Echo Mountain

Wolk weaves an engrossing story with the Great Depression as a backdrop and tells how a family adjusts from living in the town to living in the mountains. Our protagonist is a 12 year old girl who finds herself embracing this change in pace and simply delighted by being enveloped by all of nature.When the family suffers a setback, Ellie must step up to fill the void and finds herself...finding herself in the woods of Echo Mountain. She pushes her mother's limits; she pushes her father to come back to them; in the absence of her father, she pushes her younger brother to grow; and most importantly, she pushes herself.This is a great story for a young girl in your life trying to find themselves and still growing to meet the expectations of those around them while also setting their own expectations for themselves and finding their path.Wolk does an excellent job of writing a story which is pleasantly readable and serves as a great canvas for understanding how one can face adversity with grit.That said, I felt that there were a few things which detracted from the storytelling.First is the pacing. The first third of the book picks up quite slowly while the last two thirds seems to drive at a fever pitch. You never lose the storyline because of Wolk's writing, but the last third of the story feels a bit rushed to me. The pacing of the dialogue especially becomes jarring in some chapters.Second is the dialogue. To me, it reads like a 21st century author writing an early 20th century character and that really took me out of the story; the lexicon and vocabulary simply didn't seem fitting for the era and for the age of the characters especially our protagonist's younger brother. At one point, a character uses the term "chameleon" and I wondered if a Depression era 12 year old daughter of a music teacher and a tailor would know what a chameleon is.Third is the "happy coincidences" that the story weaves together. You see it coming from a mile away and when that happens, it "cheapens" the payoff when you get there.It is otherwise still a great read and recommended for young readers, but if you are expecting a more historical take, I think you will be met with some (mild) disappointment.

Book came on time. No damage. Reading to my 6th grade library grips.

For a family forced there by the Great Depression, Echo Mountain delivers a hard order of means lost and ways to be found.The strong but struggling mother has lost her teaching job. The father, out of work as a town tailor, now must become a mountain man. There is a small boy ready to chase whatever comes next and the first-born daughter ill-suited to life without brushes, combs and clean sheets.And then there is Ellie, the twelve-year-old girl. (Why are they always eleven or twelve?) She matches a tender heart with an unbending will to figure things out, to search, test, learn how.Ellie’s determination to revive her father badly injured by a falling tree (an accident for which the family quietly blames her) leads her to inventive, if bizarre, treatments. Her quest eventually drives her high up the mountain into a world clouded by rumor and superstition. Yet through all the hard times come echoes of fine music put fallow, and small carvings given in mystery.Lauren Wolk’s book is brightly lit by observations such as water cold and clear as “poured winter,” and of the people on the mountain, “looking for a way to survive until the world tipped back to well.” It’s those preceding thirteen words that best describe this enthralling story, a treasure for any age.

Lauren Wolk has an unusual way of writing. For Valentines day we get each of our seven grandchildren books. I read them first because we, along with their parents, are particular about what they read. So many times, Ms. Wolk's books have been almost too odd, but I still continued to read them, I just had to know how they ended. They are just too good. I recommend this one along with Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea. They will make your child think, they are not full of the shallow silliness or troubling hidden messages that so many of today's YA fiction are brimming with. There are valuable life lessons that will be understood by 10+ year old kids. Even our most reluctant reader enjoyed Wolf Hollow, also my favorite. Nothing vulgar, no filthy language or sexual suggestions. (Beware, the above is found in the most innocent looking children's books.) So wonderful, Ms. Wolk, I will look forward to your next book, sincerely, the granny book police.

This is a book that I hope will be considered classic for years. It reminds me of so many other classics, but is wholly it's own, also. I felt echos of "The witch of Blackbird pond", "Where the red ferns grows" and others. Perfect for all ages.

Although meant for young readers this book may deliver a soothing reading to older ones as well, as it did for me.The story is about a young girl who, as a result of the Great Depression, moved with her family from the relative comfort of the city to the harsh reality in a wild mountain forest. The story contains all elements to make it a great read; resilience and special talents of the main heroine, the witch-like women living on the mountain, the mysterious boy in the woods, the big and a little scary dog, and, of course, the abundance of serendipity that allows everything to end up well.Bottom line: Five stars in young readers category.

I am a fifth grade teacher, always on the lookout for outstanding middle grade fiction. I read dozens (and dozens) of MG books each year so that I know just which book to put in a student's hands. Lauren Wolk has been a go-to author for book recommendations for several years now. She never talks down to 10 and 11 year olds. Her stories are complex ,and joy-filled, and heart-wrenching. Her writing is gorgeous...often stunning. Literally, her words will stop me in my tracks and make me go back and reread and ponder. I loved Beyond the Bright Sea and Wolf Hollow. Two of my favorites of the last five years. Echo Mountain though, might have moved to the top of my favorites list. It is brilliant.

My 10 year old Granddaughter loved it.!!!

I LOVED! Echo Mountain it was one best books we have ever read. the author is a genius. the main part of the story is about Ellie who is trying to wake up her father who is in a coma. along the way she meets a boy called Larkin and a woman called Kate Who helps cure her father. Kate has a cut on her leg which Ellie try's to cure using Honey.

La storia è adatta ai ragazzi ma risulta molto piacevole anche per gli adulti che abbiano una conoscenza media della lingua inglese. La lettura è appassionante e molto coinvolgente. Davvero bello!

This is a very lovely book. Beautifully written, like a poem but also like a child. With characters you're eager to meet. Enjoy

Like Wolk’s other books, this was a beautifully told story. It was richly atmospheric and had gorgeous messages about being true to who you are.