Between a Rock and a Hard Place [Library Binding]

Alden R. Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1995

After losing everything they have during a trek through the wilderness, two boys, one of whom is a diabetic, must depend on their wits and courage in order to survive. By the author of Up Country and Dogwolf.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crisis looms large when two teenage cousins, one of whom is diabetic, are sent on a week-long canoe trip, their family's traditional rite of manhood. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up?Randy, 15, and his outdoorsy cousin Mark canoe into the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota. They are the third generation in their family to take this coming-of-age journey, and each boy harbors doubts. Mark feels completely inadequate compared to his older brother, and he isn't sure the girl he has been seeing will wait 10 days for him. Randy's parents seem to be just going through the motions of staying together; his diabetes may be the only glue holding them together. The first few days go well; then, in quick succession, a bear gets their food and rapids destroy their canoe, stripping them of most of their remaining supplies and equipment. Both are at the brink of death when Mark courageously struggles to bring rescuers to Randy, who has fallen unconscious in the woods. Both young men are interesting, multidimensional characters who face their problems (physical, mental, emotional) realistically and effectively. Their language, too, is realistically immoderate, both in their everyday conversation and in response to the extraordinary difficulties they face. In the end, they know they have grown stronger, and perhaps wiser. Readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet (Macmillan, 1987), Ivy Ruckman's No Way Out (Crowell, 1988), and Thomas Baird's Walk Out a Brother (HarperCollins, 1983; o.p.) should revel in this survival tale.?Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 213 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Trade (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590486845
• ISBN-13: 978-0590486842
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,533,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alden Carter's thirty-year career includes publication of novels for young adults and adults, nonfiction books on a wide range of topics, and picture books for and about special needs children. Among numerous awards, his novels have been named six times to the American Library Association's list of Best Books of the Year. His adult novel of the Civil War, Bright Starry Banner, was awarded the prestigious John Esten Cooke Fiction Award. A popular speaker, he has given over 600 presentations in schools and at conferences for writers and educators. A former teacher and naval officer, he lives in Marshfield, Wisconsin, with his wife, Carol. They have two adult children: Brian, an architect, and Siri, a college student.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You gotta read this! It is 'fast-paced' and exciting!, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Library Binding)

Randy and Mark go on a trip into the wild because of tradition and end up looking danger in the face. This is a great book and I think anyone who is looking at my review should read it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is not your normal adventure story., April 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Between A Rock And A Hard Place (Point Signature) (Mass Market Paperback)

Usualy, I'm more of a fantasy/sci-fi person, but this book looked differant. It was very real, almost like it was happening to me. The characters were very real, too; thay had a purpose, and very well thought out characteristics. The story was overall very interesting to read; I just hope I never run into the same problems Mark and Randy did in Between a Rock and a hard place.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Between a Rock and a Hard Place, May 29, 2005

By 

Sarah - See all my reviews

This review is from: Between A Rock And A Hard Place (Point Signature) (Mass Market Paperback)

Mark and Randy are cousins, and both teens at the age of 15. Neither is looking forward to their big trip through the Boundary Waters, a coming-of-age tradition among the men in the Severson family. To Mark it's just another thing he will disappoint his family in...contrary to his brother, Bob ("Bob the Nazi" as Randy calls him) - the brain, jock, everything Mark isn't. To Randy, it's a test to prove to his family that just because he has diabetes, he's not a wimp. It's going to be just the two of them, camping, fishing, and canoeing, and they're not expected to be back for ten days. What can go wrong? Nearly everything.

In between bears, killer ducks, and vicious bugs, Mark and Randy learn a lot about each other. The wilderness brings them closer together but also tests their friendship. When they lose almost everything they have to a hungry bear and a raging river, they find they can only depend on themselves to save each other.

I thought this book was great. There was humor, adventure, and most of all, I liked how Mark and Randy weren't perfect. They had their own problems, and they weren't experts on the wilderness. Despite all the swearwords (nearly each page has at least one), I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.