Hike up Devil's Mountain [Kindle Edition]

Penny Estelle (Author)

Book Description

International Best Seller in Free Books

Amazon Canada ranks: Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #707 Free in Kindle Store

#25 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Action & Adventure

#38 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy Amazon

Us Rank: Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352 Free in Kindle Store

#16 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure

#24 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens



Ten-year old Andy Thompson disobeys his mother and sneaks into the basement of an old abandoned house that’s due for demolition. He stumbles upon a mysterious box under an old cabinet. And his troubles begin when he looks inside.

The Crew brothers, twelve-year old Jason, and ten-year old Danny, also find their way to the basement. New to town, Jason has established himself as the school bully. A struggle ensues between Andy and Jason and the bully ends up as a toad.

Somehow, the boys must reverse the magical spell. And that means hiking up the dread mountain: fast pace, fast action and just a few scares and surprises on the way! The lives of all three boys seem destined to change forever, if they survive…

Product Details

• File Size: 183 KB
• Print Length: 68 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1466454946
• Publisher: Solstice Publishing (June 26, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058DE9YC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,416 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun but short read March 6, 2012

By Karen's Opinion

Format:Kindle Edition

When Andy disobeys his mom and sneaks into the basement of a condemned old house that is to be torn down, he trips and finds a box under an old cabinet. Enter the Crew brothers-Jason, 12 year old bully and 10- year old Danny. When Jason tries to take the box away from Andy, he accidentally ends up as a toad, with a little help from the strange box.

The boys must hike up Devil's Mountain to get turn Jason back to a boy.

The author does a great job making the reader see the boys' trip up the mountain in her/his head. You feel the characters' dread, fear, awe, surprise and the anxiety of a few close calls as the elements attempt to hamper the boys from making it to their destination. Along the way the boys learn to help and trust each other. Happy and surprising ending is very age appropriate. I would recommend this short novella to kids age 10-13.

I received a free copy of this book in return for my review.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a fantastic book! August 31, 2011

By Jenny VanderVeur

Format:Kindle Edition

For the first time, I was thrilled to have my son glued to the computer. This was his first experience with an Ebook, and it was definitely a success. For days all he could talk about was Hike Up Devils Mountain and what was happening in the book. He was so excited about it that my younger daughter insisted we read it to her. This book has been enjoyable for the entire family!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read October 5, 2012

By Charity martinez

Format:Paperback

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 9 years, 11 months

SPOILER ALERT:

Ten-year-old Andy Thompson's mother tells him not to go to the house next door because it is old and dangerous, but he sneaks out and goes in the house next door where he finds a red magic stick. Two boys named, Jason and Danny, go to the house as well. While the boys are there, Jason and Andy get into a fight over the magic stick. While they are fighting, Andy told Jason that he was acting like a toad and then Jason turned into a toad!! Danny and Andy try to find a way to turn Jason back into a boy, but nothing works. Danny comes up with an idea to hike up to Devil's Mountain. Andy does not want to do this, but Danny tells him that he has to go. While hiking up Devil's Mountain, strange things start to happen.

My favorite part of this book is when the boys were hiking up Devil's Mountain and they start to get hungry. Danny had gummy bugs and since Jason was a toad, his tongue went flying so he could eat the gummy bugs. This is my favorite part because it was so funny! I think that anyone that likes funny and scary books should read this book. I think that it is best for 3rd-6th graders. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars boys will be boys August 21, 2012

By jw

Format:Kindle Edition

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review it. This was a great short read. The author gets you right into the story right from the beginning. Disobeying parents has consequences and this story is no different. Andy disobeys and goes into an old house where he finds a "treasure"? He then meets two bullies, Jason and Danny. Their journey together, both before and after going up Devils Mountain was well developed by the author bringing in suspense and intrigue, changing their lives forever. The boys lives will never be the same after their journey up the mountain and meeting the old woman.
Who is this woman? Why is she on top of Devils Mountain? What changed the boys? Hope you read the book and find out.

