And Condors Danced

by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

The year Carly turns eleven, 1907, is filled with playing detective, watching condors, observing a fierce feud involving her family's Southern California ranch, and coping with unexpected tragedies.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Young Adult

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Zilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been just another historical fiction, but Snyder challenged the reader to think more deeply about things and people. Is Father a bully with unrealistic expectations, a thwarted scholar, a principled man of strong beliefs, something else, all of the above? If Mother had not succumbed to depression, would she have become healthier? Will Lila and/or Nellie ever be able to leave home and have their own families? Is the ending a happy one? Etc.

I certainly don't know, and as a more naive child I certainly would have had a lot to think about. I definitely recommend that a child read this at least twice, a few years apart, to have a chance to see it through different perspectives.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Snyder's historical fiction--this took place during a period of time I didn't know much about, and the story is much more fleshed out than her more recent historical fiction.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

DANCING WITH CONDORS GIVES HER A ZEST FOR LIFE!

Set in California's agricultural Ventura Valley in 1910, this story is difficult to classify. The young heroine reveals a wacky imagination, spunky attitude and distinctly tomboyish taste. These characteristics provide amusing moments for the reader, but this story discusses many serious themes and topics as well: rabies, prolonged grieving, social cruelty, drought-induced poverty and unrealistic expectation to fit into the pre-ordained family mold.

July 4th is the holiday spotlighted in this story of almost one year in the life of a child who starts out by trying to become invisible. I was hooked by the cover which showed people in old-fashioned garb next to a horse-drawn vehicle. But Carly's life is far from an agrarian idyll or even sentimentally Waltonesque. I consider the cover somewhat misleading for Carly is definately Not the dainty little lady in white ruffles descending from Aunt Mehitable's carriage. In fact, this spunky protagonist defies proper female tradition on the sly by riding Astride horses (not side saddle) when she can get away with it.

But how do condors (dancing, gliding or even dead) influence Carly's life in her dysfunctional family? Ostracized from the Water Company by a long-standing feud, the Carltons must watch helplessly as their unirrigated ranch is slowly strangled in the heat. Then there are the boys in her life: one proves a true friend who teaches her about condors and joins her Sherlock Holmes detective game. The other boy is the spoiled grandson of the family's bitter enemy, who targets her for more than mere verbal abuse.

Between lowlife gossip, her distant mother, her authoritarian father and a threat to her beloved dog, Tiger, Calry comes of age at 11. She shows a morbid taste for the cemetery where lies the little brother she never knew, whose place she could never take--the only family member who is truly at peace. Even Carly begins to wonder just when her tears are flowing for real. She stubbornly insists that one day she Will see condors dancing up at Condor Spring. These maligned birds are like Carly--outwardly unattractive, but with hidden depths off grace and aerial beauty. If she can learn to appreciate Them, may not people come to love and accept Her--just as she is--instead of some idealized daughter? Don't let them quench your zest for uninhibited life!

(July 11, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Shanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction novel reads like a classic. Carly is a fun, spunky main character. Carly's life is filled with ups and downs, and through it all she learns some very important life lessons. I thought the ending was quite abrupt, but then I realized how much it made me think and reflect back on the novel.

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this book, but it turned out that I really liked it! (Spoiler in next sentence). I was very sad when Tiger died, and when Carly thought about how he had done something great and been a hero, and know was almost being punished in a sort of way. But I was happy when Carly in the end decided to adopt one of the puppies that are related to Tiger. I was surprised when her mother died, but it was true that her mother never really loved Carly. Overall this book was great and I definitely recommend it.

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out thinking that this was just a cute little historical fiction story, but Zilpha came through for me with the gut-punch of a conclusion.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this when I was younger and I still own my copy. I always liked it enough to keep it and think fondly of it however I never did go back and reread it nor did I look up the author for more until just by chance this last month noticing a book in the library by this same author (I guess I hadn't even realized she had written anything else but I sure recognized her name!) As a consequence I will be reading The Egypt Game soon.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book (and for that matter, this author) was my absolute favorite when I was around 11 or 12. So if you are looking for books for your 11, 12, 13 year old to read, totally get her started on this author. A lot of her books aren't really available to buy anymore, so you'll have to check the library.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the characters didn't stand out a great deal to me, the time period was a rarer one, and between that and the physical setting (and, of course, a highly memorable title), that's what kept this book at the forefront of my memory.

[Maria]

Just can't get into it this time around. Maybe too real, not enough adventure.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about growing up and family in the early 1900's.