What do you think?
Rate this book
Lost on a Mountain in Maine
Based on the true account of a boy's harrowing journey through the vast wilderness of the Katahdin Mountains, Lost on a Mountain in Maine is a gripping survival story for all ages. Twelve-year-old Donn Fendler steps away from his Boy Scout troop for only a minute, but in the foggy mountains of Maine, a minute is all it takes. After hours of trying to find his way back, a nervous and tired Donn falls down an embankment, making it impossible for him to be found. One sleepless night goes by, followed by a second . . . and before Donn knows it, almost two weeks have passed, leaving him starving, scared, and delirious. With rainstorms, black bears, and his fear of being lost forever, Donn's journey is a physically, mentally, and emotionally charged story told from the point of view of the boy who lived it. Don't miss this thrilling survival story, a proven high-interest winner that pulls in readers the way Hatchet , My Side of the Mountain , and the I Survived books do.
128 pages, Paperback
Published May 22, 1992
378 people are currently reading
6648 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews
March 26, 2024
Fascinating
When author don fenler was only 12 years old he became Lost in A mountain in Maine. He was on top of a mountain In the fog When he told 1 or 2 of his friends that he wanted to go back to the other hikers. After leaving he took the wrong trail and was lost for 7 days. This story is about his survival in these mountains.
He had been given survival information which helped him tremendously. He was told to always follow the river downstream. This he did.
It was amazing how many flies and mosquitoes attacked him. Nothing like being eaten alive. Then his tennis shoes began ripping apart And His FEET We're getting cut. The most memorable part of the story for me was when he walked into a cabin that was deserted He grabbed a blanket off of the bed And what followed was really funny.
When author don fenler was only 12 years old he became Lost in A mountain in Maine. He was on top of a mountain In the fog When he told 1 or 2 of his friends that he wanted to go back to the other hikers. After leaving he took the wrong trail and was lost for 7 days. This story is about his survival in these mountains.
He had been given survival information which helped him tremendously. He was told to always follow the river downstream. This he did.
It was amazing how many flies and mosquitoes attacked him. Nothing like being eaten alive. Then his tennis shoes began ripping apart And His FEET We're getting cut. The most memorable part of the story for me was when he walked into a cabin that was deserted He grabbed a blanket off of the bed And what followed was really funny.
March 15, 2025
I've been meaning to read this since the movie came out last year, finally sat down to do it.
It's a straightforward account of the nine days Donn Fendler spent lost on a mountain (in Maine), and what he did to survive, running on no food except the occasional strawberry, and losing his sneakers and pants along the way.
It was an amazing story, honestly, when you consider he was only twelve years old and he managed to survive all on his own, despite the harsh elements, mosquitos, bears and awfully jagged rocks that cut up not only his feet, but the paws of the search and rescue dogs as well.
You can tell he was a kid, because of the words used, and the way he describes his thoughts at the time, it's incredible he managed to keep it together for so long. A lot of adults wouldn't be able to.
In the afterword, we get to see what his family and the rescue teams were doing while he was lost, and there are pictures of the mountain, and the rescue throughout the book.
I hope I'll like the movie just as much, I'd recommend this if you're a fan of survival stories.
It's a straightforward account of the nine days Donn Fendler spent lost on a mountain (in Maine), and what he did to survive, running on no food except the occasional strawberry, and losing his sneakers and pants along the way.
It was an amazing story, honestly, when you consider he was only twelve years old and he managed to survive all on his own, despite the harsh elements, mosquitos, bears and awfully jagged rocks that cut up not only his feet, but the paws of the search and rescue dogs as well.
You can tell he was a kid, because of the words used, and the way he describes his thoughts at the time, it's incredible he managed to keep it together for so long. A lot of adults wouldn't be able to.
In the afterword, we get to see what his family and the rescue teams were doing while he was lost, and there are pictures of the mountain, and the rescue throughout the book.
I hope I'll like the movie just as much, I'd recommend this if you're a fan of survival stories.
January 14, 2012
In this true story, Donn Fendler is a twelve-year-old boy in 1939. He is on an expedition to climb Mt. Katahdin, at 5268 feet the highest peak in the state of Maine, with his father, brothers Tom and Ryan, and guide Henry Condon. Henry and Donn run ahead and meet another climber, Charles Austin, minister with the Church of All Nations in New York City, NY. Donn gets cold and decides to find his own way back to camp rather than wait for the rest. Henry cautions him against doing so and remains with Mr. Austin, but Donn leaves anyway. Unfortunately, a thick, fast-moving fog obscures the path. Donn falls down an embankment that hides him from sight. Then he takes a wrong turn that leaves him alone to wander aimlessly for nine days in the empty mountain wilderness. Will he make it to his camp or be found by the others?
