Kip of the Mountain

by Emma Gourlay

The astonishing and magical debut novel from Melbourne writer Emma GourlayKip Boowitt is desperate for a best friend. So when she rescues a tiny creature that looks like a kitten but isn't a kitten, she names him Buffel and loves him with all her heart. With a distracted dad and mean kids at school, all Kip wants is someone with two ears and time for her. And Buffel is the best listener. But when he's kidnapped, there is only one thing to do - go from mountain to sea to get him back. An action-packed fantasy adventure full of heart, from debut author Emma Gourlay. PRAISE FOR KIP OF THE MOUNTAIN 'Full of charm, and Kip herself has just the right balance of wit, wildness and wisdom. I laughed in every chapter. It's the perfect book for big kids with even bigger imaginations.' - Jack Heath , bestselling author of 300 Minutes of Danger 'Wildly imaginative and anchored by delightful characters, warmth, humour and powerful truths.' - Jaclyn Moriarty , award-winning author of The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst (a Kingdoms and Empires book) ' Kip of the Mountain is a compelling and heartfelt adventure. Even before I had finished reading the first chapter, I cared so much about Kip; she's such a quirky and awesome character.' - Jade Goodwin , bestselling illustrator of the Little Ash series 'Kip of the Mountain is a hero for the ages. Her story is an action-adventure story with a whole lot of heart and a touch of magic. Kip's story will stay with me for a long time.' - Yvette Poshoglian , bestselling author of Dear Greta

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book for Dot hoping to entice her into the Middle Grade Fantasy genre however I was so disappointed with the delivery of the plot it never did make it into her hands.

Firstly the book is set in 1985 in Cape Town, South Africa. A time when apartheid was prevalent but this is not fully explored, just mentions of signs on the beach and a boy injured after using the wrong water fountain. A 2020's middle grade reader needs more explanation than vague mentions.

Eleven-year-old Kip lives with her eccentric father and is bullied at school by students and the teacher. On her 12th birthday a bottle drops from the sky and it contains an egg which hatches into a small furry animal and Kip is happy she now has a best friend. When Buffel is kidnapped she must face all her fears to rescue him.

The problems I had with this book were that the humour was a bit ludicrous, the conversations felt unnatural and the racism was never fully explained.

What I did love was Kip, she was strong and resilient. She didn't let the bullies worry her and didn't let her father's distant behaviour affect her.
The story dragged a bit but I have to say the cover is beautiful and that's what initially drew me to the book.
Recommended age 8+ years

[Isabelle Parrot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Emma Gourlay made the book relate to her life. Such as Kip in the story had a white mum and a black dad and Emma did as well. In Emma’s child hood she had a buffel ( in her head .) And in Afrikaans buffel means special or a rare creature.

[Lucie Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a quirky, heartfelt and imaginative adventure! It surprised me at every turn, made me laugh out loud and there were some beautifully touching moments too. I loved Kip from the start and her friend Troy was so endearing. There’s also an honesty in how Gourlay depicts schoolyard bullying that I found refreshing and satisfying. This book will make kids who are on the receiving end of bullying feel less alone in their experience. And Buffel was pure ingenuity that, along with the humour and adventure, balanced out the exploration of more challenging themes. I can’t wait to read ‘Kip of Karoo’ to find out what happens next!

[Elle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The most beautiful cover and illustrations by Kate Moon but overall a disappointing read. The characters were lovely albeit her Dads mental illness and you feel empathy as a reader for Kip as she struggles to make sense of this and to find her place in her world. She then connects with a much needed friend Buffel. The story had great potential but was disjointed and chaotic at times and lacked editing to bring it all together. Our 9 year old is an avid reader and we also read to her and whilst the beginning of Kip is engaging the story then loses its thread and our daughter often lost interest and I was reading the book just to finish it!
I also thought the comments re apartheid were definitely relevant to the past but not current to the situation in South Africa and its people now and unfortunate as it doesn't make the book very modern.

[Poppy Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! I really enjoyed reading this. The way Emma balances whimsy and magic with other concepts that are hard to understand, especially for children, is wonderfully done. Even though heavy themes are explored, and my heart broke a few times for Kit, her friends and her dad - actually, a lot of times, especially with how ignored she feels by her dad - the fantasy aspects, this funny little creature and the adventures the kids get up to because of him, bring a spark of life and hope. The setting is drawn out beautifully; I felt like I was right there in South Africa, on those lovely beaches or on the mountain, even though I've never been there. Overall an immersive middle grade novel with so much heart and hope.

[Kyleigh Malkin-Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I could ever run out of nice things to say about this book. It's beautifully written, funny, quirky, out of the box and yet also mature, heartfelt and touching. I'm so tired of reading kids books that are shallow and that glamorise nasty characters. The characters in Kip are real, moral, thoughtful and discerning. The nasty characters are identified as just that: nasty. Not funny, not cool. It's really refreshing. As is the subtle references to racial oppression, prejudice and the social context of Apartheid.

[Penny O’Loughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful blend of humor, little pearls of wisdom, and warmth from both beloved and outrageous characters, all woven together with hair-raising peculiarities on magical adventures. Set against the backdrop of apartheid in South Africa, this book creates a richly textured tapestry that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

I absolutely loved this book, and my boys did too! I can’t wait to get my hands on Kip of the Karoo!

[Dymocks Indooroopilly]

Based in Cape Town, South Africa!

Kip, a young girl, lives with her inventor father in a strange house high up on a mountain. She is rather lonely, but befriends a strange creature, 'Buffel'. A fantastical adventure begins, full of friendship!

A good read! Ages 9-10.