Cougar Cove

by Julie Lawson

Eleven-year-old Sam's first visit to the remote west coast of Vancouver Island is nothing like she'd expected. Her older cousins tease "the city kid" mercilessly when they're not ignoring her altogether. She often finds herself left to her own devices. Still, the woods and beaches around Brackenwood Point offer plenty of room to explore. Then, one day, Sam comes face-to-face with a wild cougar and her two cubs, and her summer vacation suddenly gets much more exciting.

Genres: Childrens, Animals

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

About the author

Julie Lawson is the award-winning author of many books for young people. Her novels include White Jade Tiger (winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Book Literature Prize and nominated for both the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award and the Silver Birch Award), Destination Gold, and The Ghost of Avalanche Mountain. Among her acclaimed picture books are The Dragon’s Pearl, Emma and the Silk Train, Bear on the Train, and Whatever You Do, Don’t Go Near That Canoe! Her most recent novel, Ghosts of the Titanic, was released in Spring 2011.

Some of the events written about in A Ribbon of Shining Steel were based on the real-life experiences of Julie’s own grandfather, John Anderson, who was among the many immigrants needed to keep the CPR running smoothly.

Julie lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Puneet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book a lot more rereading it than I did as a child. I was pretty young when I first read it and the whole idea of spotting a cougar spooked me out back then.
I love how the development of Sam's relationship with her cousins is shown, especially the part where they are all complete strangers to her after the 6 years between when they last met.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a kid the only books I would read were ones about animals so when I saw this at the library, I knew I had to read it. This is a cute story that is perfect for any animal loving kids, and even their parents would enjoy reading it to them.

[Roy]

Another tale that is well woven into an enjoyable read, yet keeping the historical facts correct.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old Sam visits her teenage cousins in Vancouver Island’s wilderness, encounters a cougar, and eventually earns the acceptance of her cousins.