay McKenna book then we may see John become better than how he is right now. I just felt John deserve better at the end of this, but odds are John would disagree with me, due to how he views himself right now.
Environmental Philosophy
I have no idea why these moments are in here. Mostly they happened with Grace, but I just felt it was unnecessary. Maybe it was to illustrate where her mind was, but I just thought it was trippy and made it seemed like this was fantasy, instead of realistic fiction.
Verdict: I think this is definitely for a particular audience who rave about it, but it was not my cup of a tea. There were moments I thought were good, but I was not fan of how John was portrayed.
Presentation
This book followed roughly 6 viewpoints that were flipping back-and-forth. There was Grace, Carter, Grace and Carter's Dad, Makayla, John, and Sitka the dog. With this presentation, it reminded me of survival/disaster movies. In these types of movies, there are the victims of the disaster or survivors of traumatic episode, the rescuer, sometimes a possible antagonist or someone who impedes the rescue mission, and a complication.
Makayla the mountain ranger definitely fits the rescuer role. If this was a movie then it could easily be filmed mostly from her perspective and the book kind of flow like that. It opened with our would-be victims before it switch to our quasi-antagonist/impediment/hero then it finally landed with our hero/rescuer.
Grace, Carter, and their Dad are our victims. That is pretty much self-explanatory. Of course, we see what happens to each of them in the initial disaster and then see what complicates their goal of being rescued.
John is our antagonist/impediment/hero. I want to discuss this character more in-depth, because I have some issues. There is definitely a complication that John helps out with, which is why he is also a hero. I cannot say anything more, because it can ruin the twist.
John
While Grace, Carter, and their Dad should not be in their position, the character my heart goes out towards is John. John's background is tragic to say the least and there are probably a lot of men and women, who might be living a similar life. That is why I did not like how it seemed John was cast as an antagonist, because this does not send a good message about people like John. Yes, people in John's situation actually need to figure out they need help on their own, but I feel they need to feel like people are not forcing them to change. I think in part that is what happened to John. If John was a protagonist in a Lindsay McKenna book then we may see John become better than how he is right now. I just felt John deserve better at the end of this, but odds are John would disagree with me, due to how he views himself right now.
Environmental Philosophy
I have no idea why these moments are in here. Mostly they happened with Grace, but I just felt it was unnecessary. Maybe it was to illustrate where her mind was, but I just thought it was trippy and made it seemed like this was fantasy, instead of realistic fiction.
Verdict: I think this is definitely for a particular audience who rave about it, but it was not my cup of a tea. There were moments I thought were good, but I was not fan of how John was portrayed.
January 6, 2020
This one was a 3.5 for me, and it was easy to race through the book since I was concerned about the fate of the two youngsters. Thirteen-year-old Grace Taylor and her brother, Carter, 11, are on a day-hike with their father and family dog Sitka when they decide to go ahead since he's moving much slower than they prefer. Since he has the map, they become confused and end up going off the trail, becoming hopelessly lost the further they move. The author does a good job in describing the wilderness near and around Blood Mountain where they are hiking and making it clear just how quickly accidents can happen and a pleasant hike can turn into a fight for survival. The youngsters try to rely on whatever skills they have to make do, but when Grace is injured in fall and unable to walk, Carter decides that he must get help. Although he is brave and determined, he only succeeds in becoming further lost. The two youngsters come to the attention of John, a war veteran with PTSD and a host of other mental health issues, and it isn't clear whether he's a friend or a foe. And then there's an escaped mountain lion roaming the woods in search of food. To my way of thinking, just surviving in the wilderness without food or water would be enough without adding the veteran and the lion, but I suppose it adds to the excitement and intensity for some young readers. As it was, I was pretty worried about these two siblings and their dog, and I felt relieved that Makayla Devaroix, a hard-working ranger, was on the case, and determined to find those lost hikers. Clearly, both youngsters will never be quite the same after their experience. Despite all the drama and danger described in the book, the author clearly has a keen appreciation and a healthy respect for the wonders of nature. Books such as this one make me leery to set foot in the wilderness or go even an inch off the beaten path or marked trail.
August 15, 2024
An excellent survival story for middle school readers, with a throwback style very reminiscent of young adult books aimed at the 11-14 crowd back in the 70s and 80s -- it's a little darker, a little grittier (you're going to learn how to field dress a squirrel), a little higher stakes than the average children's book that surrounds it on the shelves. There's a point where Carter would definitely have died in real-life circumstances.
Another throwback element is how it folds in multiple adult perspectives, as well as those of the teenage sister's and even the dog's in addition to the 11-year-old arguably-main character, who in the 80s would definitely have been 13 and his sister 16. But since it's in third person, there's also an omniscient narrator, who occasionally drops ominous observations -- like, for example, the kids are confidently heading the wrong way.