This book is Donn's own description of his struggles to survive after being separated from his companions, as told to Joseph B. Egan. For years I saw it advertised in the Christian Book Distributors catalogue and finally decided to purchase it to read as a family read aloud. With no food and no shelter, Donn survives by remembering his Boy Scout skills and by drawing on his faith in himself, his family, and God. His shoes and then his feet were cut to shreds on the rough stone outcroppings. He was tormented by insects, encountered a bear, and tumbled in an icy river. His "dungarees" were impossible to walk in, once wet, and he lost them. He suffered from cold, hunger, loneliness, and hallucinations. Toward the end of his ordeal Donn followed telephone wires and a stream, hoping that both would eventually lead him to what civilization there was in the great woods of Maine.
Donn's harrowing story, as told to Joseph Burke Egan, who was an author and I think a journalist, apparently was first published later in 1939 and has been a beloved family and school classic in Maine since that time. Through the years, Fendler himself visited schools and libraries to share his experiences, and generations of Maine children have learned lessons about courage, faith, and will from Lost on a Mountain in Maine. I especially like the way in which Donn emphasizes the fact that he put his trust in God and said his prayers daily for God's protection and deliverance. In 2008, Donn's story wes retold with illustrations by Ben Bishop for a graphic novel entitled Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness, published by Down East Books. I guess that this all right for a generation that doesn't want to read words, except for a few in a cartoon bubble every now and then, bur prefers just to look at pictures. However, we really enjoyed the original and thought it quite exciting.
This book is Donn's own description of his struggles to survive after being separated from his companions, as told to Joseph B. Egan. For years I saw it advertised in the Christian Book Distributors catalogue and finally decided to purchase it to read as a family read aloud. With no food and no shelter, Donn survives by remembering his Boy Scout skills and by drawing on his faith in himself, his family, and God. His shoes and then his feet were cut to shreds on the rough stone outcroppings. He was tormented by insects, encountered a bear, and tumbled in an icy river. His "dungarees" were impossible to walk in, once wet, and he lost them. He suffered from cold, hunger, loneliness, and hallucinations. Toward the end of his ordeal Donn followed telephone wires and a stream, hoping that both would eventually lead him to what civilization there was in the great woods of Maine.
Donn's harrowing story, as told to Joseph Burke Egan, who was an author and I think a journalist, apparently was first published later in 1939 and has been a beloved family and school classic in Maine since that time. Through the years, Fendler himself visited schools and libraries to share his experiences, and generations of Maine children have learned lessons about courage, faith, and will from Lost on a Mountain in Maine. I especially like the way in which Donn emphasizes the fact that he put his trust in God and said his prayers daily for God's protection and deliverance. In 2008, Donn's story wes retold with illustrations by Ben Bishop for a graphic novel entitled Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness, published by Down East Books. I guess that this all right for a generation that doesn't want to read words, except for a few in a cartoon bubble every now and then, bur prefers just to look at pictures. However, we really enjoyed the original and thought it quite exciting.
March 27, 2024
I've known the basic story of this book for a while, having been in Maine for more than 25 years now. We had it growing up, and I remember listening to parts of it, but this is the first time I've read it for myself.
It's a pretty amazing story of survival, and Donn's voice feels genuine in the way the story is told, with conversational expressions and remarks. There are a few footnotes to give extra information, but the majority of the book reads as Donn simply telling his story from the beginning. There is very little lead-in -- it might have been nice to have more backstory about him or his family, but the book jumps right in at the point just before Donn sets off on his fateful attempt to return to camp alone on Mount Katahdin.
My kids liked this book, but I think in some ways it scared them more than most stories do. We can read about witches and monsters and other story villains, but knowing it's fiction gives a bit of comfort. Reading this story makes you realize it could actually happen to you or someone you love, and I am glad my kids are now more cognizant of some of the reasons for the rules we have when we go hiking.
It's a pretty amazing story of survival, and Donn's voice feels genuine in the way the story is told, with conversational expressions and remarks. There are a few footnotes to give extra information, but the majority of the book reads as Donn simply telling his story from the beginning. There is very little lead-in -- it might have been nice to have more backstory about him or his family, but the book jumps right in at the point just before Donn sets off on his fateful attempt to return to camp alone on Mount Katahdin.
My kids liked this book, but I think in some ways it scared them more than most stories do. We can read about witches and monsters and other story villains, but knowing it's fiction gives a bit of comfort. Reading this story makes you realize it could actually happen to you or someone you love, and I am glad my kids are now more cognizant of some of the reasons for the rules we have when we go hiking.
September 14, 2013
Some people like disaster stories, some like romance but for me what does it is a nice survival story.
So this one takes a bunch of people out hiking - takes a kid (this is a true story about the author by the way) who leaves the summit of a mountain and misses the trail down - how does the kid survive? What does he go through when he discovers he's lost?
Good story - bad book.
I just never got the feeling that he was in trouble, I got no insight into what he was really feeling. If you read enough book reviews you'll hear "show don't tell" quite a bit and this book is the perfect example of what not to do. If I hear "wow that was dangerous" or "Christmas that was scary" one more time I'm going to lose my mind.
This is a definite pass - there are better stories with better writers out there - not terrible but not worth your time.
So this one takes a bunch of people out hiking - takes a kid (this is a true story about the author by the way) who leaves the summit of a mountain and misses the trail down - how does the kid survive? What does he go through when he discovers he's lost?
Good story - bad book.
I just never got the feeling that he was in trouble, I got no insight into what he was really feeling. If you read enough book reviews you'll hear "show don't tell" quite a bit and this book is the perfect example of what not to do. If I hear "wow that was dangerous" or "Christmas that was scary" one more time I'm going to lose my mind.
This is a definite pass - there are better stories with better writers out there - not terrible but not worth your time.
Read
March 11, 2020This is my second time reading this book and it's overall it is a really good book. It's about a young boy named Don who goes on a camping trip on Mt.Kahtadin. He ended up wandering away from his boy scout troops and he got lost and had to survive on his own. I would reccomend this book to anyone who likes survival stories.
December 20, 2016
It's a good book. I don't remeber much, since I haven't read it in such a long time.
September 6, 2024
Christmas, I wasn’t too big of a fan! I would have eaten this up if I read it 20 years ago, but as an adult this is way too tame of a wilderness story for my taste. And way too simple; not enough details for being lost out in the woods for 9 days. Needed way more. I understand it’s from the perspective of a young boy, and maybe the narrator of my audiobook just annoyed me, but read it too late in life. 🤷♀️
August 18, 2025
thank you jackie’s dad
August 19, 2022
Three and a half stars.
A fascinating true story of a 12 year old boy that got lost in the Maine woods on a mountain for nine days in 1939. The writing was very straight forward, basically just the facts, no fancy prose or insights here. There are black and white pictures, but nothing is labeled. I think any child interested in survival stories would love this. As an adult, this was a very quick, interesting read.
A fascinating true story of a 12 year old boy that got lost in the Maine woods on a mountain for nine days in 1939. The writing was very straight forward, basically just the facts, no fancy prose or insights here. There are black and white pictures, but nothing is labeled. I think any child interested in survival stories would love this. As an adult, this was a very quick, interesting read.
December 14, 2017
Personal Response
The book Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler was a great book. I actually enjoyed this book because it was easy to read, short, and told a great story. The length of the story was great. The story was still good and wasn’t choppy.
Plot
The plot of the story was about a family of four men. The men wanted to climb the biggest mountain in Maine. They all got together and were ready to climb Mount Katahdin. When they started to climb the mountain it began to sleet and got really windy. It was getting hard to see, but it didn’t slow them down. Before they knew it, they started to drift apart from each other. The main character Donn kept walking the trails of the mountain. It later began to warm up and stopped sleeting. It was warm enough to live in. Donn was on his own for a couple of days now. He was worrying about his family, but he kept his journey going. Donn was continuing the trip and living off the land. Towards the end of the book, Donn found his family and told them about his expedition.
Characterization
The main character was Donn Fendler. He was twelve years old and born in 1939.
Henry and Ryan were Donn’s brothers who decided to climb the mountain. They were both older than Donn. Henry, Ryan, and their dad stuck together when Donn got lost. The book didn’t really focus on Henry and Ryan, but I felt like their relationship grew stronger because they lost their brother for a little bit. Then it talked about when they found each other.
Settings
The setting of the story happened on Mount Katahdin. The mountain was 5,268 ft above sea level making it one of the tallest mountains on the east coast. They were planning a trip to climb this 5,268 ft Mount Katahdin. The story took place in 1940, so they didn’t have much for electronics to contact people when they get lost.
Thematic Connection
The theme of this book is a little bit about how to survive on a mountain when people don’t have the resources they do at home to survive. Donn had to learn to survive on the land of the mountain. Donn did that very well in this book because he survived and made it home safely.
Recommend
I would recommend this book to men of the ages 12-18. I would recommend it to them because men around this age are usually adventurous and they would be able to relate. The book was easy enough for a 12 year old to read, but it was interesting enough for an 18 year old to enjoy.
The book Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler was a great book. I actually enjoyed this book because it was easy to read, short, and told a great story. The length of the story was great. The story was still good and wasn’t choppy.
Plot
The plot of the story was about a family of four men. The men wanted to climb the biggest mountain in Maine. They all got together and were ready to climb Mount Katahdin. When they started to climb the mountain it began to sleet and got really windy. It was getting hard to see, but it didn’t slow them down. Before they knew it, they started to drift apart from each other. The main character Donn kept walking the trails of the mountain. It later began to warm up and stopped sleeting. It was warm enough to live in. Donn was on his own for a couple of days now. He was worrying about his family, but he kept his journey going. Donn was continuing the trip and living off the land. Towards the end of the book, Donn found his family and told them about his expedition.
