Winter Camp [Mass Market Paperback]

Kirkpatrick Hill (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Recently orphaned, Toughboy and Sister live with Natasha, an elderly, cantankerous Athabascan Indian. In late fall she has them all flown to camp in a bush plane to teach the children how to trap and deal with the Alaskan winter. When an old miner is seriously injured and Natasha sets off for help, the children find their spirits pushed to the limits. Sequel to Toughboy and Sister.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-Following the deaths of their parents, Toughboy and Sister are tended to by an old woman in their Alaskan village. Although gruff and short on praise and affection, Natasha is wise in the "old ways" of the Athabascan Indians, and instructs the children through stories about bygone days and by taking them to a winter trapping camp. As in the earlier Toughboy and Sister (McElderry, 1990), the children mature, yet show instances of behavior and thought that reveal the impulsiveness of their youth (ages seven and nine). Hill's description of life and work at the camp is straightforward and unsentimental, a blend of beauty and blunt reality that is reflected in Sister's mixed feelings about trapping. Again, the children must learn to survive under trying circumstances, this time when Natasha leaves them to seek help for a wounded trapper in the midst of harsh winter weather. Familiarity with the first book is not required. A spare but compelling story of survival and the growth of two very resilient but sensitive children.
Susan Knorr, Milwaukee Public Library,
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. In a dramatic sequel to Toughboy and Sister (1990), the recently orphaned children live with Natasha, an elderly, cantankerous Athabascan Indian. John (Toughboy) and Annie Laurie (Sister) respect Natasha but find her clinging to the old ways and her disparaging remarks about the pair's softness hard to swallow. In late fall she abruptly has them all flown to camp in a bush plane to teach the children how to trap and deal with the Alaskan winter. They are awed by Natasha's stamina and knowledge of the wilderness. Things gradually become almost routine, then an old miner friend is seriously injured by a moose. When Natasha sets off by dogsled for help, the children find their spirit pushed to the limit. Hill slowly and carefully sets the stage and then accelerates the pace for a thoroughly satisfying story. Told mostly in narrative, the book conveys a realistic starkness that reflects classic conflicts--humankind against nature, old ways against new. The bitter cold seeps from the pages, making the reader shiver--evidence of effective writing. Read independently or as a sequel, this is one adventure youngsters won't put down until they finish. Deborah Abbott --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140370765
• ISBN-13: 978-0140370768
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,808,395 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 Winter Camp, January 31, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Winter Camp (Mass Market Paperback)

Winter Camp is a great adventure book. It's writen by a Kirpatrick Hill. This story is about a brother and sister who have great adventures together. They call sister sister they call brother Toughboy. Sister and Toughboy go on camping trip. They meet a friend of Natasha's. His name is Nelson. In this story Nelson is saved by Sister. Toughboy wished he saved Nelson. I like this book because like adventrues.

by,Grace Dewitt

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winter Camp a five star book!, January 31, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Winter Camp (Mass Market Paperback)

Wintr Camp is an awesome ficton book by Kirkpatrick Hill. It is about a girl that they call Sister, and a boy named Toughboy.They live with a lady named Natasha. Natasha takes them to Winter Camp, they will stay there for a while. The log cabin is old, dusty, and the windows are cracked.So the cold air seeps through the walls.Toughboy and Sister have to do their chores everyday.One day a man named Nelson comes and gets kicked by a moose.Natasha checked to see if he was hurt, and they found out that he broke his arm. The rest of the story is about how Natasha goes to get help. I enjoyed this book because it was exciting, and it captured my attention. The theme or mesage in Winter Camp was that the old ways are good and the new ways are good too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Winter camp, January 31, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Winter Camp (Mass Market Paperback)

The book is about four people. Toughboy, Sister, Natasha, and Nelson, who is living with Toughboy and Sister up at the winter camp.A moose ran over Nelson's arm breaking it.Toughboy and sister take good care of Nelson.Until Natasha calls back and tells them that help is on the way.

I like the book because you never know what's going to happen.