Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains

by Laurel Snyder, Greg Call (Illustrator)

THIS IS THE tale of Lucy and her best friend, Wynston. Until recently, they spent their days paddling in the river, picking blackberries, and teasing each other mercilessly. But now, King Desmond has insisted that Wynston devote every spare second to ruby-shining and princess-finding. Lucy feels left out. So she sets off for the Scratchy Mountains to solve the mystery of her missing mother. When Wynston discovers that Lucy is gone, he tears after her, and together they embark on a series of strange and wonderful adventures.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Friendship

242 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2008

About the author

Laurel Snyder is the author of six children's novels, "Orphan Island," "Seven Stories Up," "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as many picture books, including "Charlie & Mouse," "The Forever Garden," "Swan, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova," and "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher."

A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).

Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.

Reviews

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just, honestly, really boring.

I love middle grade. I love middle grade adventure ESPECIALLY - and especially-especially if said middle grade adventure is fairytale-y.

This one checked those boxes, but no dice.

Also no plot, no likable characters, and no real enjoyment.

This was totally story-less. It legitimately consists of two characters wandering around aimlessly up and down some mountains. (Yes, you read correctly - the title contains the extent of the plot we get.)

And I think it’s yuck to spend 242 pages reading about a protagonist as bratty and unlikable as this one. She treats people and animals like they are her personal playthings, constantly expected to do right by her and her only.

Plus this was teeming with hit-you-over-the-head morals about the silliness of rules and the importance of family and blah blah blah in a quirky way that just got grueling after a while.

Ultimately, this didn’t even feel like a finished book. It was choppy and confusing and half-baked and...rarely do I say this, but I’m confused as to how this got published.

The best part of this was the songs. (Whoever thought I’d say this? Not me.)

Bottom line: :(

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I FINISHED MY READING CHALLENGE!

also this book was meh but that's less exciting.

review to come / 2 stars

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my mom asked if she could pick my last read of the year and when i agreed she gave me this book, which she checked out of the library at the school where she teaches kindergarten.

in conclusion, there's already no way this reading experience can get any cuter.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS. I loved the first 1/4 of this book. It holds a whimsical, fairytale quality full of keen insight into people's behavior and a gentle way of looking at the world as holding a delicious wonderment. I thought it was poetic and utterly captivating. I was instantly drawn into the story of spunky, slightly bossy Lucy and her quest to find her mother who was "gone" (no one would ever say any more than that). Lucy decides to look somewhere in the Scratchy Mountains her mother used to sing about when Lucy was a baby. There's also some tension as Lucy's best friend, (Prince) Wynston, is no longer able to come play with her and must instead begin his princely lessons and endeavors to find a future queen. But when Wynston realizes Lucy is missing, he goest to look for her.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn't hold up to the promise of the beginning. There is no doubt Snyder has a way with words, but I felt that she lost a lot of the "magic" of the earlier part of the book and we got bogged down in the moment-to-moment activities of Lucy's adventure. There are some big themes addressed here--ones that I really appreciated being drawn into a "kid's book"--such as the need to question the establishment and to find out things for one's self. But some of it seemed just a bit too "tossed in there" for my taste without fully developing it. The potential of a budding romance between Lucy and Wynston seemed pretty inevitable and I felt it was handled decently in terms of emotion and innocence given the age of the kids (around 12) although the resolution of Wynston's marriage plans... I don't know if it was just too predictable or seemed premature, or maybe I'm just not ten years old like the target audience for this books so I wasn't too wowed. The ending was generally satisfying if a bit bittersweet and left me with an overall positive feeling about the book, but I just couldn't help but wish the whole thing could have lived up to my early hopes. Still, I will definitely be on the look out for more from this new author.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairy tales must be hard to write: so few people ever manage to produce a good one. There are many retellings, of course, particularly popular in YA, but few new ones. Snyder does an excellent job of getting the tone right: close enough to respect the conventions, but with enough of modern sensibility to avoid sounding fake. So sure, there's some magical transportation to keep things moving, but a realistic evaluation of the boredom and discomfort of travel.

