Disaster on Windy Hill

Adventures of the Northwoods #10

by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Deciding to spend her Calumet reward money on two horses, Breeza, a gelding, and Windsong, a mare with a mysterious past, Kate is devastated when someone sets the Nordstrom barn on fire and Windsong mysteriously disappears. Original. IP.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Christian, Childrens

170 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Bethany]

One of my favourite series in my early teens! I had a lit-crush on Erik Lundgren. *dreamy sigh*

[Liz]

I wish this wasn't the end of the series!

[Tirzah]

This book reminds me of Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian, LOTR: The Return of the King, Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi...do you notice a pattern? Yes, I'm talking about the last installments of amazing series/trilogies. Does anyone else feel so depressed about reading/watching the last installment, that you kind of end up being more sulky about the series ending than actually paying attention to the storyline? Well, I often do that and I certainly did that with Disaster on Windy Hill. It was not until I read it a second time(when I was over my post-Northwoods depression...somewhat over it), that I fully grasped the book.

(*There is a SLIGHT SPOILER below!*)

While some make think it is an inconclusive ending to the series, I think differently. True, Lois Walfrid Johnson left us hanging on the big question: will Kate and Erik get married? But I kind of like how she left it...someday. Kate's life is very true to real life. No one can predict their future and as we all have wishes and dreams, all we can do is wait patiently, have hope, and strive towards our goals. I like how Kate and Papa really talk serious issues in this installment. The family also has to work together through traumatic events and they are drawn even closer. All in all, I liked this book other than the fact it is tragically the last one and am satisfied how Kate, Anders, and Erik's adventures ended!

[Abby]

the ending......

[Laura]

While I enjoyed the book as another installment in the series, I do not think it was a satisfying conclusion (although I caught the author advertising her new series!!). I am irritated we never discover what Erik wants to be when he grows up. I understand these are children's books, but I so would have enjoyed an epilogue sharing what the main characters grew up to do with their lives!

[Simone]

The best book of the series. Absolutetely loved it! These books were so good and I have read them so much times.

[Kaitlyn Huff]

“There will always be times when you’re afraid. But if you know deep down that God loves and protects you, you’ll make it through.”

So fun re-reading through this series from my childhood🥹

[Joyeux Noelle]

The last Adventure of the Northwoods! So sad, but such a good solid ending! After books 7-9 took Kate and Anders on adventures away from Windy Hill, it was nice that they got to end with a mystery based near their farm which is how the series started.
The sense of danger grew with this book with threats not just from a dangerous man, but also the unrelenting drought and dry season. I know this is a middle grade book so it can’t cover everything, but it was nice to see Stretch one more time, and would have also been nice for Josie to make an appearance because she basically disappears from the series after book 6.
When I read this book growing up I was obsessed with Kate’s “growing up year” and wondered when I would have my own (my mother told me that it was more of a process and only happened in just one year in books 😂), and loved the deepening friendship between Kate and Erik and gentle hints at their future. As young adult I found the author’s email address and on a whim sent her fan mail telling her how much I’d always hoped Erik and Kate would get together in the future. She was kind enough to respond, encouraged me to write, and was glad that I’d found my own Erik.
Now I’ve finished the series with my son and he was also so attached to the characters that we decided the only fitting series to start next would be LWJ next series The Riverboat Adventures (now called the Freedom Seekers). I’m sure he’ll like Libby, Caleb, and Jordan as much as I did ❤️

[Partridge Public]

Johnson, Lois W. PB

[Becky]

I realize this was written decades ago.....but I still wish she would add more books to this series

[Karina (Karina's Christian Reads)]

Number of pages: 123

Genre: Mystery

Series: The Adventures of the Northwoods #10

Age recommendation: 10-14

Summary: Kate finally has the money to buy a horse of her own. Instead of getting the beautiful black horse she dreamed of, Kate ends up settling for two scrawny, mistreated horses, who she hopes to give a better home. On their way home from town, someone tries to steal Kate’s horse; can the children figure out why?

My thoughts: It really annoyed me when Kate insisted on getting her own way with the horses, even though Anders was just trying to look out for her. She ends up making a good choice though, so it’s all right.
It’s cute that Ben and Jenny are getting married. They are perfect for each other. Kate and Erik also make a cute couple, but Kate’s still got a few more years of coffee-pouring before anything comes of their romance 😊 I also love that Stretch is better in this book. I hope he can find a nice girl because he deserves one.
I love the ending of this book. It is so much fun and the perfect way to end the series. I love how as the books go on, it gets easier and easier to see Ander’s care for his stepsister; he really is a good brother.
I like how Kate always learns really important lessons in each book, because it subtly teaches the young girls reading the books without preaching at them. This book was focused on God’s love for us being unchanging despite the bad things that we do, and also telling others the truth even when it’s hard.
It’s been really fun to see Kate grow up over the series, and I'm a little sad there's no more books about Kate.

My personal rating: 4.5/5 stars.

Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...

[James Hogan]

The Northwoods series comes to a close! I do like this book and think it’s a lovely little capstone to the series. Finally they are all back at home again and we get the whole family and Kate continues to grow up and though the plot is pretty basic, the character arc is what matters here. Love to see Kate growing up into a strong woman of God. And some truly memorable scenes here, my favourite being when Kate witnesses Papa go out to the woods to seek the Lord and read the Bible in a time of hardship and fear. Might I remember this. Where do I go when I fear and my heart quakes? May I also cry out to the Lord in my distress, to one who shows lovingkindness to me his child!

[Ananiah]

I loved reading this series and wish it could go on forever. I am glad that Kate and Erik found out that they like each other a lot, and Anders is right,maybe one day they did get married but I am still so sad that the series ended.

[Anneliese]

Really enjoyed this book but sadly the author did repeat sentences twice one after another which really confused me and I thought that I read the same thing twice. Really enjoyed the adventures and the read.

[Beverly Duell-Moore]

Great book!

[Sams]

3.5 ⭐