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Blind Mountain

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BLIND MOUNTAIN: Jane Resh Thomas: Clarion: 2006: Children's Fiction: 117pp.
Blind Mountain tells the story of a resentful twelve-year old, Sam Flynn, who would rather be playing guitar back home than hiking with his father. Sam's father is critical and demanding, always riding Sam for not being outdoorsy enough, and for preferring music to adventure.
As they move up the mountain, Sam accidentally flips a branch back into his father's face, temporarily blinding him. Sam must figure out a way to get them both down the mountain safely, challenging enough without the sudden added threat of a starving, stalking cougar.
Blind Mountain is a story with good messages, but they are delivered with a heavy hand.
The outcome of Sam's encounter with the cougar seems forced and unlikely, as does Sam's dad's blindness being caused by a smack in the face with a branch. However, kids who won't notice those inconsistencies may enjoy this short but tense story of a young man who finds the courage and skill to bring himself and his father home.
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