There's some mystery, some menace, inflexible tradition, and motherless kids setting off for adventure. There is some silliness, but the children are taken seriously for their concerns and needs and desires.

Charming and a little corny, but never smarmy. Not too scary for preschoolers, but better for the 5 and ups.

The art is charming, but not accurate to the text, so it doesn't enhance the experience. I don't expect video adaptations to be exactly like the source material, but I do feel like the illustrations shouldn't be at odds with text in a picture book. Nothing huge, it's just clear that the artist wasn't working from the final text.

Library copy

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy, the milkmaid, and Wynston, the prince, spent most of their days together and part of that time was spent in arguing about anything and everything. But each counted on meeting one another daily. So, when Wynston's father decided the young prince should begin the process of picking a young princess to be his wife, Wynston didn't arrive for their berry-picking and that's when things went awry.

Lucy had wondered for some time where her mother was because all her father ever told Lucy and her sister Sally was that their mother was "gone." Wynston, too, had no mother, but he knew when his mother had died. So, without Wynston to wander with, Lucy decided to go up the Scratchy Mountains and see if she could find her mother.

And when Wynston learned that Lucy had come looking for him and been turned away, he climbed on his horse Sprout and left to search for Lucy, tired of his father's training for marriage.

Their respective journeys up the Scratchy Mountains are adventurous, but they reach the top separately and find one another in the village of Torrent. And there they begin taking care of one another and evaluating the importance of rules and friends.

This is a quirky fairytale-like story that leaves the reader hoping for a happy ending. Lucy often turns to original songs to help her through her problems and that is part of the charm of the book. And both Lucy and Wynston have their problems solved, but not in the way either expects.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains by Laurel Snyder - Fairy Tale Novel, 4th/5th grade- Have you ever began reading a book with an accent already running through your mind? Ever burst into song while reading lyrics for the first time? I adore how Laurel Snyder writes, what I loved: Description of mountain: It was a blot of ink, a puddle of spilled molasses, a solid swarm of wasps. The forest was so dark that it was impossible to make out individual trees, and Lucy had no way of knowing who or what lived within. She felt nervous when she saw it, without knowing why... p. 87
And a song sung during one scene in the book:
Men in silly uniforms
Who get to make the rules
Should all be poked with wooden spoons
And sent away to schools,
Where wild beasts will teach them
That it's better to be free
Than it is to be a grown-up
Stiff and stubborn as a tree! p. 134
It is no wonder that I've tried to read every single book Laurel Snyder's written! Highly recommended book.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This morning I've been thinking up subtitles for Laurel Snyder's sometimes quirky and surprisingly thoughtful book. Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains: A Fanciful Primar to Civil Disobedience or Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains: Why Your Overactive HOA Should Not Dominate the Neighborhood. In the end, Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains is a light-hearted fantasy featuring the well-mannered Prince Wynston, arguementative and warm-hearted milkmaid Lucy, and a happy ending, but as I followed the 12-year-olds struggle to do what was right in the face of repressive, though well-intentioned rules, this became a book I'm eager to introduce to my daughter. Late elementary and middleschool readers will enjoy this clever fantasy-era tale.

[Ever · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a clever, funny little story. I could have lived without the very last page, which sums up "loose ends" of the plot and its characters. There is plenty of fodder for a sequel without this kind of safety net. It is also quite possible that I am thoroughly jaded by teenage romance in certain YA books (Twilight, I'm talking to you), but the engagement between the two main characters (who are what - ten, eleven?) is a little much for me as well. Despite my qualms, I'm going to recommend this to a lot of young readers. There is still a brave, stubborn, loving heroine in this book who faces down all kinds of demons and should be recognized.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can tell from this book that Laurel Snyder is a poet; milkmaild Lucy makes up songs that could make it into any anthology of children's poetry. It's also an adventure story about Lucy's journey to find her missing mother, accompanied (sort of) by Wynston, the crown prince and her best friend. At times the silliness seemed to overpower the story to me, especially when it meant that the adult characters were so much less rounded and real-seeming than Lucy and Wynston. But the ending is satisfying. And there's a quote from palace cook Macha that not only sounds like it could have come from an Ibsen parody, but deserves to go down in the annals of traditional fantasy forever:

"Sir, I'm just a simple cook - a servant in this house. All I'm good for is roasting and baking and saucing and stuffing and peeling and grinding and mending and cleaning and washing and overseeing the staff and planning the meals and organizing the royal festivities and such."