Characterization
The main character was Donn Fendler. He was twelve years old and born in 1939.
Henry and Ryan were Donn’s brothers who decided to climb the mountain. They were both older than Donn. Henry, Ryan, and their dad stuck together when Donn got lost. The book didn’t really focus on Henry and Ryan, but I felt like their relationship grew stronger because they lost their brother for a little bit. Then it talked about when they found each other.
Settings
The setting of the story happened on Mount Katahdin. The mountain was 5,268 ft above sea level making it one of the tallest mountains on the east coast. They were planning a trip to climb this 5,268 ft Mount Katahdin. The story took place in 1940, so they didn’t have much for electronics to contact people when they get lost.
Thematic Connection
The theme of this book is a little bit about how to survive on a mountain when people don’t have the resources they do at home to survive. Donn had to learn to survive on the land of the mountain. Donn did that very well in this book because he survived and made it home safely.
Recommend
I would recommend this book to men of the ages 12-18. I would recommend it to them because men around this age are usually adventurous and they would be able to relate. The book was easy enough for a 12 year old to read, but it was interesting enough for an 18 year old to enjoy.
June 23, 2015
Ah, fourth grade required reading. I don't think I minded it too much at the time, but now I can see the faults.
The thing about this book is this: if I remember correctly, this kid is an absolute idiot. He breaks every rule of hiking.
RULES OF HIKING
1. Don't hike in bad weather.
Check, it's foggy when he wanders off.
2. Always stay with another person while hiking.
Or just wander ahead alone. You know. Whatever.
3. Carry a flashlight, water, and a little food.
4. If you get lost... STAY. WHERE. YOU. ARE. That way people can find you.
If he had just stayed put, they would have found him in a day or two.
Personally, I knew all of these things by age 12.
Oh, and also: he FOUND A FREAKING TRAIL at one point. And he was like, nah, I think I'll just keep going this way and see where it takes me. WHAT?
The thing about this book is this: if I remember correctly, this kid is an absolute idiot. He breaks every rule of hiking.
RULES OF HIKING
1. Don't hike in bad weather.
Check, it's foggy when he wanders off.
2. Always stay with another person while hiking.
Or just wander ahead alone. You know. Whatever.
3. Carry a flashlight, water, and a little food.
4. If you get lost... STAY. WHERE. YOU. ARE. That way people can find you.
If he had just stayed put, they would have found him in a day or two.
Personally, I knew all of these things by age 12.
Oh, and also: he FOUND A FREAKING TRAIL at one point. And he was like, nah, I think I'll just keep going this way and see where it takes me. WHAT?
May 21, 2025
I read this within about an hour maybe two hour range.
I was honestly surprised I read it so fast, cause even with it being so short, I kept rereading things and turning back.
First of all, I don't want my review to come across as me disregarding this boy's incredible endurance and bravery, I just found it a little boring to read. I think it would've been easier to follow, and more interesting, to hear him speak about his time lost on the mountain.
I mainly didn't love it because I found some things confusing. I was picturing him as younger than he was because of the way he was talking, acting, and describing things, and then at the end it mentioned that he was twelve. I wish I would've known that sooner! (it would've helped me picture him better)
Also, he often repeated things, but with the same details as the first time and I kept getting deja vu and thinking I was turning back instead of forward! lol So that added an element of confusion.
Besides that I enjoyed reading this man's story! Survival stories from different perspectives are always fun to read and I think we can all learn determination and bravery from it.
I'd recommend if you enjoy survival stories.
I was honestly surprised I read it so fast, cause even with it being so short, I kept rereading things and turning back.
First of all, I don't want my review to come across as me disregarding this boy's incredible endurance and bravery, I just found it a little boring to read. I think it would've been easier to follow, and more interesting, to hear him speak about his time lost on the mountain.
I mainly didn't love it because I found some things confusing. I was picturing him as younger than he was because of the way he was talking, acting, and describing things, and then at the end it mentioned that he was twelve. I wish I would've known that sooner! (it would've helped me picture him better)
Also, he often repeated things, but with the same details as the first time and I kept getting deja vu and thinking I was turning back instead of forward! lol So that added an element of confusion.
Besides that I enjoyed reading this man's story! Survival stories from different perspectives are always fun to read and I think we can all learn determination and bravery from it.
I'd recommend if you enjoy survival stories.
January 26, 2020
I gave this book a five star because it was a really good book. If you're looking for a quick read book this is one. It was so cool reading a book about the state I live in. If you like survival books you will like this book. At some parts it had you off your chair because you wanted to know more. This author did very good at writing this book.
March 26, 2025
An amazing story reprinted for a new generation.
The only reason it is not a five is the lack of context, commentary, and picture-painting by someone alongside the storyteller. Some notes are helpful, but no context is given for the story. It just goes right into it.
I wish it got bumped out to 150/160 pages with a sturdy editorial introduction.
The only reason it is not a five is the lack of context, commentary, and picture-painting by someone alongside the storyteller. Some notes are helpful, but no context is given for the story. It just goes right into it.
I wish it got bumped out to 150/160 pages with a sturdy editorial introduction.
December 19, 2025
Listened to this in the car bc davis had a book report due. Lowkey ok book!
Read
September 21, 2015Personal Response: I really enjoyed reading this book because it kept me hooked and wanting to read more. It taught me how hard it would be to survive in the wild without being prepared. I have enjoyed the outdoors very much and this book was right up my alley. It was very inspirational and motivating to me. I hope to read many more books like this in the near future.
Plot: Lost on a Mountain in Maine was an exciting book about a boys adventure of surviving on a mountain for over 8 days after losing sight of his father on the summit. His father, mountain guide, and friend were hiking to the top of a mountain in Maine after he and his friend got ahead of the other two. Donn, the boy, decided to make his way back to his dad and the mountain guide could catch up. On his way down he took a wrong turn and started in the opposite direction in the dense fog. He frantically tried to yell and find his way back but he kept making himself even more lost. He decided to make home for the night under a tree once he made it to the forest. The next day he decided to cover ground and find his way back but that didn't work. All he did was swat mosquitos and get even more lost. Days and days went by and he never saw anything related to human civilization. Then one day he found an old power line, he followed it to an old cabin. Sadly, there was no one there anymore. Then more days past and he stumbled upon another cabin, but that too was deserted. Then two days later after surviving mosquitos, cuts, and bruises he came up on a cabin that looked to be occupied. An old man came running out of his cabin, but ran back inside. Donn was devastated but the man came back out and rescued him. He brought him inside and took care of him until he could return to his family.
Characterization: Donn was a kid that had a lot of guts to do what he did in his journey. Donn had a lot of determination to get to the top of the mountain before he got lost. Even when Donn got lost he never lost hope, even in the worst of times. He has a great sense of feelings, he can tell when things are not right. Donn now has a story that will be told time and time again. Donn and his story will not be forgotten.
Impacts of Setting: This survival story happened about 75 years back. This means that there wasn't any technology capable to locate and rescue Donn like there is now days. This survival journey happened on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. It is a dangerous mountain with unforgiving terrain that can get you lost and separated from human civilization in a heartbeat. That is what happened to Donn but, he survived and left an inspiring story behind.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to almost anyone over the age of 10. I think boys would like this book more because it is about the woods and survival. It was an exciting book with many unexpected twists and turns. I like books with adventure, survival, and twists and turns, so this book was just for me! It had many events that are brutal but there were some that make the reader feel peace and wanting to go out to the woods too!
Plot: Lost on a Mountain in Maine was an exciting book about a boys adventure of surviving on a mountain for over 8 days after losing sight of his father on the summit. His father, mountain guide, and friend were hiking to the top of a mountain in Maine after he and his friend got ahead of the other two. Donn, the boy, decided to make his way back to his dad and the mountain guide could catch up. On his way down he took a wrong turn and started in the opposite direction in the dense fog. He frantically tried to yell and find his way back but he kept making himself even more lost. He decided to make home for the night under a tree once he made it to the forest. The next day he decided to cover ground and find his way back but that didn't work. All he did was swat mosquitos and get even more lost. Days and days went by and he never saw anything related to human civilization. Then one day he found an old power line, he followed it to an old cabin. Sadly, there was no one there anymore. Then more days past and he stumbled upon another cabin, but that too was deserted. Then two days later after surviving mosquitos, cuts, and bruises he came up on a cabin that looked to be occupied. An old man came running out of his cabin, but ran back inside. Donn was devastated but the man came back out and rescued him. He brought him inside and took care of him until he could return to his family.
Characterization: Donn was a kid that had a lot of guts to do what he did in his journey. Donn had a lot of determination to get to the top of the mountain before he got lost. Even when Donn got lost he never lost hope, even in the worst of times. He has a great sense of feelings, he can tell when things are not right. Donn now has a story that will be told time and time again. Donn and his story will not be forgotten.
Impacts of Setting: This survival story happened about 75 years back. This means that there wasn't any technology capable to locate and rescue Donn like there is now days. This survival journey happened on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. It is a dangerous mountain with unforgiving terrain that can get you lost and separated from human civilization in a heartbeat. That is what happened to Donn but, he survived and left an inspiring story behind.
