Devil's+Pass

Devil's Pass by Sigmund Brouwer 2012 Booklist gr 7-9 Realistic/Adventure Recommended by Barrington Public Library

Link to the NHU PAC [|here].


 * NOTE - Sigmund Brouwer will be a May 14 speaker at the NHSLMA Spring 2015 Conference, May 14 - 15 @ Radisson Inn - Manchester

Comments:

NHU PAC is only showing 1 copy in the state at Barrington Public Library, so that may pose a problem with people having access to a reading copy. - Yvette/Merrimack

I agree with Yvette, there is only one copy out there. Also, this is generally not the type of book I would pick to read off the list, but I thought I would give it a try. While it got good reviews on some websites, I had a hard time getting into the book. Maybe because it can't stand alone from the series that it is a part of. Also, I think the storyline may be more for high schoolers. -Pat Adams Allenstown Public Library

Finally got my hands on that 1 copy! It's a quick read - published by Orca - with fast moving action so really perfect for a reluctant reader or our male audience. I really liked it. Here's Amazon's synopsis -

"Seventeen-year-old Webb's abusive stepfather has made it impossible for him to live at home, so Webb survives on the streets of Toronto by busking with his guitar and working as a dishwasher. When Webb's grandfather dies, his will stipulates that his grandsons fulfill specific requests. Webb's task takes him to the Canol Trail in Canada's Far North, where he finds out that there are much scarier things than the cold and the occasional grizzly bear. With a Native guide, two German tourists and his guitar for company, Webb is forced to confront terrible events in his grandfather's past and somehow deal with the pain and confusion of his own life."

Devil's Pass touches on some very tough issues - step parents, abuse, self-discipline, allegiance, bullying. respect for wilderness - that focus around building character in a person. Webb sets out to follow his grandfather's wishes and is confronted by tough choices all along the way. He's very likable and I appreciated seeing his struggle between his choices - it wasn't over done or stretched out. Brouwer writes well within the Orca structure, the story is simple and powerful. Yes, it's part of a series, but, having not read the other books in the series, I think this stands alone well. However, I'm intrigued enough by the series' structure to read the others in the series (Webb's grandfather has given a mysterious task to each of his 7 grandsons and each book focuses on one of the boys and their task) This series would be great for 39 Clues fans who have grown up a bit and are ready for something with a more realistic subject matter and tough issues while following a character on a treasure hunt. I'd love to see this on the list. Yvette/Merrimack