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: Not quite like any other fairy tale novel I've encountered, and while I might have shortened it a tad I think it's indicative of a strong writing talent.

[Courtney K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the exploration of talking to children about death. The words you use are important, like "gone" versus "passed" versus "dead". I love the passage where Lucy talks to her dad about her mother's death. She said she could picture a storm in a way she couldn't picture gone. That whole passage had an impact.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started as a read aloud to my children but I ended up finishing it without them and telling them how it ended. Why do people write such sad stories for children?

[Alexallen8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the whole story, I like the adventure that Lucy goes on. It was sweet and exciting. I wish there was another book.

[Joenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this book in the hopes that it would be a mystery book I could recommend this summer. While it technially isn't a mystery, it is still a wonderful book.

Lucy is a milkmaid in the town of Thistle and her best friend is Wynston, the prince of Thistle. Lucy's mom disappeard when she was a baby and doesn't know what happened to her. Lucy decides to return to the place where her mom is from, the Scratchy Mountains.

Lucy's adventure takes her up the mountain, with the company of Rosebud the cow, and Cat, a prairie dog. She comes to the town of Torrent, where rules are strict and people aren't too nice. Cat gets trapped and with the help of Wynston, who has secretly followed her up the mountain, help Cat and the rest of them escape from Torrent. All the while Lucy is asking about her mom, and getting no information in return.

A wonderful adventure book, kind of mystery in the sense that Lucy is looking for her missing mom. But all around a very sweet and adventurous tale. I'm definitely recommending this book!!!

[CuriousLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book with a fun writing style: "Lucy's best friend was a boy named Wynston. He happened to be a prince, but it wasn't his fault." Lucy is the madcap daring one (though she turns out to be very caring), and Wynston is the sensible one (who of course goes a little wild at times, mostly to help Lucy). But despite some cliches, they are good, solid characters who get into some crazy scrapes while off on their adventure and rescue on the Scratchy Mountains.

This novel hit on some difficult themes: growing up without a mother, dealing with death, taking responsibility, questioning the rules in the adult world (and only sometime prevailing) - but it does it all in the guise of a fun fantasy novel. I have some quibbles with the resolution at the end as it seems out of place in the lives of children on the cusp of puberty, but I like the book otherwise.

Recommended for grades 4-6.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was enchanted by this sweet, charming story of a milkmaid and a prince, friends from childhood, who come of age and learn how to stand up for what they believe is good and right in the world. I am always searching for decent books that are appropriate and appeal to the 4th and 5th grade girls at my school. This is perfect--it's a well-balanced amalgamation of adventure, romance and humor with a touch of pathos as well. You cannot help but grow fond of Lucy and Wynston as they muddle their way through some challenging situations, especially when they work as a team and are supportive of each other. This is yet another talented author who grew up in my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, making me quite proud!

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It reads like a fairy tale, although there isn't really any magic going on (unless you count nearly-superhuman knitting powers, and the town where it rains every night and stops every day at noon on the dot).

Lucy, a milkmaid, is best friends with Wynston, the prince. They are both upset when Wynston's father insists that Wynston needs to spend more time learning to be a prince—and in seeking a suitable princess to marry one day in the future.

Lucy, missing her best friend, heads off to the Scratchy Mountains to find her mother, who is gone, but whom no one ever talks about.