One of its stronger points is how both good-practice-hiking and wilderness survival tips are woven seamlessly into the text. But what really struck me is the fact that a couple of years ago, my dad, younger brother and I also started doing some hikes together, and I recognized SO many similar dynamics before they get split up, including the brother blazing ahead at top speed, practically out of sight and anxious to experience everything (even as an adult). A+ nailing the oft-fractious sibling dynamic here. And obviously, yes, I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the dog, who is a very good girl and does not get hurt.
Another throwback element is how it folds in multiple adult perspectives, as well as those of the teenage sister's and even the dog's in addition to the 11-year-old arguably-main character, who in the 80s would definitely have been 13 and his sister 16. But since it's in third person, there's also an omniscient narrator, who occasionally drops ominous observations -- like, for example, the kids are confidently heading the wrong way.
One of its stronger points is how both good-practice-hiking and wilderness survival tips are woven seamlessly into the text. But what really struck me is the fact that a couple of years ago, my dad, younger brother and I also started doing some hikes together, and I recognized SO many similar dynamics before they get split up, including the brother blazing ahead at top speed, practically out of sight and anxious to experience everything (even as an adult). A+ nailing the oft-fractious sibling dynamic here. And obviously, yes, I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the dog, who is a very good girl and does not get hurt.
October 25, 2019
Thanks to NetGally and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Description
Told in alternating points-of-view, James Preller's powerful middle-grade survival story will have readers on the edge of their seats.
Carter and his older sister Grace thought the hike with their dad and their dog would be uneventful. If anything, they figured it was Dad’s way of getting them off their screens for a while.
But the hike on Blood Mountain turns ominous, as the siblings are separated from their father, and soon, battling the elements. They are lost.
They are being hunted, but who will reach them first? The young ranger leading the search? Or the mysterious mountain man who has gone off the grid?
I must say that this story had my anxiety up high. I'm not a huge fan of doom and gloom and that's all I could think about. The kids go ahead of their dad on the trail - the dad collapses from a heart attack - the kids get lost. There's a strange man out there - is he hunting them? The graphic skinning of a squirrel was a bit much for me.
My own personal star rating would net this book 1.5 stars out of 5, but I don't feel I should rate it that low just because I was uncomfortable with some things. There is definitely an audience out there for it so I'll go with 4 stars. It was well written, the narrative was good, and decent character development.
Description
Told in alternating points-of-view, James Preller's powerful middle-grade survival story will have readers on the edge of their seats.
Carter and his older sister Grace thought the hike with their dad and their dog would be uneventful. If anything, they figured it was Dad’s way of getting them off their screens for a while.
But the hike on Blood Mountain turns ominous, as the siblings are separated from their father, and soon, battling the elements. They are lost.
They are being hunted, but who will reach them first? The young ranger leading the search? Or the mysterious mountain man who has gone off the grid?
I must say that this story had my anxiety up high. I'm not a huge fan of doom and gloom and that's all I could think about. The kids go ahead of their dad on the trail - the dad collapses from a heart attack - the kids get lost. There's a strange man out there - is he hunting them? The graphic skinning of a squirrel was a bit much for me.
My own personal star rating would net this book 1.5 stars out of 5, but I don't feel I should rate it that low just because I was uncomfortable with some things. There is definitely an audience out there for it so I'll go with 4 stars. It was well written, the narrative was good, and decent character development.
July 20, 2019
Dad takes his two kids hiking a mountain. They go on ahead at Dad's insistence (he's only slowing them down; that indigestion, man), but go on a little too far. Dad collapses of a heart attack on the trail. He's not coming for them. They're alone. They're scared. They're desperate. And then one breaks an ankle and the younger brother has to go out alone to find help. And he does find someone, but the man he finds is a little... off.
This may be Preller's best yet. The uneasiness around John, before we know if he's dangerous or not. The palpable sense of desperation. The fear and dread, the attempts to keep their minds off the terrible things that could--and probably would--befall them. True, heavy detail on wilderness survival skills that doesn't feel in any way extraneous (oh, the DETAIL on how to field-dress a squirrel!). This isn't just a story, flat on the page; the narrative brings with it emotions, fear, dread.
Via NetGalley. Thanks, NetGalley!
This may be Preller's best yet. The uneasiness around John, before we know if he's dangerous or not. The palpable sense of desperation. The fear and dread, the attempts to keep their minds off the terrible things that could--and probably would--befall them. True, heavy detail on wilderness survival skills that doesn't feel in any way extraneous (oh, the DETAIL on how to field-dress a squirrel!). This isn't just a story, flat on the page; the narrative brings with it emotions, fear, dread.
Via NetGalley. Thanks, NetGalley!