Recommendation: I would recommend this book to almost anyone over the age of 10. I think boys would like this book more because it is about the woods and survival. It was an exciting book with many unexpected twists and turns. I like books with adventure, survival, and twists and turns, so this book was just for me! It had many events that are brutal but there were some that make the reader feel peace and wanting to go out to the woods too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2024
The more I reflect on it, the more I dislike this "book". I keep hearing people call it fascinating, and I just have no idea what they were reading. This book begins with no preamble, launching right into the thick of the story. And while that story had potential to be interesting, it is told flatly, exactly as you might expect from an "as told to" tag. But there is zero feeling in this book. As many times as he writes "Christmas! That was scary! Christmas! A fellow could feel lonely." etc, etc, nothing about the story ever conveys those feelings. It is flatly a "this happened, then this happened, and then I did this." There is no emotion, which you might expect from the tale of a young boy lost in an unforgiving wilderness. No, even when things happened that should have seemed scary or worrisome. As it was, the entire story was just a bunch telling with no showing. Disappointing.
June 23, 2019
What an incredible story of survival!
December 4, 2019
Personal Response:
I really enjoy the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine. One of the main reasons why I like this book is because it takes place in the outdoors. I really like books that take place in the outdoors due to the fact they are always action-packed. It makes me wonder how I can survive out in the wilderness if something ever happens to me. The book really makes me place things into my own perspective.
Plot Summary:
The book is about a true story. Donn, who is a twelve-year-old boy, lost on Mountain Katahdin. Donn starts his journey with his father, two friends, and his two brothers. They all start their trip up the mountain when Donn and his friend, Henry, go ahead of the group to reach the top first. The two boys reach the top and then they decide to wait for the other men. Donn is getting cold and he decides to leave the top of the mountain and head back to camp by himself. Donn starts his journey down the mountain. He ends up losing the trail he is taking down the mountain. He is not able to find the trail and he decides he is going to have to continue in the morning. Donn sleeps the night on the cold, wet, and dark mountain by himself. Donn is lost and he has no place to go. He looks for a camp along a creek he follows. Donn is on his own in the wilderness for nine days. He encounters many things that give him troubles. He loses his pants and shoes. Also, he sees several bears and much more. The ninth day is the day Donn finds civilization at a camp along the river. Donn reunites with his father at the camp.
Characterization:
There are two major things that change Donn’s character. These two things that change the most are Donn’s mental state and Donn’s physical condition. I believe the thing that changes the most about Donn is his mental state. More than likely Donn has never had to survive by himself before; therefore, Donn is put to the test when he gets lost. He is forced to think back when he was in boy scouts. He thinks about where to find food and where there is potentially civilization. Also, the fact that he has no food hurts his physical appearance. Donn is forced to hunt and scavenge for food if he wants to survive. Donn loses a lot of weight due to the fact he did not have all the food he normally obtained.
Setting:
The story takes place on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The time frame is in July of 1939. The base of the mountain was hot and sticky due to the heat from it being summertime. There are also a lot of insects around because of the heat. Near the top of the mountain, it is very hard to see because of all the snow and clouds on top. In general, Mt. Katahdin has all kinds of weather found on it.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to all boys in high school. It is an easy read but I think high schoolers would enjoy it more. It is a great book for boys in high school because it shows that anything can happen when someone is least expecting it. I also recommend this book to those who like books that take place in the outdoors.
I really enjoy the book Lost on a Mountain in Maine. One of the main reasons why I like this book is because it takes place in the outdoors. I really like books that take place in the outdoors due to the fact they are always action-packed. It makes me wonder how I can survive out in the wilderness if something ever happens to me. The book really makes me place things into my own perspective.
Plot Summary:
The book is about a true story. Donn, who is a twelve-year-old boy, lost on Mountain Katahdin. Donn starts his journey with his father, two friends, and his two brothers. They all start their trip up the mountain when Donn and his friend, Henry, go ahead of the group to reach the top first. The two boys reach the top and then they decide to wait for the other men. Donn is getting cold and he decides to leave the top of the mountain and head back to camp by himself. Donn starts his journey down the mountain. He ends up losing the trail he is taking down the mountain. He is not able to find the trail and he decides he is going to have to continue in the morning. Donn sleeps the night on the cold, wet, and dark mountain by himself. Donn is lost and he has no place to go. He looks for a camp along a creek he follows. Donn is on his own in the wilderness for nine days. He encounters many things that give him troubles. He loses his pants and shoes. Also, he sees several bears and much more. The ninth day is the day Donn finds civilization at a camp along the river. Donn reunites with his father at the camp.
Characterization:
There are two major things that change Donn’s character. These two things that change the most are Donn’s mental state and Donn’s physical condition. I believe the thing that changes the most about Donn is his mental state. More than likely Donn has never had to survive by himself before; therefore, Donn is put to the test when he gets lost. He is forced to think back when he was in boy scouts. He thinks about where to find food and where there is potentially civilization. Also, the fact that he has no food hurts his physical appearance. Donn is forced to hunt and scavenge for food if he wants to survive. Donn loses a lot of weight due to the fact he did not have all the food he normally obtained.
