Review: The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines

By Mo Netz

New York: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2024. Fiction. 199 pages.

Eleven-year-old Jerry and her mother are still grieving the loss of Jerry's father and the upheaval it has caused in their everyday lives. Now, they travel from small town motel to small town motel, as Jerry's mother picks up work as a housekeeper and so Jerry has ground floor access for her wheelchair. But, there is something mysterious going on in the woods surrounding their latest motel stop, The Slumbering Giant. Not only are there blinking lights among the trees, there is also a history of disappearances and a radio channel that sporadically turns on with confusing messages. So, when Jerry's mom doesn't come home one night, Jerry knows something is wrong. She's determined to set off into the forest she's been strongly warned against entering. Upon entering the woods, she's joined by her pocket-sized imaginary dragon, Paul, and another budding friend staying at the hotel, Chapel -- where the intrepid trio quickly learn that the legends of "demons" in the woods are all to real and they have Jerry's mom!

Filled with sensitive depictions of Jerry's struggle to deal with the expectations of others surrounding her disability, her fear of forming new relationships, and ultimately her strong belief in herself and her abilities, The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines is a complex, layered adventure story for any lover of the supernatural.

Comments

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog