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High as a Hawk
Eight-year-old Harriet is determined to climb to the top of Longs Peak in Colorado. To get there, she'll have to overcome steep slopes, a freezing blizzard, and what her wise trail guide calls "surprises." But she simply must try&150both for herself and for the mother she has lost. If she succeeds, she will spread her wings and fly . . . high as a hawk. Based on the historic 1905 ascent by the youngest person ever to climb Longs Peak, the highest mountain in Colorado, this book combines T. A. Barron's powerful, poetic writing with Ted Lewin's magnificent, evocative paintings. Together, they make a truly inspiring journey.
An author's note describes how the ascent encouraged guide Enos Mills to pursue his dream of creating the Rocky Mountain National Park.
An author's note describes how the ascent encouraged guide Enos Mills to pursue his dream of creating the Rocky Mountain National Park.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2004
2 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
T.A. Barron
72 books1,310 followersT.A. Barron grew up in Colorado ranch country and traveled widely as a Rhodes Scholar. He is the winner of the de Grummond Medallion for “lifetime contribution to the field of children’s and young adult literature” and many other awards. T. A. Barron is the author of more than 30 highly acclaimed books, many of which are international bestsellers. They include The Lost Years of Merlin (now being developed into a feature film), The Great Tree of Avalon (a New York Times bestselling series), The Ancient One (the tale of a brave girl and a magical tree), and The Hero’s Trail (nonfiction stories of courageous kids).
Though he’d dreamed as a young man of becoming a writer, he couldn’t find anyone to publish his first novel. He joined a successful business, eventually became president, then decided to try again. So in 1990, he surprised his business partners by moving back to Colorado to become a writer and conservationist.
In 2000, he founded a national award to honor outstanding young people who help their communities or the environment: the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which honors 25 highly diverse, public-spirited kids each year. He recently produced a documentary film, Dream Big, profiling seven winners of the Barron Prize. When not writing or speaking, T. A. Barron serves on many boards including Princeton University, where he helped to create the Princeton Environmental Institute, and The Wilderness Society, which recently honored him with its highest award for conservation work. His favorite pastime is hiking, camping, or skiing in Colorado with his family.
Though he’d dreamed as a young man of becoming a writer, he couldn’t find anyone to publish his first novel. He joined a successful business, eventually became president, then decided to try again. So in 1990, he surprised his business partners by moving back to Colorado to become a writer and conservationist.
In 2000, he founded a national award to honor outstanding young people who help their communities or the environment: the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, which honors 25 highly diverse, public-spirited kids each year. He recently produced a documentary film, Dream Big, profiling seven winners of the Barron Prize. When not writing or speaking, T. A. Barron serves on many boards including Princeton University, where he helped to create the Princeton Environmental Institute, and The Wilderness Society, which recently honored him with its highest award for conservation work. His favorite pastime is hiking, camping, or skiing in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 23, 2010
Tells the inspiring story of eight-year-old Harriet, determined to climb to the top of Longs Peak in Colorado in 1905. She does so with the help of Enos Mills, the man who helped bring the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park from a dream into a reality. Harriet became the youngest person to reach the summit! Though Barron mentions in his author's note that he took some poetic license with the storytelling, Harriet was a real girl and Mills did take her to the top of Longs Peak. He wrote at one point that, despite all the "famous people" he took to the summit, his journey with Harriet remains his favorite. The illustrations, while perhaps not entirely my style, are very well done, providing a great sense of emotion for the characters and also a fine representation of the natural beauty of the Rockies.
I might not have enjoyed this book quite so much were it not for my summer trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. However, as it is, I thought it was quite wonderful and inspiring!
I might not have enjoyed this book quite so much were it not for my summer trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. However, as it is, I thought it was quite wonderful and inspiring!
December 16, 2024
rating: 3.5
The tale of this particular climb in Rocky Mtn National Park appears frequently in just about every book about either Enos Mills or Long's Peak. It's perfect to read to a child who will be visiting the Park even if an attempt on Long's is not part of the plan. I wonder why Barron didn't add a couple of pages in order to describe that vast Boulderfield, gasping for air after every few steps, and that last steep and rocky climb that would have impressed any child.
2020: Now that I've read Mills' account of the climb, I see that Barron took quite a few liberties. I doubt that they were in a snow storm. Mills mentions sitting by a rock to eat lunch but he says nothing about snow. And the bit about climbing to fulfill her mother's dream? That may have been fictitious, too.