Setting:
The story takes place on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. The time frame is in July of 1939. The base of the mountain was hot and sticky due to the heat from it being summertime. There are also a lot of insects around because of the heat. Near the top of the mountain, it is very hard to see because of all the snow and clouds on top. In general, Mt. Katahdin has all kinds of weather found on it.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to all boys in high school. It is an easy read but I think high schoolers would enjoy it more. It is a great book for boys in high school because it shows that anything can happen when someone is least expecting it. I also recommend this book to those who like books that take place in the outdoors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
A friend of mine allowed me to borrow this book, signed by the author in 1998, explaining it is the best description he has read of the challenges of the Maine woods, making a twelve-year-old Boy Scout’s harrowing experience and survival astonishing.
In the summer of 1939, Donn Fendler, his father and brother were hiking Mt. Katahdin in Maine, carefully provisioned with gear and guides. When the fog rolled in, Donn decided to rejoin his Dad down the mountain a short way; the fog made everything eerie so he was anxious to be with his Dad. Unfortunately, the fog disoriented Donn, and he quickly got lost. For nine days he wandered in the woods, eating berries, drinking water when he could find it, sleeping rough, fending off flies and mosquitoes, coming face to face with deer and bears.
His feet cut by stones, crawling over rocks, scrabbling over the rough terrain, Donn’s story reflects his courage but also reminds the reader he was a twelve-year-old boy, making sure he said his prayers every day, worried about his parents. I could not imagine his parents’ anguish, believing against all odds in his survival as the days went on. This was 1939: blood hounds and volunteers searching without today’s sonar instruments or cell phones or dehydrated food or protective clothing. By the ninth day, I was exhausted by the punishing elements.
Told to a family friend, Joseph B. Egan, the story is authentic. You can hear Donn’s young voice in the details, and Egan points out from time to time details that demonstrate how precarious Donn’s success was. When I finished, I read all I could online about Donn Fendler who honored his Boy Scout training throughout his life and enjoyed sharing his adventures with school children in Maine. I think young children would love to read his story even today.
In the summer of 1939, Donn Fendler, his father and brother were hiking Mt. Katahdin in Maine, carefully provisioned with gear and guides. When the fog rolled in, Donn decided to rejoin his Dad down the mountain a short way; the fog made everything eerie so he was anxious to be with his Dad. Unfortunately, the fog disoriented Donn, and he quickly got lost. For nine days he wandered in the woods, eating berries, drinking water when he could find it, sleeping rough, fending off flies and mosquitoes, coming face to face with deer and bears.
His feet cut by stones, crawling over rocks, scrabbling over the rough terrain, Donn’s story reflects his courage but also reminds the reader he was a twelve-year-old boy, making sure he said his prayers every day, worried about his parents. I could not imagine his parents’ anguish, believing against all odds in his survival as the days went on. This was 1939: blood hounds and volunteers searching without today’s sonar instruments or cell phones or dehydrated food or protective clothing. By the ninth day, I was exhausted by the punishing elements.
Told to a family friend, Joseph B. Egan, the story is authentic. You can hear Donn’s young voice in the details, and Egan points out from time to time details that demonstrate how precarious Donn’s success was. When I finished, I read all I could online about Donn Fendler who honored his Boy Scout training throughout his life and enjoyed sharing his adventures with school children in Maine. I think young children would love to read his story even today.
February 12, 2024
This is an amazing true story of a twelve-year-old boy who climbed to the top of Maine's tallest mountain, only to get lost during his descent.
During the summer of 1939 Donn Fendler climbed to the peak of Katahdin in Baxter State Park with his father and brothers. Ready to return to civilization before his fellow hikers, Donn made an almost fatal mistake: he started down the mountain alone.
It was a fine summer's day, so what harm could come to him? But native Mainers know that the weather, especially on a mountaintop, can change in a minute. Donn discovered this shortly thereafter. Others have died from making this same error in judgement.
Still, he was a child with great optimism.
Perhaps it was this, or his Boy Scout training, that got him through the nine day ordeal that followed. Young Fendler was exposed to many dangerous elements in the wild.
When searchers feared Donn's demise, he fooled them all. I prefer to say no more, but to encourage everyone to read, for themselves, this tale of extraordinary courage and perseverance.
To make the book even more inviting are many photos. There is also a map for readers to follow the young boy's fascinating journey through the wilderness.
During the summer of 1939 Donn Fendler climbed to the peak of Katahdin in Baxter State Park with his father and brothers. Ready to return to civilization before his fellow hikers, Donn made an almost fatal mistake: he started down the mountain alone.
It was a fine summer's day, so what harm could come to him? But native Mainers know that the weather, especially on a mountaintop, can change in a minute. Donn discovered this shortly thereafter. Others have died from making this same error in judgement.
Still, he was a child with great optimism.
Perhaps it was this, or his Boy Scout training, that got him through the nine day ordeal that followed. Young Fendler was exposed to many dangerous elements in the wild.
