Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Nature Girl by Jane Kelley

Kelley, Jane, Nature Girl. Random House, 2010. Pgs. 236. Language: G, Violence: G, Sexual Content: G


Eleven-year-old, Megan and her parents have never seen eye to eye. Megan prefers the hustle and bustle of New York while her parents live for nature. When her parents drag her off to somewhere in Vermont for a summer surrounded by nature. When Megan gets separated from her family on a day hike after she has a fight with her sister, Megan decides to hike the Appalachian trail herself. Things aren’t as peachy as she hoped, however. When she encounters bears, hostile teenagers , rain, makeshift shelters, bullies, hunger, thirst, and fear at night, she begins to realize that her family may be farther away than she realizes. With nothing but time to think about her family problems, nature, and her life, Megan begins to change. Will Megan find her family? Will she ever understand why her family is the way it is?

A well-developed story filled with adventure, self-discovery, and survival. The main character is easy to relate to, the survival plot is well-done, and the problems the character faces are realistic. Readers who like nature, survival stories, adventure, and realistic fiction will enjoy reading this book. EL (4-6)/MS. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, HUN Public Library

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