When the Mountains Roared

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The prose is tight. The pacing is impeccable. The descriptions are vivid without being lengthy. Here's an excerpt: Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - When the Mountains Roared is the much anticipated second novel from Jess Butterworth after her first book, Running on the Roof of the World went down a storm in Key Stage 2 classrooms. If you like animals, mysteries or culture, this book is for you. Read this splendid Middle Grade novel and don’t miss out on:

There is a powerful message in this book about conservationism and protecting wildlife.; there are references to plastics and to respecting the earth. It is something that 12 year old Ruby is passionate about, and it was wonderful to see a young character who cared so much: Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments We felt Ruby’s heartache at leaving her mum’s orange scarf behind; as she scattered her note into the sea on the journey to India, we felt we were standing right beside her. The children enjoyed all of the characters, but particularly liked the dynamic between Ruby and her new friend, Praveen.

Ruby is a strong-minded girl with a passion of photography and living things. Her life has been hard over the last few years, but she’s still open to the wonder and beauty of her new home. I loved how swiftly she took to the mountain and the respect she showed it. There are leopards, of course, but that particular drama doesn’t show up until quite late in the book. Instead there’s a baby kangaroo, a young monkey, hungry bears and resident spiders to deal with, not to mention some suspicious acting adults.Jess’s descriptions of place are fantastic, and you easily lose yourself in Ruby’s world as you read. I didn’t want to leave. Initially, Ruby’s life in India is awful: the hotel they are living is is derelict and has no electricity. Ruby hates her room there and in an attempt to feel closer to her mother, she camps in her trusty tent on their first night there. Camping brings with it bad memories too: Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks. Home >

When Ruby’s dad uproots her from Australia to set up a hotel in the mountains of India, Ruby is devastated. Not only are they living in a run-down building in the middle of the wilderness surrounded by scorpions, bears and leopards, but Ruby is sure that India will never truly feel like home – not without her mum there. As a teacher, I was drawn to the rich description of culture, especially when Ruby visits an Indian city during the festival of Holi. But I can see this book becoming a classroom staple for more than the mesmerising snapshots of India. The determined characters who persevere, who show a growing independence of mind to overcome difficulties and strive to achieve a goal by working together, all while being part of a spellbinding story, make this a must-have book for every classroom of 9- to 12-year-olds. You will fall in love with the mountains of India and be in awe of the determination and strength that Ruby displays despite the loss she has just experienced.

This is quite a sweet story - engaging, entertaining and uplifting. Occasionally, it crosses the line to didactic - it feels a little more preachy than it needs to be. Jess’ books are fast becoming favourites for many and she is ensuring that she is seen as a stand-out talent with her incredibly original style of writing. Culturally enriching, she really imbues her story writing with her own life experiences as somebody who’s been brought up in the UK but is still very much rooted in the Himalayas as well. I really gain the sense that writing a book – particularly this one – for Jess is increasingly more than just writing a book. Not only is it a way of highlighting a vitally important issue or a message but it is also about reliving the magic of moments that have become memories, of which I think your grandmother would be immensely proud, Jess. But no one from the nearby village is willing to go up to the hotel to help. Is the hotel haunted? Is the mountain cursed? Or is it something far more horrible than old wives’ tales? The story follows Ruby, a twelve-year-old girl who is grieving the recent death of her mother and has become filled with fear since her mother’s car accident. Ruby is an animal lover and she enjoys photographing wildlife. At the beginning of the story, Ruby faces the devastating news that her Dad is planning to uproot them from their Australian home and relocate to a remote mountain village in India to run a hotel.

So taken by this amazing book! Set in the Himalayas, it tells the story of Ruby, who has to move suddenly from Australia to the moutains of the Himalayas in India. Her family is going through a challenging time, and have to rebuild their lives while dealing with loss. But Ruby is brave and full of curiosity for the world around her, and with her camera always on her, discovers the wonders of the wildlife and nature that surround her new home. However, something seems off about her father’s new employers and she decides to take matters into her own hands. I have no confidence in the dad being able to make a go of anything, he is full of poor judgement and bad decisions. The smuggling supergranny is unbelievable as well. That’s why it is such a stunningly compelling & evocative read that surpasses far beyond the highest of expectations, carrying with it an all-important message of preservation; of the potency of poaching; and of being at peace with the wild and the world; that I hope will live long not only in the minds, but also in the hearts of its readers. When the Mountains Roared teaches young readers about Tibetan and Indian culture. It also educates readers on animal protection and poaching, but that education feels like osmosis. Jess isn’t beating readers over the head with information, but rather, allowing children to learn the culture and the importance of animal protection slowly as the plot develops. This is fantastic for a children’s novel, because the last thing kids want is to feel like they’re *learning* when reading a fictional novel.The story as a whole was quite sweet, and had an important lesson about facing fears and standing up for what you believe in. However, I found the writing quite jerky and stuttering, and I wish there'd been more character development. At times it also felt like everything was tied up a bit too conveniently. If you know any young readers who love animals and adventures then they should enjoy this. The descriptions are beautiful, Ruby’s spirit is admirable (if slightly worrying at times) and the underlying messages of family, friendship and saving the planet are always worth reading. I see that his face is now drawn and worried. And I realise that’s the problem. I don’t trust him. No matter how hard I try, after everything that happened in Australia with the moneylenders, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t. A big part.” Okay, maybe it’s just me being a fan of authors' notes, but don’t you sometimes feel curious about the story behind the story?