When searchers feared Donn's demise, he fooled them all. I prefer to say no more, but to encourage everyone to read, for themselves, this tale of extraordinary courage and perseverance.
To make the book even more inviting are many photos. There is also a map for readers to follow the young boy's fascinating journey through the wilderness.
December 22, 2024
Spoilers.
Took place in the 1930s, there are many better books of adventure/hiking/outdoors. This is a great story of how bad decisions can lead to bad situations. Dumb book.
Here are a few examples of that:
Went hiking with a guides child
Knows he gets cold easy, got cold when it was 35 degrees
As a 12 year old decided to head back on his own thru fog against warnings
Gave the child his sweatshirt even though he was cold
Got lost in fog
Found a trail, but didn’t follow it because the trail was said to be hard
Instead of following found trail does a 90 degree tactic off of the trail?
Rips and loses shoes
Multiple mentions of being in the scouts. Learned nothing from the scouts except to tell himself to “keep his head and he’ll be okay”
Has a subsequent hallucination of white robed adults hypnotizing his friend
Looses his pants
Carries large rock with him for days
Finds pants but loses them again
Aside from the poor decisions the author uses and beats to death the same three phrases throughout the book with one on nearly every page of the 98 page book.
Referring to himself as “a fellow”, surprise written as “boy!”, and any swear word replaced with “Christmas”??
If you have an hour and want to get annoyed here’s a book. Two stars for the survival and tenacity of the kid.
Took place in the 1930s, there are many better books of adventure/hiking/outdoors. This is a great story of how bad decisions can lead to bad situations. Dumb book.
Here are a few examples of that:
Went hiking with a guides child
Knows he gets cold easy, got cold when it was 35 degrees
As a 12 year old decided to head back on his own thru fog against warnings
Gave the child his sweatshirt even though he was cold
Got lost in fog
Found a trail, but didn’t follow it because the trail was said to be hard
Instead of following found trail does a 90 degree tactic off of the trail?
Rips and loses shoes
Multiple mentions of being in the scouts. Learned nothing from the scouts except to tell himself to “keep his head and he’ll be okay”
Has a subsequent hallucination of white robed adults hypnotizing his friend
Looses his pants
Carries large rock with him for days
Finds pants but loses them again
Aside from the poor decisions the author uses and beats to death the same three phrases throughout the book with one on nearly every page of the 98 page book.
Referring to himself as “a fellow”, surprise written as “boy!”, and any swear word replaced with “Christmas”??
If you have an hour and want to get annoyed here’s a book. Two stars for the survival and tenacity of the kid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2018
I thought this book was a pretty good book but there where some parts that I didn't get. Like when he was going through the creek to get past the rocks but why didn't he jus walk the bank and not lose his shoes. The book also seems like the power lines were out in the middle of nowhere, because they never gave hint that said, Ok it's by the road. The way the author wrote it was good and was also making me want to keep reading. I was a little mad at the end because when I saw the map he basically made a half circle. So if he just went a different route he wouldn't have been out there for nine days. What was my favorite part is when one of the bears is walking to him and doesn't see or smell him because he was down wind. Over all the book was good, there was some spots that I didn't quite get as much as others but it was a good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2024
Having just climbed Katahdin, and on the very trail that the Fendlers hiked, I can attest that this would be a rugged, frightening place to be lost. Twelve year old Donn Fendler is the opposite of the 21st century child: resilient, resourceful, prayerful, physically fit, and able to keep his head when many would have lost their grip on reality. How do we reintroduce those qualities to our young ones today?
September 16, 2019
I picked this little book up from my daughter’s curriculum. Quick read - true story about a boy and his adventure after getting separated from his group in the mountains. He was so tough & went through a lot! It was so sweet to see the little and big ways God watched over him. Upper elementary/middle grade level.
March 26, 2021
If you read this in elementary school, please reread as an adult!! 10/10 5 stars across the board. This book was published in 1939 and I think it stands the test of time as a powerful survival story.
Full Review here: https://youtu.be/oy-knepvXR4
Full Review here: https://youtu.be/oy-knepvXR4
April 27, 2022
As a mom, I was desperate to get to the end of this book. Then I bawled. My husband grew up visiting the family cabin near Katahdin and we will take our kids for the first time in a few weeks. So we read this book together as a family and they are so excited to see the mountain soon!
January 15, 2024
What an enjoyable read! Hearing the words exactly as a 12 year old experienced them was unique. I appreciated the footnotes, pictures and map. I loved hearing how much he prayed and kept God with him. The part about the Guardian Angel left me in awe. I’m completely shocked he made it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
Just watched the movie of this. Had no idea of the story. But enjoyed having two different people read. The older guy that read, let us know when the kid had times of hallucinations. Or how bad his injury actually was, something they didn’t know until after.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 472 reviews