Carver: High Mountain Tragedy [Paperback]

C.H. Foertmeyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

Carver: High Mountain Tragedy takes the reader into the minds of two troubled teenagers who, for years, have suffered the abuses and torments of their fellow classmates at Carver High. Kevin Reynolds and Wiley Coates are about to make decisions that will change their lives, and the lives of their families, friends, and tormentors, alike.In 1969, a lifetime of torment and ridicule could lead to retribution, but it would be of a more subtle nature than seen today; nonetheless fatal and tragic. So it was, when Wiley sought his revenge on Mary Clemmons. He would conscript his good friend, Kevin, into his plan and together they would have their revenge.The death of their best friend, Bryce, would take the boys on a fabulous adventure, to a place which two boys who loved the forests and mountains, could previously only have dreamed of. They found a sacred place, of mountain men and ancient Indians. Nevertheless, the festering hate Wiley felt for Mary, would turn their Valhalla into a tragic nightmare; their own Armageddon.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

C.H. FOERTMEYER was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1949 and again lives there, where he divides his time between web authoring and writing.Educated in New Mexico, Mr. Foertmeyer had the opportunity to explore the Rocky Mountains and the New Mexico deserts extensively, gaining great insight into these areas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; 1st edition (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595216862
• ISBN-13: 978-0595216864
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,176,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

C.H. Foertmeyer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1949, and the eldest of four children. After graduating from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, he returned to Cincinnati to pursue his career in the paint coatings industry. He married in 1978 and raised two wonderful stepchildren and a lovely daughter, Jennifer, in his Lockland home. Today, Mr. Foertmeyer divides his time between web authoring and fiction writing. He now resides in Forest Park, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. His daughter lives in nearby Greenhills, Ohio and is the inspiration of his writing, inspiring him to write his first novel at age fifty-three.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carver: High Mountain Tragedy, April 27, 2002

By 

Susan Hartigan (Riverside, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carver: High Mountain Tragedy (Paperback)

I have to make a confession. This review is about the hardest review I have ever written. Not because CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY was a difficult, or bad book. Because it is everything but that. CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY is filled with just about every human emotion that can be brought forth, from a human being. I will try to cover them all, although right now I honestly don't think I can.

When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be another rehash of all the school shooting stories. It is everything but that. It is a story that will haunt you long after you put the book down for the last time. It is a story that is as equally as tragic as Columbine, and the others, But what happened in Carver, Montana, in 1969, was even more tragic in many ways.

CARVER: MOUNTAIN HIGH TRAGEDY takes the reader into the lives, feelings, and the minds of three troubled teenage boys, Bryce Spencer, Kevin Reynolds, and Wiley Coates. For years the three boys had suffered the abuses and torments of their fellow classmates at Carver High. The three boys became and stayed the closest of friends fighting this overwhelming torture together, until one day one of the chief tormentors, Mary Clemmons and her friend, Alicia Koppe, took their torment to a new high. They killed Bryce. Although it was suppose to start off as a prank, it ended in a horrible death.

Wiley took this opportunity to finally even the score with these two tormentors, and talked Kevin into helping him cover up what had really happened to Bryce, in order to take justice into their own hands.

What follows is not only gut wrenching, but also goes to show how constant torment and ridicule can result in the changing of the lives of everyone involved, and even those not involved. It can change the lives of families, and friends. It can change the lives of an entire community. This is not a victimless "crime" in anyway. The victims are very widespread. But, like in so many instances, what happened in Carver was not only tragic, it could have been avoided.

Mr. Foertmeyer has created characters that actually bring out the emotions in the reader. In my case I actually put faces to Kevin and Wiley. I remembered kids that I went through school with that were the brunt of torments from the other kids. Tormentors much like Mary and Alicia. And there was always a leader to this, much in the same way as Mary leads Alicia around, and also in this case, as Wiley leads Kevin into getting revenge.

Mr. Foertmeyer has a wonderful way of describing the mountains, snow, valleys, and even the nighttime sky. He actually brings you into this story in such a way that you feel a part of the story, not only with the characters but also with the scenes in which these characters are living their lives.

I cannot say enough about CARVER; HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY. It is a story that took place in the late 60's but is every bit as modern as today. It is a story that will take you back to your childhood and make you think. It will make you wonder if perhaps what you did during those years was perhaps something to be ashamed of, or maybe proud of. Depending on which side of the fence you were on.

CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY should be required reading for every teacher in the country, and it wouldn't hurt if a few parents read it too. Perhaps, just maybe the story wouldn't be repeated.

And to top it off, it is a wonderful, adventure story with twists and turns that keep you reading and won't let you stop. A definite page-turner. It kept me enthralled to the very last page.

I only hope for more from this great author, Charles Foertmeyer. He definitely knows how to please a reader, and at the same time make a statement we all need to listen to. In my opinion, Mr. Foertmeyer could very well be our modern day Samuel Clemons. He is that compelling.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carver: High Mountain Tragedy...and adventure!, April 4, 2002

By 

Thomas H. (Forest Park, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carver: High Mountain Tragedy (Paperback)

When I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be another "school-shooting" story. It turned out to be so much more! The characters are well developed and the descriptions of the mountainous setting put me right there in the middle of this adventure. The author surrounds his social commentary with an almost Twain-like adventure that is delivered with a couple of good twists. I like a good story with a good plot, and this story fit the bill. A definate page turner!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CARVER: High Mountain Tragedy, August 27, 2002

By 

AAM Reviews (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carver: High Mountain Tragedy (Paperback)

In a small town in Montana, by the name of Carver, you will meet three lifelong friends. Bound to each other out of survival and a
love for the wilderness. Kevin, Bryce and Wiley are three boys that are tormented in High School by their classmates on a daily
basis.

Kevin's teasing began after coming down with polio. The virus affects the way he runs. So the kids call him "Spider". His friend
Bryce has been raised with strict morals and sees right and wrong in strictly black and white. He will report any cheating or rule
breaking by his fellow classmates without hesitation. Bryce truly can't understand why his classmates hate him for this reason
and he thinks everyone should live by these strict rules.
Wiley is the fast tempered one that is known as "Taxi" or "Dumbo" because of his big ears.

Three friends with different reasons for being teased all of their lives and bound together through friendship and survival.

The two chief tormentors of these boys are Mary and Alicia. When Bryce tells on Mary for cheating on a test she plans to make
him pay for it. She overhears the boys making plans to go skiing the following morning and sets a trap for Bryce. Her hatred
ends up going too far and she and Alicia accidentally kill him. What is even worse, Mary and Alicia don't even feel bad about
killing him. They only care that they don't get caught.

Kevin and Wiley know what really happened on the mountain and plan to cover up Mary and Alicia's crime from the Sheriff so
that they can turn the tables on their tormentors and prosecute the girls themselves. When Mary and Alicia realize that their
murder has been deemed an accident, they don't feel thankful, they just get meaner. And they go out of their way to make sure
that Kevin and Wiley hurt every single day from the loss of their best friend.

CARVER: HIGH MOUNTAIN TRAGEDY is an excellent book! I found the strange twist in taking the law into their own hands
perfect! What better way to exact revenge for Bryce then to do it themselves? A boy who only viewed right and wrong, in black
and white, would have loved to been alive to see his friends bring his two killers to justice. And in such a personal way.

C.H. Foertmeyer has written a truly gripping story that will pull you into the book and hold you there till the end. His characters
are wonderful and horrible. And that's just the way they are supposed to be. I recommend this book highly and can't wait to read
more by Mr. Foertmeyer!...