This is the first book I read by Penny Estelle and look forward to reading more of her books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wicked witch with a twist August 3, 2012

By Bob

Format:Kindle Edition

I received this book free to read and review
Although a short children's story I enjoyed it, however I don't think it is one of those "for all ages stories". The style of writing brings the characters to life and the description of the climb up the mountain very good. Once I reached the end I realised that I should have known what was going to happen but it did come as a bit of a surprise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Action, adventure , and suspense! July 28, 2012

By Georgeanna

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a fun story with a moral for middle grade readers. Andy disobeys his parents by going into a house set for demolition. He's surprised there by two other kids and things go downhill from there. Lots of action, adventure, and suspense fill the pages of this fun read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars YAbooklover May 11, 2012

By Jessica

Format:Kindle Edition

An exciting and imaginative ride! Penny Estelle weaves a fun, but sometimes thrilling story as Andy, Danny, and Jason make their way up Devil's Mountain. My daughter (9) loved the book and thought the ending was a great surprise! Entertaining and short for a fast read. Wonderful!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read but too short! April 29, 2012

By E.R.G.

Format:Kindle Edition

When 10-year-old Andy approaches the condemned house at the edge of the neighborhood, he knows he's asking for trouble. Not only did his mother forbid him to go to the house due to be razed, but also everyone he knows talks about it being the former home of a wicked witch who has since moved to the top of Devil's Mountain. But Andy isn't about to let some sissy warning from his mother or idle town gossip keep him from investigating the house. A simple premise, but author Penny Estelle treats it in a delightful manner that will have even adults eager to find out what happens next.

Author Estelle doesn't hesitate: her book opens right in the middle of the action as readers see Andy on the verge of entering the basement of the dilapidated home from an external entrance. As he investigates suspicious-looking boxes and a furnace missing its door, twelve-year-old Jason and his younger brother, Danny, follow him inside the basement. Jason doesn't hesitate to taunt Andy about being scared; as a new kid in town and the elder son of wealthy parents, Jason tries to exert his superiority over Andy.

Andy, however, isn't about to back down, and the two boys begin to scuffle. Just when the fight comes to its climax, though, Jason disappears, seemingly into thin air--and Andy and Jason's younger brother are left to decide how to get Jason back. The two decide the only way to bring Jason back is by visiting the so-called witch on Devil's Mountain, and that's where the adventure begins.

This short book for young readers packs quite a punch--author Penny Estelle doesn't back down from including twists and turns at every possible chance, and as a result readers will be flipping pages impatiently to know how it all ends. Estelle's prose targets her audience well.... Although some of her dialogue may not sound true to life (at certain points it's a little too explanatory and above the age of her target readers,) for the most part she will definitely keep readers engaged.

The only major complaint I have of this book is that it ended too soon, and it is certainly reminiscent of the once-popular "Choose Your Own Adventure" books. A fun afternoon read for adults and possibly a weekend read for younger readers, I wholeheartedly recommend Hike Up Devil's Mountain for fans of good old-fashioned action adventure. Read more ›

More About the Author

My name is Penny Estelle and I was an elementary school secretary for 21 years. I heard every excuse and story in the book when kids would be sent to the principal. I promised myself when I retired I would write stories about kids and that is just what I did.

I am retired with my wonderful husband and we live on a fifty-four acre ranch in Arizona on solar and wind. I am the "greenest" person and I know, even if I don't want to be!

My story, Hike Up Devil's Mountain, is about two ten year olds and a bully that find themselves in a world of trouble and their only help lives atop of Devil's Mountain!
The question is - will they survive the trip?

I have another MG/tween short story out, Billy Cooper's Awesome Nightmare! This is the first story in the Wickware Sagas. A seventh grader finds himself, face to face, with the fourteenth century legend he is supposed to do an oral report on! Will he make it home?

I also write under P. A. Estelle. I have my first adult story out, At What Price, about a grandmother that takes in her six year old granddaughter, after being deserted by her mother. At what lengths a grandmother will go to save the ones she loves.



www.pennystales.com
www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com