Mills claimed that Harriett wanted to know what animals were on the top of the peak. Accd to Mills, she asked the question when she was 6 yrs old, and Mills waited until she was 8 to make the climb. (So her legs would be stronger.) Then, she saw for herself some of the plants and animals that call that rocky summit 'home.' (And, Barron has given Mills a slight brogue - did he have one? - and he calls Harriett "lass." He doesn't use the words lass or lassie in his writings.)
I lowered my rating after reading Mills' account. The story of the climb (and the plants and animals) is strong enough without including the death of the mother. Curiosity can be a strong motivator.
2024
"Darkness covered me like a heavy quilt, I could barely see my horse's ears, or the horses of my Par and Mr. Mills, riding beside me."
That's the first sentence. It isn't something an 8-yr-old would say.
The tale of this particular climb in Rocky Mtn National Park appears frequently in just about every book about either Enos Mills or Long's Peak. It's perfect to read to a child who will be visiting the Park even if an attempt on Long's is not part of the plan. I wonder why Barron didn't add a couple of pages in order to describe that vast Boulderfield, gasping for air after every few steps, and that last steep and rocky climb that would have impressed any child.
2020: Now that I've read Mills' account of the climb, I see that Barron took quite a few liberties. I doubt that they were in a snow storm. Mills mentions sitting by a rock to eat lunch but he says nothing about snow. And the bit about climbing to fulfill her mother's dream? That may have been fictitious, too.
Mills claimed that Harriett wanted to know what animals were on the top of the peak. Accd to Mills, she asked the question when she was 6 yrs old, and Mills waited until she was 8 to make the climb. (So her legs would be stronger.) Then, she saw for herself some of the plants and animals that call that rocky summit 'home.' (And, Barron has given Mills a slight brogue - did he have one? - and he calls Harriett "lass." He doesn't use the words lass or lassie in his writings.)
I lowered my rating after reading Mills' account. The story of the climb (and the plants and animals) is strong enough without including the death of the mother. Curiosity can be a strong motivator.
2024
"Darkness covered me like a heavy quilt, I could barely see my horse's ears, or the horses of my Par and Mr. Mills, riding beside me."
That's the first sentence. It isn't something an 8-yr-old would say.
May 30, 2010
In 1905, eight year old Harriet Peters of Little Rock, Arkansas became the youngest person to reach the summit of Long's Peak in the Colorado Rockies. Her guide and climbing companion was Enos Mills whose tireless efforts finally succeeded in the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park. Harriet was determined to climb Long's Peak in memory of her mother who died before achieving this goal. This book has beautiful illustrations too!
November 1, 2024
Based on the incredible true story of a famous nature guide and a little girl. A notable and inspiring snippet of history written from the girl's perspective. Ted Lewin is well known for his sumptuous watercolors, and his depictions of the rock formations are notable in their exquisite detail. T. A. Barron's fantasy is full of description and emotion as is this historical piece with several thousand words, in the style of 90's picture storybooks.
January 27, 2017
This would be a great book for kids who love the wilderness and nature. Some of the writing is a bit rough. For example, the way the death of the girl's mother is just dropped on you in one line is a little disconcerting. Overall though it is a great story and an interesting tidbit of history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2018
Beautifully illustrated, this is a fictional story of Enos Mills and the youngest person to reach the Longs Peak's summit, in Colorado, back in 1905. The author tells the tale of what that day might have been like and the courage and determination that allowed them to rise to the top.
June 6, 2020
50 States book Colorado. Based on the true story of a young girl, who was the youngest person to reach the summit of Longs Peak in the Rockies in 1905. Beautifully written and illustrated.
July 21, 2020
The story is simple and inspiring. I love books based on actual events! The illustrations are breathtaking and make the book doubly worth the read.
September 16, 2025
Great read about Longs Peak and the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park!
November 11, 2023
I cry every time I read this to my 7th graders. The details bring the story to life... perfect for sensory details with descriptive writing.
September 17, 2014
The story begins with a beautiful sunrise and a little girl riding horseback with her father and a mountain guide, Mr. Mills. The young girl reminisces on her mother and how dearly she wanted to climb Long Peak in Colorado to see a hawk flying high in the sky. Then it is revealed that the young girl’s mother has passed away before completing her long awaited dream of climbing the mountain. We continue to climb the mountain with the trio until they reach an altitude where he father becomes too sick to climb on. The little girl begs to climb on with their guide, Mr. Mills, and her father relents and the duo continue on. On their journey to the summit, Mr. Mills and the small girl feel a vibration beneath their feet and are startled when a whole herd of elk thunder across their path. ‘It’s a surprise’ is what Mr. Mills keeps saying at every turn. The young girl then sits down to have her ankle wrapped by Mr. Mills on account of the giant blister that forms on her foot. The guide suggests that they turn back to which the girl quickly refuses and urges him to let her continue. They continue on past emotional hardships and a raging blizzard and the little girl is exhausted and starts to gives up as the journey seems to continue on for forever. Mr. Mills doesn’t give the girl a chance to turn back as he continues on with the promise that they will go back once they climb this last little ledge. The girl reluctantly tags along after him only to find out that this last little ledge is actually the summit of Long Peak itself!
