Joseph can hardly believe what he has been asked to do. His Aunt Kate, a wildlife biologist, is waiting for him at a research station and needs his help taking care of an orphaned polar bear cub only a few months old. He will leave his friends and family and venture to the farthest northern town in the United States. As the adventure unfolds, Joseph and his newfound Eskimo friend Ada find mysteries wherever they look. The bear cub, Delta, remains in danger. Who would want a polar bear dead? Joseph will have to look to the North Georgia woods to save Delta. When his parents were kids, they too embarked on an excursion into the unknown. Their encounters with the wilderness beyond their backyard have shaped the future for Joseph and Delta. A Place for Delta is about one family's journey—a passage born in the Appalachian Mountains and leading to the Arctic.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Melissa Walker, Ph.D., has been a professor of English at the University of New Orleans and Mercer University and a Fellow in Women's Studies at Emory University. She's has been an advocate for civil rights and a national leader for wilderness preservation. Her current commitment is to empower children to understand their place in the natural world and to discover how they can help save the environment. A Place for Delta is the first of a planned series of novels (chapter books) that will follow the adventures of the characters as they learn to take their place in a complex world. Walker's previous books include Writing Research Papers, 4 editions (W. W. Norton, 1982–1997); Down from the Mountaintop (Yale University Press, 1991); Reading the Environment (W. W. Norton, 1994); and Living on Wilderness Time: Two Hundred Days Alone in America's Wild Places (University of Virginia Press).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A Place for Delta is indeed a rare treat. It is a collaboration between a mother and son - the authoress being the mother and the illustrator being the son. The text relates an intriguing story that keeps one wanting to read the next chapter until the very end. The illustrations are woodblocks that supplement the text beautifully.
The book itself appeals to adults and children alike. It speaks of ultimately finding "A Place" for an orphaned bear, Delta, but there is much more to it than that relatively simple story line. It's about those involved in this process finding "their" Place rescuing a bear in Alaska and eventually defining a home for it in the mountains of north Georgia. But it is also about joy, sorrow, commitment, love and taking risks. It is about developing a concern for our precious earth and acting upon it. It defines some of the adversaries to this process and their having to face justice.
I think that we all spend most our our lives defining "A Place" for ourselves on this fragile earth. It is a continual commitment - something that this book helps us understand.
I recommend it for "adult" reading and reading to children - though be warned - it is hard to just read a bit of this wonderful book and wait for that next chapter tomorrow night.
The book itself appeals to adults and children alike. It speaks of ultimately finding "A Place" for an orphaned bear, Delta, but there is much more to it than that relatively simple story line. It's about those involved in this process finding "their" Place rescuing a bear in Alaska and eventually defining a home for it in the mountains of north Georgia. But it is also about joy, sorrow, commitment, love and taking risks. It is about developing a concern for our precious earth and acting upon it. It defines some of the adversaries to this process and their having to face justice.
I think that we all spend most our our lives defining "A Place" for ourselves on this fragile earth. It is a continual commitment - something that this book helps us understand.
I recommend it for "adult" reading and reading to children - though be warned - it is hard to just read a bit of this wonderful book and wait for that next chapter tomorrow night.
By Lisa Barker
This is a heartwarming story with an adorable polar bear cub and plenty of mystery and adventure for any young reader. I enjoyed the smooth flow of dialogue; the book is easy to read and totally wraps you up in the plot-a real page turner. The glossary at the back of the book is a plus because it describes new words relating to the story about the arctic tundra and all things scientific that are informative and useful. I highly recommend A Place For Delta especially for kids age 9-12 who love animals. - Review by N.C., 16 yrs old, Biblio Reads Children's Book Review
A Place for Delta is a beautifully written and touching book. We read a few pages of it to our three-year-old each night, and soon we found ourselves reading further ahead on our own. Melissa Walker has crafted a heartwarming and timely tale that will awaken in young people (and their parents) a love for polar bears and all wild creatures. It is suspenseful, lyrical, fun, and engaging. It's truly a page turner. It is also incredibly well researched with great attention to detail, yet simple and direct enough for the young reader to grasp. It was selected for an International Book Award, and Walker has developed some captivating characters that readers of all ages can relate to. Delta's journey highlights the importance of protecting wild creatures and their babitats, but the message is embedded in an exciting and adventurous tale.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating read of Alaska, polar bars, and adventure
To take care of a polar bear cub seems crazy, but people who would actively seek its death seem crazier. Read more
Published on September 11, 2010 by Midwest Book Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Read
Eleven-year-old Joseph Morse has received an email from his aunt Kate, who lives in Barrow, Alaska, inviting him to a research station to help take care of a polar bear cub named... Read more
Published on July 3, 2010 by Middle Grade Ninja
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review
Cover:
While the cover (and the interior) has some cool illustrations, I wish they were a tad lighter. Read more
While the cover (and the interior) has some cool illustrations, I wish they were a tad lighter. Read more
Published on June 23, 2010 by The Pampered Lamb
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent imagary and message
The story opens with Ben and Kate, the newest residents (with their mother) arriving in Georgia to their new home on the cusp of wilderness. Read more
Published on June 23, 2010 by N. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beauty of Alaska
Joseph can hardly believe what he has been asked to do. His Aunt Kate is waiting for him at a research station and needs help taking care of an orphaned polar bear cub only a few... Read more
Published on June 21, 2010 by Allison R. King
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good pre-teen animal mystery read
Eleven year old Joseph travels from Georgia to Alaska and back, encountering smugglers, anti-environmentalist forces, and 19th century gold along the way. Read more
Published on June 17, 2010 by Elise Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting, Entertaining, and Educational
Melissa Walker spins decades of experience lobbying for wilderness protection on a national scale into an intimate story of one boy's encounter with a wild polar bear in need of... Read more
Published on June 16, 2010 by Barry R. Muchnick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Journey to the Arctic: A Story that Entertains, Teaches, and Inspires
A national voice for preservation of wild places, Dr. Melissa Walker accomplishes something rare in A Place for Delta: she conveys her knowledge and passion for the environment... Read more
Published on June 4, 2010 by Virginia R. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Empowering Read for Young Minds
A Place for Delta by Melissa Walker is an empowering read for young minds as it shows the true value of teamwork and hope. Read more
Published on May 21, 2010 by Tracy A. Mangold
5.0 out of 5 stars
A mystery for young readers that educates about the Arctic
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery / adventure tale for youngsters set mostly in the Arctic. With a plot that moves right along and characters who are easy to care about, this... Read more
Published on May 19, 2010 by Aspen Leaf
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