Longleaf [Hardcover]

Roger Reid (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

When 14-year-old Jason Caldwell goes camping with his scientist parents, all he expects is peace and quiet. But before they arrive, Jason has already been the witness to a crime, and soon he'll find himself lost among the very longleaf pines that his parents hoped to study. Now Jason--and his new forest-smart friend Leah--will have to use all their knowledge of the outdoors to outwit a trio of villains and make it home safe. Set in the real-life Conecuh National Forest, Longleaf is a thrilling adventure for boys and girls--and an excellent introduction to the plants and animals of the Conecuh region, written by Discovering Alabama producer Roger Reid.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fans of Peg Kehret's novels and other middle-grade adventures will want to join Jason on his walk on the wild side." -- The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books

"Longleaf is pleasantly laced throughout with bits of environmental information about birds, amphibians and the trees themselves." -- Don Noble, Alabama Public Radio

About the Author

Roger Reid is a writer, director, and producer of the award-winning Discovering Alabama series from the University of Alabama's Alabama Museum of Natural History, in cooperation with Alabama Public Television.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 133 pages
• Publisher: JuneBug Books (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588381943
• ISBN-13: 978-1588381941
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I use this book, December 13, 2007

By 

Mark J. Hainds "Mark in LA" (Andalusia, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Longleaf (Hardcover)

My house borders the Conecuh National Forest and I am a forester/researcher who specializes in longleaf pine. I've traveled to about 20 schools with Mr Reid. Roger talked about writing the book, the plot, and the characters. I give the "science" end of it.

The kids loved "Longleaf", and this book gave us a entry to teach them about the forest they should see from their windows and doors of today, but probably do not.

At school after school we asked "How many of you know about the rainforest in South America?" Then, "How many of you know about the longleaf pine forests here in the US?" If they had not already read the book "Longleaf" twice as many children said they knew more about the rainforest than the native longleaf that once covered most of the SE.

At schools where the kids had read this book, they loved the story. And in the process of reading the book they learned about prescribed fire, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, and many other components of this beautiful forest.

This book works with its intended audience. And from the view of a forester/biologist this is the best book I can imagine for stirring the interest of young children in a forest that many of us hope to restore to some version of its former glory.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, believable adventure, November 22, 2007

By 

Maria Beadnell "gotlips" (NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Longleaf (Hardcover)

This is the ideal book for that kid you know who's already read a lot of Gary Paulsen.

Not to take away from either author! It's just that it's hard to find an adventure book so authentic feeling, and with such good characters. And while there's no doubt, even for a page, that the good guys will eventually win, I was surprised by how the good ending occurred. The parents in this book were well-drawn, as well, and the local girl who befriends the protaganist is funny and believable. The bad guys were suitably scary without being cliches, and you definitely want them to get what's coming to them. Very satisfying book.

4.0 out of 5 stars My son readLongleaf in 3 days, August 15, 2009

By 

jennifer Davis (alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Longleaf (Hardcover)

My son seemed to enjoy this story, though he did complain there was a lot of detail about trees thrown in. Of course, the author wanted him to learn those details. Any book that keeps my son reading gets a good review from me.