The artwork of this story is breathtaking watercolors that paint a beautiful scene. The pictures are realistic and correlate perfectly with the text on the page in a way that helps bring the tale to life. The main character, the little girl, is brave and realistic and is the perfect heroine of this story. She is dedicated to her mission and she is surrounded by people who support her decision to climb Long Peak. Mr. Mills is the character who lightens the sometimes dark story line. He brings a light humor that can make a deathly blizzard seem interesting and fun. I appreciate the symbolism of the hawk in this book especially. We know that a hawk flies high and free in the sky and can represent numerous things about life. This little girl has the goal of spreading her own wings and flying for her lost mother’s sake. This is a touching tale that encourages you to reach for the skies and to fly as high as a hawk. It also teaches that you will run into many obstacles along the way but if you have perseverance, anything is possible. High as a Hawk also shows that you can be a person who can help someone else accomplish their dreams. Mr. Mills took care of the young girl as she came up against adversaries and was her cheering squad of one. This book shows the perfect example of the two types of personalities needed in people in order to make things happen; the supporter and the go-getter.
The artwork of this story is breathtaking watercolors that paint a beautiful scene. The pictures are realistic and correlate perfectly with the text on the page in a way that helps bring the tale to life. The main character, the little girl, is brave and realistic and is the perfect heroine of this story. She is dedicated to her mission and she is surrounded by people who support her decision to climb Long Peak. Mr. Mills is the character who lightens the sometimes dark story line. He brings a light humor that can make a deathly blizzard seem interesting and fun. I appreciate the symbolism of the hawk in this book especially. We know that a hawk flies high and free in the sky and can represent numerous things about life. This little girl has the goal of spreading her own wings and flying for her lost mother’s sake. This is a touching tale that encourages you to reach for the skies and to fly as high as a hawk. It also teaches that you will run into many obstacles along the way but if you have perseverance, anything is possible. High as a Hawk also shows that you can be a person who can help someone else accomplish their dreams. Mr. Mills took care of the young girl as she came up against adversaries and was her cheering squad of one. This book shows the perfect example of the two types of personalities needed in people in order to make things happen; the supporter and the go-getter.
February 2, 2012
This is an inspirational story about am eight-year-old girl who climbs to the summit of Longs Peak in Colorado in September 1905, the youngest person ever to do so. The narrative is engaging and dramatic in parts and particularly heartwrenching as well. The illustrations are gorgeous and very realistic, with an artful use of light and shadows throughout. I kept wondering what was up with Harriet's bonnet, but it appears to be a faithful rendition of what she wore (there's a photo of Enos and Harriet at the summit in the back of the book with the author's note.) Overall, it's an interesting story and we really enjoyed reading it together.
December 15, 2014
A young girl, in honor of her mother who has passed away, wants to climb to the top of a mountain. A guide leads the girl and her father until her father can't go any further. The girl begs to continue with the guide and they run into many surprises along the way. The guide, like all good teachers, kow just how much to push and when to let up on the girl to help her reach her goal.
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June 27, 2014I like the idea of this one a little more than the execution.
An 8 year old girl that climbed a tall mountain? Pretty cool.
Just ... too much text for a beginning reader. More advanced readers wouldn't be caught with a picture book.
Perhaps as a model text. Maybe.
An 8 year old girl that climbed a tall mountain? Pretty cool.
Just ... too much text for a beginning reader. More advanced readers wouldn't be caught with a picture book.
Perhaps as a model text. Maybe.
August 11, 2009
An absolute gem of a book. A true story of courage and determination.
August 5, 2011
This was great! I read it with my grandaughter! she love it! the art too!
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September 20, 2015Wonderful story! Wonderful illustrations to go with it. Who knew this really happened?! Brave, small girl and kind, understanding man. The power of cooperation, determination and nature.
October 26, 2015
This is a picture book with solid writing, and really lovely illustrations.
July 4, 2014
Figurative language: similes, personification
April 26, 2017
A wonderful tale of how a young girl inspires a man to persevere through his own challenges!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews