What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

To See a Witch
This topic is about To See a Witch
28 views
SOLVED: Children's/YA > SOLVED. YA Fantasy. 12-year-old boy's community lives in caves on a sheer rock face and uses rope ladders to navigate their vertical village. Coming-of-age ritual. Owl or some other bird on cover. [s]

Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Juniper (new)

Juniper | 3 comments I read this book in the 1990's. It was a hardcover library book. Drawn illustration on the cover. Something with big wings spanning? Maybe an owl? Over a boy..?

A boy (I don't remember if Native American or not) of twelve must go through some kind of coming-of-age. He, his family and community live in caves on the side of a cliff. Rope ladders lead from one cave to another to form a sort of vertical village. I remember being scared because you could fall to your death, but the boy was used to it.


message 2: by Capn (last edited Dec 23, 2022 06:14AM) (new) - added it

Capn | 3506 comments Hey Juniper,
What was the fantasy aspect?
Was it set somewhere similar to The Spider, the Cave and the Pottery Bowl (Hopi Indians, Mesa?).

There's a BIG list to scroll through that might have it:
Native Americans in Children's Literature
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

There are also these lists:
YA non-Western Mythology:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Mythology of the Americas
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Could it have perhaps been the Anasazi tribe? (Also SW USA)

There are famous cave dwellings in Turkey, too (Cappadocia, if that rings a bell for you - NB also mentioned in the New Testament). :)


message 3: by Capn (last edited Dec 23, 2022 08:32AM) (new) - added it

Capn | 3506 comments The Rainmakers wasn't listed anywhere (just found it - will add): An Anasazi boy living long ago in the cliffs of the American Southwest shares a series of adventures with his pet bear and his best friend during his eleventh summer. (1993)


message 4: by Juniper (new)

Juniper | 3 comments Found it!! I can’t believe it. I’ve been trying to remember the title of this book for YEARS. Something in your response jarred my memory.

“To See a Witch” by Lynne Gessner

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...


message 5: by Juniper (new)

Juniper | 3 comments This book contains mythological elements more than fantasy elements. (And they were footholds, not rope-ladders.)


message 6: by Capn (new) - added it

Capn | 3506 comments Oh cool, well done and congrats! :D To See a Witch is going straight onto my to-read list now. ;)

Merry Christmas!


back to top