The story was well written and I really enjoyed reading it. I look forward to sharing it with my children in the future.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about Lucy whose inquisitive mind sends her on a memorable adventure, and her friend Wynston, who happens to be a prince but for whom the trappings of royalty are far less important then loyalty. The pair are fast friends but growing up puts them into a situation that changes their relationship. The book is an exploration of the value of friendship and status in juxtaposition with existing expectations and institutions and whether or not it's worth it to adhere to the status quo.

As heavy as this sounds, Snyder writes with a light hand and a dry wit. Her characters are really likeable and her descriptions most entertaining.

[Terry]

This was a lot of fun to read. It has some predictable moments, but there are a collection of secondary characters - Sally, Masha, King Desmond, the citizens of Torrent, and Willie - who add plenty of humor. This is not a straight-forward once-upon-a-time fairy tale, and it does take about a chapter or two to get into the author's style. Once you do, though, you're rewarded with a great story.

To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.

[Jane G Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. There's so much I really loved about this book--especially the author's quirky style. She really knows how to play with language and very often I felt like I was playing along. That's a gift.

But somehow the characters, though they were unique and interesting, just didn't stick tightly to me. The plot had some slow moments in the middle and really, I can't wrap my finger around what might be lacking? Doesn't say much for me as an editor...

I'll keep thinking about it.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 50 stars if I could! Laurel Snyder is SUCH a great author. I met her! She came to my school. I fell in love with this book and all the characters in it. Lucy the milkmaid goes on a journey to find her mother and a prince named Winston ( Lucy's best friend ) goes after her. Lucy takes Rosebud the cow and she finds a prairie dog named Cat. Winston takes his his horse named Sprout. READ THIS BOOK!!!!

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars- This was a fun, whimsical story. The poetry (in the form of songs the main character makes up) is just delightful. The ending was a bit surprising, with it not wrapping up one of the main issues the way you would expect (based on the feel of the rest of the story). But still a good read. It's set up in a way that you would expect several sequels (which have not been written/published yet). I would definitely read more about the small worlds of Thistle and Torrent.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. 5 stars really. A nice story about two best friends, a prince and a young milkmaid, who go on an adventure and discover how much they mean to each other. The story is solid and brings up issues such as death and the role of law in society though it isn't as serious as this sentence makes it sound. Interesting.

[Despair Speaking · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually pretty funny and interesting.

Oh sure, it's random and there's not much a plot going on, but it has its ups (and a lot of them) and it is very entertaining.

I recommend this to those who like strong-willed (the polite term for hard-headed) female characters, princes, animals, and strange situations.

[Dailyn]

Very sweet book and enjoyable. It was delightfully childish. However, there were a couple times when I was reading that I thought, "I wonder how it would have been if the author made the book longer, the storyline a bit more complex, the characters more developed - made it geared more towards the older kids?" I think that it would be neat to see it both ways. Nevertheless, it was good. :)

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is such a good book I love it and it kind of got sad in the end and then you just want to keep reading just as much. It might sound a little cheesy about a prairie dog named cat and a cow named rosebud as her friends but it is preety good.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny adventure with a little bit of fairy tale trappings, but no a "princessy" sort of book. Lucy is spunky (though I hate that word) and a bit bossy, but also kindhearted and brave. My kind of book, and I think my 9 year old should give it a try too.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read-aloud even though it took a long time to get through because the chapters are very long. But it is an endearing story about a milkmaid and a prince, and their adventures together in leaving home, breaking laws, saving a prairie dog, and deciding they are meant for each other.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this as a read aloud for my 4th graders last year- and boy am I glad that I did. We all loved it! Then we had the opportunity to Skype with Laurel Snyder. An awesome book written by a fantastic lady!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whimsical time period and the fun voice of Laurel Snyder make this a great read. We learn that old traditions aren't always necessary. Lucy the milk maid takes us on our journey to find her mother and the Prince actually chases her for a change.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite nice. Story flow is a little awkward and the ending is poor. But some good fun overall. Released Aug 26, 2008; First time author