December 29, 2019
I have a pet peeve about shifting points of view, especially within a chapter. Too many lead voices make it hard for me to empathize and connect with any one. And from the dog? Totally unnecessary. The omniscient chapters detracted from the human tension of the story, and were too much of an info dump and gave too much away. Also, I felt the vocabulary was too sophisticated for the tweens in this story. This book seemed to be a thinly veiled rant about clueless, ill-prepared hikers who put themselves and their rescuers in danger, irresponsible exotic pet owners, and mistreated war veterans. Carl Hiaasen does this sort of thing much better. Still, it was a survival adventure, which always pulls me in.
July 16, 2020
"Alone and cold and closing in on hypothermia in the wild unknown, the boy half hears below consciousness the sounds of the trees—those feral, nighttime communications of the wood makers, the carbon eaters, the sunseekers, the water gulpers."
Pretentious much? The entire book reads this way - "deep" thoughts and big words written in short, choppy sentences. Middle schoolers love adventure and survival stories but not when they are written like that. Story-wise, my only wish is that a lazy camper had not put out their fire correctly and started a wildfire because a heart attack, lost and injured kids, an escaped mountain lion, and a veteran mountain man suffering from PTSD were not enough elements of danger for one book.
Pretentious much? The entire book reads this way - "deep" thoughts and big words written in short, choppy sentences. Middle schoolers love adventure and survival stories but not when they are written like that. Story-wise, my only wish is that a lazy camper had not put out their fire correctly and started a wildfire because a heart attack, lost and injured kids, an escaped mountain lion, and a veteran mountain man suffering from PTSD were not enough elements of danger for one book.
December 20, 2019
This YA book is a fun read. I like Preller's style of writing and I actually enjoyed the narration of this book too. I found the changing of POVs added to the tension of the plot. The characters felt like real people, not just flat, bland characters. My favorite was John, the wilderness man. I really felt for him, even when he wasn't acting kind. The main plotline of surviving in the wilderness kept me intrigued; I liked that the characters had different survival issues as it made for a little more complex story.
Overall, I will be recommending this book to young people.
Overall, I will be recommending this book to young people.
March 7, 2020
I chose this book with great skepticism, having a family member involved with a local search and rescue organization. "Blood Mountain" is not a highly realistic portrayal of a search and rescue situation. I mean, badly injured children, a psychotic mountain man and man eating Cougar all on the loose in one park? Despite the abundance of drama, or perhaps because of it, I looked forward to reading "what happens next" in this entertaining page turner.
Parents, if you want a "clean", exciting read for an adventure loving middle grade kid, look no further!
Parents, if you want a "clean", exciting read for an adventure loving middle grade kid, look no further!
October 5, 2020
Surprisingly good survival story. I was not drawn in by the cover. Contrasting with several other reviewers, I liked the "stalker" storyline and was drawn in by it and appreciated the twist at the end. I also was impressed by the representation of the portrayal of the veteran and how skillfully he was written. Mental illness is a difficult topic to write about and I thought his issues were dealt with honestly and compassionately. My favorite character was the Ranger and I loved the details of safety and conservation included.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2020
Grace and her younger brother Carter set off on a day hike with their Dad. Grace runs ahead to stay with Carter while their Dad falls further behind. At some point they realize they have lost the trail and by the end of the day they realize that they are lost. With their pet dog in tow, they struggle to survive with few rations and little equipment. This is a page-turning adventure that elementary and middle-school aged kids will love. Nominated for the 2020-2021 Maine Student Book Award.
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March 2, 2020Carter and Grace go on a hiking trip with their father to Blood Mountain. They get separated from their father who has the map, food, and becomes ill. Soon they are off the trail and totally lost but keep moving toward a lake. Grace takes a bad fall and is injured. While she sleeps Carter takes off to get help but is soon in trouble. Will the Rangers find them before it is too late?
September 27, 2020
This is a survival story about two teens who get too far ahead on a hike from their dad. It's a story about perseverance, grace, and what can happen to humans who haven't seen enough humanity. I recommend this title for hikers or adventure lovers of any age - but especially pre/teen boys. I give it three skinned squirrels. 🐿🐿🐿
July 12, 2020
Low 3 for me. Quick read and an easy one to use for RA but something about the way they portrayed the Veteran Doesn’t sit well with me. But don’t think intended audience will pick up on that. Like how the action starts right from the beginning.
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February 1, 2020Fiction P9249b 2019
August 17, 2020
It took a bit to get into, but then I read it one setting. Book talk 6-8
September 19, 2020
An exciting survival story, as two siblings get lost in a vast wilderness, injured and separated, with unexpected hunters on the prowl.
April 14, 2021
This book was super good and I enjoyed it a lot. I liked how it was only over six days, and there was so much detail in it. Also the point of views made it very interesting.
July 20, 2021
Great writing with a fast pace and wonderful character development
October 28, 2022
This book was good but not the best
November 2, 2022
This is my favorite book so far.
June 10, 2023
Read this book in 3 days… loved it sm!
November 3, 2024
4.5, very realistic portrayal of kids being lost in the woods and the mistakes most regular folks would make.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews