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The Hill
Jared's plane has crashed in the Alberta wilderness, and Kyle is first on the scene. When Jared insists on hiking up the highest hill in search of cell phone reception, Kyle hesitates; his Cree grandmother has always forbidden him to go near it. There s no stopping Jared, though, so Kyle reluctantly follows. After a night spent on the hilltop with no cell service the teens discover something disturbing: the plane has disappeared. The forest is the same, and yet subtly wrong. Worst of all, something—a creature that should only exist in legend—is hunting them.
Karen Bass, the multi-award-winning author of Graffiti Knight and Uncertain Soldier, brings her signature action packed style to a chilling new subject: the Cree Wihtiko legend. Inspired by the real story of a remote plane crash and by the legends of her Cree friends and neighbours, Karen brings eerie life or perhaps something other than life to the northern Alberta landscape in The Hill."
Karen Bass, the multi-award-winning author of Graffiti Knight and Uncertain Soldier, brings her signature action packed style to a chilling new subject: the Cree Wihtiko legend. Inspired by the real story of a remote plane crash and by the legends of her Cree friends and neighbours, Karen brings eerie life or perhaps something other than life to the northern Alberta landscape in The Hill."
254 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2016
33 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Karen Bass
14 books71 followersKaren's high school teacher told her she should be a writer, but it took quite a few years for that thought to take root. She began writing shortly after she was hired to manage the local library. Run Like Jager is her first novel, and she has seven more on her published shelf. Two novels, Graffiti Knight and Uncertain Soldier, won the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young Readers. Her newest novel, Blood Donor, is an Orca Soundings book for readers who like short, exciting stories, and is a Junior Library Guild Gold Star Selection.
A few years ago, Karen moved from her long-time home in northwest Alberta, to southern Ontario, where she is enjoying exploring a whole new province as she gathers new story ideas.
A few years ago, Karen moved from her long-time home in northwest Alberta, to southern Ontario, where she is enjoying exploring a whole new province as she gathers new story ideas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 11, 2016
The Hill by Karen Bass is a simple title that belies the fact that I found this to be anything but a simple story.
It is a tale of two totally mismatched teen boys from different backgrounds, that find themselves in a race to 'out run', 'out wit' and survive in a parallel dimension -- oral accounts shrouded in the mists of the distant past that are often regaled as scary stories told around a campfire. Only by learning to trust and working together do Jared and Kyle discover that they might have a remote possibility of enduring and escaping the nightmare they find themselves in!
Highly Recommended --- if you can handle the fear factor!
Thank you to Pajama Press for the ARC.
It is a tale of two totally mismatched teen boys from different backgrounds, that find themselves in a race to 'out run', 'out wit' and survive in a parallel dimension -- oral accounts shrouded in the mists of the distant past that are often regaled as scary stories told around a campfire. Only by learning to trust and working together do Jared and Kyle discover that they might have a remote possibility of enduring and escaping the nightmare they find themselves in!
Highly Recommended --- if you can handle the fear factor!
Thank you to Pajama Press for the ARC.
February 28, 2016
Karen Bass has made a name for herself by writing well-researched and page-turning historical fiction from a post-WWII German teen’s point of view. What I love about her books is that she breathes life into bits of history that no one else is writing about and she does it with muscular aplomb and page-turning suspense.
The Hill is utterly different from anything Bass has written before. It’s a contemporary thriller about Jared, a rich spoiled teen whose plane crashes in remote northern Alberta, and Kyle, a Cree teen witnesses the crash and comes to assist. The two protagonists are the same sex and age but that’s the sum of their similarities.
Jared survives the crash with just a concussion and his pilot is alive but injured. His cell phone has no service and he wants to get to the top of a nearby hill in order to light up a few bars on his phone. Kyle tells him that they cannot do that. It’s a forbidden place.
They go anyway.
There’s no cell service, and when they come back down, there’s no plane.
It turns out that by climbing the forbidden hill, the teens have slipped into a different dimension, and this alternate reality is a dangerous place populated with creatures from Cree legend. Now that they’ve slipped into this other dimension, how do they get out? Only by setting aside their differences can the boys puzzle that out and save themselves.
In less capable hands, the novel’s premise could be a disaster but Karen Bass anchors the fantasy element with such gritty, sore and smelly reality and such nail-biting terror that the reader has no choice but to be hooked.
I read this novel in a single long gulp because I could not put it down. And after I was finished, it stayed on my mind.
A phenomenal page-turner. Love the premise. Love the writing. Don’t read this book in bed.
The Hill is utterly different from anything Bass has written before. It’s a contemporary thriller about Jared, a rich spoiled teen whose plane crashes in remote northern Alberta, and Kyle, a Cree teen witnesses the crash and comes to assist. The two protagonists are the same sex and age but that’s the sum of their similarities.
Jared survives the crash with just a concussion and his pilot is alive but injured. His cell phone has no service and he wants to get to the top of a nearby hill in order to light up a few bars on his phone. Kyle tells him that they cannot do that. It’s a forbidden place.
They go anyway.
There’s no cell service, and when they come back down, there’s no plane.
It turns out that by climbing the forbidden hill, the teens have slipped into a different dimension, and this alternate reality is a dangerous place populated with creatures from Cree legend. Now that they’ve slipped into this other dimension, how do they get out? Only by setting aside their differences can the boys puzzle that out and save themselves.
In less capable hands, the novel’s premise could be a disaster but Karen Bass anchors the fantasy element with such gritty, sore and smelly reality and such nail-biting terror that the reader has no choice but to be hooked.
I read this novel in a single long gulp because I could not put it down. And after I was finished, it stayed on my mind.
A phenomenal page-turner. Love the premise. Love the writing. Don’t read this book in bed.
Read
December 31, 2016I'm an adult and I really, really liked this book. My teenage self loved it. Extracting from the back cover blurb by Larry Loyie: "gripping story of survival and mystery..." and "successfully weaves Cree mythology into ..." and "learn that outwitting a creature from the spirit world...". And he's nailed it.
Now for a rant:
Pity, then, that the book will not reach enough of its intended audience - Young Adult readers. It's not the writer's fault. And kudos to Pajama Press for publishing it. I picked the book up and read based on a recommendation; without that recommendation the book, as it sits on a bookstore shelf, is invisible. And that is almost criminal when books compete ferociously for attention. Why invisible, and or a complete turn-off? Lets start with the front cover, the first and second impression is of mud. A visual field of mud. At third impression, and let's face it, few get past a first impression, reveals that this a "forest" scene with hints of trees and a dull sky. The embossed title, in scarlet, is almost lost in the field of mud. The author's name is prominent enough at the bottom of the cover but, between the title and author's name, in the middle of the cover and in av smaller font, one finds: "By the award-winning author of Graffiti Knight". What's that doing in the middle? My teenage self, had it gotten past the mud, would have been immediately repulsed - not even looking at the copy found on the French Flaps. (Yes, imo, the money spent on those flaps was an utter waste). To cap it all off, the back cover blurb from Larry loyie ends with: "...outwitting a creature from the spirit world is only possible with [the] mutual respect [of the two protagonists]."
None of the above, again imo, appeals to the intended reader. It might appeal, or at least not repulse, librarians and teachers.
Pity.
Now for a rant:
Pity, then, that the book will not reach enough of its intended audience - Young Adult readers. It's not the writer's fault. And kudos to Pajama Press for publishing it. I picked the book up and read based on a recommendation; without that recommendation the book, as it sits on a bookstore shelf, is invisible. And that is almost criminal when books compete ferociously for attention. Why invisible, and or a complete turn-off? Lets start with the front cover, the first and second impression is of mud. A visual field of mud. At third impression, and let's face it, few get past a first impression, reveals that this a "forest" scene with hints of trees and a dull sky. The embossed title, in scarlet, is almost lost in the field of mud. The author's name is prominent enough at the bottom of the cover but, between the title and author's name, in the middle of the cover and in av smaller font, one finds: "By the award-winning author of Graffiti Knight". What's that doing in the middle? My teenage self, had it gotten past the mud, would have been immediately repulsed - not even looking at the copy found on the French Flaps. (Yes, imo, the money spent on those flaps was an utter waste). To cap it all off, the back cover blurb from Larry loyie ends with: "...outwitting a creature from the spirit world is only possible with [the] mutual respect [of the two protagonists]."
None of the above, again imo, appeals to the intended reader. It might appeal, or at least not repulse, librarians and teachers.
Pity.
January 1, 2016
3.5/5 I'd love to say that this is a really original story (since I've never read anything like it before), but it's actually based on an old Cree legend. I loved how the author created a modern take on it and made it accessible to young readers. The only thing I found particularly annoying was the way the author was constantly going on about rich white kids and poor First Nations kids. I think it's excellent that these topics are brought up and addressed in kids' literature, but it really felt excessive. It seemed like every decision or comment made by either of the two main characters was supposedly because of their race or social class. I think it would have been just as effective if the characters had just been able to go about on their adventure and become friends, then have realizations about race and class at pivotal moments in the book.
January 20, 2016
I thought this book was going to be another Hatchet, but it isn't, so that's good. I got to the part about the windigo and had to stop because I am a 'fraidy cat. The writing is great and believable enough to scare me into stopping.
January 1, 2016
Full review will be posted HERE closer to publication
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 Stars
"Sometimes afraid is the smartest thing you can be."
I am constantly thinking that there isn't enough good Canadian fiction out there. Especially Canadian YA. But I just found what has become one of my favourite books of all time - and it just so happens to be set in Northern Alberta and feature fascinating Canadian First Nations lore.
I have a kind of wordy, thought-out review style on this blog lately, and I'm trying to stick with that and not just flail around madly like a nerd. I just loved this book so hard.
It also really reminds me of Winterkill by Kate Boorman (I loaned my gorgeous hardcover out and lost it. MUST REBUY. SO GOOD. And there's a sequel out now. Ugh. Forever behind, LOL.)
What I Liked: Okay, this book was brilliant. First of all, the plot. The plot was amazing, captivating, page turning, and satisfying. It was also scary. Honestly, I am pretty sure I will think of this book every time I walk in or near a forest until I am old and grey. And it's so hard to fangirl about why it was scary because you're better off going in without knowing anything. But there were some seriously spine-chilling lines where even sitting here thinking about them I feel on edge.
This book has two male main characters. No love interests. The author did a phenomenal job of capturing their voices. Both of them managed to annoy me and make me want to strangle them at times, but it was always genuine to their character. For example, Kyle, who is Cree, talks constantly about the racial difference between him and the other main character, Jared. Jared, who is white, constantly acts like a spoiled bratty twit. To the point where I was kind of annoyed with both of them.
But by the end of the book, I didn't mind it. Heck, I kind of liked it. Yes, I feel like Kyle has a victim complex to some degree and it plays into the constant 'white people are the reason for everything bad to have ever happened ever' and Jared's whiny rich boy thing played right into that stereotype. But it worked. Whatever the author's views and whether or not I agree with them, she made me understand who the characters were and why they believed and behaved as they did. Not many authors can pull that off - hopefully I'm making sense here! I fell in love with both of the boys - not romantically. It's common to write swoon-worthy male MC's. It's something else entirely to write characters you can 'laugh and cry' with and feel like you're right there as they grow as people!
The writing was fast paced and often beautiful. I highlighted lots of little lines on my Kindle app because they were just too pretty! I also learned a lot about Cree legends which was very interesting. This book would be wonderful to read in school. There are so many issues to discuss (including social issues like I stated above) as well as historical and cultural details to dive into learning more about. I plan to homeschool my son Dawson, and I hope we can read this book together when he's older!
I also really felt like it would make an amazing movie. I kind of hope this book blows up impossibly big and gets made. I don't say that about too many books, but seriously. I would probably pee myself in fear if I watched a movie version.
What I Didn't Like: Well, there were a few times I felt 'adrift' in the writing, where it wasn't clear how a setting was laid out or whether it was day or night (Once I started noting more when it was daytime, the book was even creepier to me. Even forests in the day aren't safe?!), but they were few and far between and might be worked out in the final copy.
There was one super weird analogy about a basketball made of ice in someone's stomach (?) that dragged me from the story.
That's it. That's all I got, LOL.
Final Thoughts: Read this. I don't care who you are or if you're Canadian, read it. Especially if you marvel at character development.
Oh, and if you like reading about male MC's and/or books without romance. Disclaimer: I like female MC's and I like romance. But sometimes I change it up.
*** A big thank you to Pajama Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. ***
Love,
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 Stars
"Sometimes afraid is the smartest thing you can be."
I am constantly thinking that there isn't enough good Canadian fiction out there. Especially Canadian YA. But I just found what has become one of my favourite books of all time - and it just so happens to be set in Northern Alberta and feature fascinating Canadian First Nations lore.
I have a kind of wordy, thought-out review style on this blog lately, and I'm trying to stick with that and not just flail around madly like a nerd. I just loved this book so hard.
It also really reminds me of Winterkill by Kate Boorman (I loaned my gorgeous hardcover out and lost it. MUST REBUY. SO GOOD. And there's a sequel out now. Ugh. Forever behind, LOL.)
What I Liked: Okay, this book was brilliant. First of all, the plot. The plot was amazing, captivating, page turning, and satisfying. It was also scary. Honestly, I am pretty sure I will think of this book every time I walk in or near a forest until I am old and grey. And it's so hard to fangirl about why it was scary because you're better off going in without knowing anything. But there were some seriously spine-chilling lines where even sitting here thinking about them I feel on edge.
This book has two male main characters. No love interests. The author did a phenomenal job of capturing their voices. Both of them managed to annoy me and make me want to strangle them at times, but it was always genuine to their character. For example, Kyle, who is Cree, talks constantly about the racial difference between him and the other main character, Jared. Jared, who is white, constantly acts like a spoiled bratty twit. To the point where I was kind of annoyed with both of them.
But by the end of the book, I didn't mind it. Heck, I kind of liked it. Yes, I feel like Kyle has a victim complex to some degree and it plays into the constant 'white people are the reason for everything bad to have ever happened ever' and Jared's whiny rich boy thing played right into that stereotype. But it worked. Whatever the author's views and whether or not I agree with them, she made me understand who the characters were and why they believed and behaved as they did. Not many authors can pull that off - hopefully I'm making sense here! I fell in love with both of the boys - not romantically. It's common to write swoon-worthy male MC's. It's something else entirely to write characters you can 'laugh and cry' with and feel like you're right there as they grow as people!
The writing was fast paced and often beautiful. I highlighted lots of little lines on my Kindle app because they were just too pretty! I also learned a lot about Cree legends which was very interesting. This book would be wonderful to read in school. There are so many issues to discuss (including social issues like I stated above) as well as historical and cultural details to dive into learning more about. I plan to homeschool my son Dawson, and I hope we can read this book together when he's older!
I also really felt like it would make an amazing movie. I kind of hope this book blows up impossibly big and gets made. I don't say that about too many books, but seriously. I would probably pee myself in fear if I watched a movie version.
What I Didn't Like: Well, there were a few times I felt 'adrift' in the writing, where it wasn't clear how a setting was laid out or whether it was day or night (Once I started noting more when it was daytime, the book was even creepier to me. Even forests in the day aren't safe?!), but they were few and far between and might be worked out in the final copy.
There was one super weird analogy about a basketball made of ice in someone's stomach (?) that dragged me from the story.
That's it. That's all I got, LOL.
Final Thoughts: Read this. I don't care who you are or if you're Canadian, read it. Especially if you marvel at character development.
Oh, and if you like reading about male MC's and/or books without romance. Disclaimer: I like female MC's and I like romance. But sometimes I change it up.
*** A big thank you to Pajama Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. ***
Content Warnings:
Love,
March 8, 2017
I was not prepared for how spooky this book was. I knew from the back cover that it was about Cree legends, and two teenagers lost in the Cree spirit world. But I had no idea how realistic it would seem. Or how plausible and terrifying. I loved it and read it in two sittings.
Story-line briefly: rich white kid from Edmonton goes down in a plane crash in the bush, and is rescued by a Cree teenager. White kid demands to climb a forbidden hill to get a phone signal, and rouses an angry spirit who pursues the pair for the rest of the book...
... unfortunately for them, it's the Windigo, which eats human flesh and is never satisfied.
Now, part of my chest-clutching terror at reading this story, comes from my childhood. My father told stories about Windigo whenever we went to Manitoulin Island, which was often. My six year old self has a very vivid image of that monster. And my adult self has quite a remarkably intact response when I read about it again!
There are great moments in this story. When the boys suspect that something weird has happened overnight, and their slow realization that they are in the spirit world. Their ability to see into the thin space of sacred ground, burned by the sweet grass. Their gradual ability to work together to survive.
But the best parts of the story for me, were the description of the hunting Windigo. When it finds them in the ancient village of moss huts ...
GULP!
The book has been nominated for the OLA Red Maple award but I'm sure it's the first of many nominations. Young readers will be riveted, terrified, plus they'll learn quite a bit about Cree legend and culture along the way. What could be better?
All in all, a great book. If you're looking for First Nations reads, add this to your list. It reminded me of an updated Lost in the Barrens (Farley Mowat), or The Orenda (Joseph Boyden) for a younger audience.
Here's my review of The Orenda: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Story-line briefly: rich white kid from Edmonton goes down in a plane crash in the bush, and is rescued by a Cree teenager. White kid demands to climb a forbidden hill to get a phone signal, and rouses an angry spirit who pursues the pair for the rest of the book...
... unfortunately for them, it's the Windigo, which eats human flesh and is never satisfied.
Now, part of my chest-clutching terror at reading this story, comes from my childhood. My father told stories about Windigo whenever we went to Manitoulin Island, which was often. My six year old self has a very vivid image of that monster. And my adult self has quite a remarkably intact response when I read about it again!
There are great moments in this story. When the boys suspect that something weird has happened overnight, and their slow realization that they are in the spirit world. Their ability to see into the thin space of sacred ground, burned by the sweet grass. Their gradual ability to work together to survive.
But the best parts of the story for me, were the description of the hunting Windigo. When it finds them in the ancient village of moss huts ...
GULP!
The book has been nominated for the OLA Red Maple award but I'm sure it's the first of many nominations. Young readers will be riveted, terrified, plus they'll learn quite a bit about Cree legend and culture along the way. What could be better?
All in all, a great book. If you're looking for First Nations reads, add this to your list. It reminded me of an updated Lost in the Barrens (Farley Mowat), or The Orenda (Joseph Boyden) for a younger audience.
Here's my review of The Orenda: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 29, 2021
Ok... Pas mal.
March 5, 2018
I read this after I found out at the library for B and he really enjoyed it. Interesting blend, a tale of survival mixed with a Cree legend. Enjoyed the read!
January 17, 2017
Pajama Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Hill. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Jared wakes up to find that he has been in a plane crash on his Dad's company jet. Rescued by Kyle, a local teenager with a chip on his shoulder, the boys end up in the spirit world without a clear exit back to their actual lives. Chased by a creature that has existed in many legends in many different cultures, Jared and Kyle need to learn how to rely on each other and how to use their surroundings to their advantage. As a member of the Cree tribe, Kyle has a lot that he can teach Jared about life in the bush, as well as the real world.
The Hill is a story about survival for two teenagers from very different worlds. Jared's privileged lifestyle is no match for the harshness of the bush, not to mention his jaunt through the spirit world. I was not expecting a novel with references to lore and legend, as I thought that this was a book about survival. The addition of the unexpected made the book more interesting and kept the plot moving. Well paced with completely developed characters, The Hill is a book that I would recommend to readers who like YA adventure with a twist of horror and paranormal elements.
Jared wakes up to find that he has been in a plane crash on his Dad's company jet. Rescued by Kyle, a local teenager with a chip on his shoulder, the boys end up in the spirit world without a clear exit back to their actual lives. Chased by a creature that has existed in many legends in many different cultures, Jared and Kyle need to learn how to rely on each other and how to use their surroundings to their advantage. As a member of the Cree tribe, Kyle has a lot that he can teach Jared about life in the bush, as well as the real world.
The Hill is a story about survival for two teenagers from very different worlds. Jared's privileged lifestyle is no match for the harshness of the bush, not to mention his jaunt through the spirit world. I was not expecting a novel with references to lore and legend, as I thought that this was a book about survival. The addition of the unexpected made the book more interesting and kept the plot moving. Well paced with completely developed characters, The Hill is a book that I would recommend to readers who like YA adventure with a twist of horror and paranormal elements.
May 10, 2020
Jared's plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness and is saved by Kyle, a Cree Indian. But is saved really what it is? Although these two are the most unlikely pair they have to figure out a way to work together to escape the other world. The Hill is a great YA and I couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2016
I first met Karen Bass through the Grande Prairie Cygnets Writers' Group. I am so pleased that she is kicking-ass with one award-winning book after another. Although this book is for young readers, I think that many adults will also enjoy the adventures that the two main characters are thrust into as they journey to find their way home under hopeless circumstances in the vast Northern Alberta wilds. Karen spices the pages with Cree words, culture, and history. There is a nice blend of clash of cultures, history, geography, horror, suspense, and adventure.
June 12, 2021
I teach this novel to my grade nine classes. I have been re-reading as I add to my novel study this year. I find this novel has a lot of very relevant ideas in in and is a fast paced adventure that my students enjoy. They always ask if there is a movie and so far, to my knowledge, no. But it would make a pretty good one. The only complaints my students have is that the ending is a little too neat. All the loose ends are wrapped up and many of my students felt there should be some questions remaining unanswered so there can be a sequel.
April 20, 2016
3.5-4 Stars
"Sometimes scared is the smartest thing you can be..."
This book is downright creepy. While the characters where not perfect, the plot was faced paced and gave me goosebumps. I also think it provides an important look at modern prejudice in Alberta and Canada at large.
"Sometimes scared is the smartest thing you can be..."
This book is downright creepy. While the characters where not perfect, the plot was faced paced and gave me goosebumps. I also think it provides an important look at modern prejudice in Alberta and Canada at large.
March 25, 2018
Je voulais lire des livres qui utilisaient le Wendigo comme personnage, après Polatouche, je tombe maintenant sur ce roman pour jeunes adultes (à partir de 12-13 ans sans problème à mon avis).
En gros, le protagoniste (Jared) est le fils d'un riche homme, son avion privé dans lequel il voyageait s'écrase, tombe en territoire Cri et il rencontre un chasseur, Kyle, de son âge (16 ans) et s'aventure par accident avec lui dans le monde des esprits où ils sont pourchassés par un Wendigo (Wîhtiko dans le livre) et ils doivent aussi sortir de ce monde pour retourner dans le monde réel.
Par où commencer...?
Ce livre n'est en rien original, les différentes péripéties se résument à se balancer des insultes (parfois racistes) tout le long, fuir un ours, sortir d'un marécage mouvant, fuir Wîhtiko et trouver de quoi manger (et évidemment sortir du monde des esprits, mais il était assez évident qu'une fois qu'ils se débarrassaient du Wîhtiko, il n'y aurait pas de problème).
Pourquoi je n'ai pas aimé?
Le chasseur cri est un le cliché le plus complet de l'autochtone: vivant en tribu, chassant, ayant une connexion très proche avec la nature (il peut dire à un ours d'arrêter), les esprits et la famille; super agile en tout, utilise des expressions pour désigner le protagoniste qui signifie « homme blanc » à répétition, pense que les Blancs sont des bons à rien (et ils s'avèrent que ses intuitions sont bonnes), considère la ville comme ennemi, vient toujours à la rescousse du protagoniste (sauf à deux reprises où c'est l'inverse).
Le protagoniste lui est un jeune homme blanc dont les parents sont très riches qui n'a pas de véritables amis, ses parents lui donnent de l'argent à défaut d'affection, crache à peu près toutes les insultes et stéréotypes du jeune homme cris qui ne l'abandonnent jamais malgré toutes les fois où il le réclame presque. Bref, deux mondes à l'opposés complètement et qui passent leur temps à se détester, mais doivent travailler ensemble pour s'échapper du monde des esprits.
Comme si ces lieux communs n'étaient pas suffisants, la fidélité du jeune cri envers Jared est complètement insensée surtout considérant le nombre de remarques racistes qui lui sont adressées, Kyle lui sauve aussi la vie tout le temps sauf évidemment vers la fin où c'est le protagoniste qui lui sauve la vie une fois et qui à l'idée de génie de comment se débarrasser de Wîhtiko (alors que tout le restant du récit, c'est le Cri qui montre à tout faire et comment survivre), le Cri l'accepte tout de go dans "sa tribu" du monde de l'esprit (et évidemment deviennent amis à la fin).
C'est un récit où l'auteure dit dans sa postface qu'elle espère que les gens se seront identifiés à Kyle qui est astucieux (pis toute pis toute), mais pourquoi ne pas l'avoir fait le protagoniste alors plutôt?? Pourquoi aussi donner le beau rôle final du sauvetage à Jared. Il m'est avis que c'est définitivement un récit de formation d'un jeune homme blanc en terre sauvage et que Kyle n'est vraiment là qu'à titre de compagnon fidèle le temps qu'il apprenne à se débrouiller. Après coup, Jared est tellement à l'aise dans la nature qu'il est même considéré comme membre de la tribu cri. Il y aurait aussi des remarques à faire avec le totemisme autour du carcajou. Il y aurait encore BEAUCOUP trop de choses à dire en fait.
Bref, aucunes péripéties originales ou même intéressantes, un roman bourré de lieux communs, de clichés et de propos racistes, plein de "bonnes intentions", mais qui ne trouvent pas de support et qui donne un roman vraiment médiocre. Au moins, c'est bien écrit (traduit).
À éviter à moins que vous ne fassiez un panorama des Vendredi dans la littérature ou que vous voulez absolument lire tous les livres qui parlent de Wendigo vu son absence dans le paysage littéraire.
En gros, le protagoniste (Jared) est le fils d'un riche homme, son avion privé dans lequel il voyageait s'écrase, tombe en territoire Cri et il rencontre un chasseur, Kyle, de son âge (16 ans) et s'aventure par accident avec lui dans le monde des esprits où ils sont pourchassés par un Wendigo (Wîhtiko dans le livre) et ils doivent aussi sortir de ce monde pour retourner dans le monde réel.
Par où commencer...?
Ce livre n'est en rien original, les différentes péripéties se résument à se balancer des insultes (parfois racistes) tout le long, fuir un ours, sortir d'un marécage mouvant, fuir Wîhtiko et trouver de quoi manger (et évidemment sortir du monde des esprits, mais il était assez évident qu'une fois qu'ils se débarrassaient du Wîhtiko, il n'y aurait pas de problème).
Pourquoi je n'ai pas aimé?
Le chasseur cri est un le cliché le plus complet de l'autochtone: vivant en tribu, chassant, ayant une connexion très proche avec la nature (il peut dire à un ours d'arrêter), les esprits et la famille; super agile en tout, utilise des expressions pour désigner le protagoniste qui signifie « homme blanc » à répétition, pense que les Blancs sont des bons à rien (et ils s'avèrent que ses intuitions sont bonnes), considère la ville comme ennemi, vient toujours à la rescousse du protagoniste (sauf à deux reprises où c'est l'inverse).
Le protagoniste lui est un jeune homme blanc dont les parents sont très riches qui n'a pas de véritables amis, ses parents lui donnent de l'argent à défaut d'affection, crache à peu près toutes les insultes et stéréotypes du jeune homme cris qui ne l'abandonnent jamais malgré toutes les fois où il le réclame presque. Bref, deux mondes à l'opposés complètement et qui passent leur temps à se détester, mais doivent travailler ensemble pour s'échapper du monde des esprits.
Comme si ces lieux communs n'étaient pas suffisants, la fidélité du jeune cri envers Jared est complètement insensée surtout considérant le nombre de remarques racistes qui lui sont adressées, Kyle lui sauve aussi la vie tout le temps sauf évidemment vers la fin où c'est le protagoniste qui lui sauve la vie une fois et qui à l'idée de génie de comment se débarrasser de Wîhtiko (alors que tout le restant du récit, c'est le Cri qui montre à tout faire et comment survivre), le Cri l'accepte tout de go dans "sa tribu" du monde de l'esprit (et évidemment deviennent amis à la fin).
C'est un récit où l'auteure dit dans sa postface qu'elle espère que les gens se seront identifiés à Kyle qui est astucieux (pis toute pis toute), mais pourquoi ne pas l'avoir fait le protagoniste alors plutôt?? Pourquoi aussi donner le beau rôle final du sauvetage à Jared. Il m'est avis que c'est définitivement un récit de formation d'un jeune homme blanc en terre sauvage et que Kyle n'est vraiment là qu'à titre de compagnon fidèle le temps qu'il apprenne à se débrouiller. Après coup, Jared est tellement à l'aise dans la nature qu'il est même considéré comme membre de la tribu cri. Il y aurait aussi des remarques à faire avec le totemisme autour du carcajou. Il y aurait encore BEAUCOUP trop de choses à dire en fait.
Bref, aucunes péripéties originales ou même intéressantes, un roman bourré de lieux communs, de clichés et de propos racistes, plein de "bonnes intentions", mais qui ne trouvent pas de support et qui donne un roman vraiment médiocre. Au moins, c'est bien écrit (traduit).
À éviter à moins que vous ne fassiez un panorama des Vendredi dans la littérature ou que vous voulez absolument lire tous les livres qui parlent de Wendigo vu son absence dans le paysage littéraire.
October 18, 2021
The book that I will be reviewing is the hill by Karen Bass. This book is about how two boys got stranded in the bush of Alaska and had to work together to survive. Once you start reading this book you just can’t stop, it has many key details and exciting parts throughout the whole book. The purpose of this book is to show people how two totally opposite people can become friends over time. The main themes would be adventure, friendship, trust and forgiveness.
Every year Jared has to go to his dad's house in Alaska and has to take a small plane to get there, this year though that plane didn’t make it. His plane crashed and then he was stranded alone in the woods. Kyle, a Cree native american, saw their plane crash and ran over to help them out. He pulled the pilot out of the cockpit and threw him on the shore while Jared scrambled to escape. Once everyone was out Jared started to freak out and tried to call for help but he had no service on his phone. He then spoke to Kyle and started his trek to the top of the hill to attempt to get service on his phone, that was not a very good idea though. Once up there Jared found out that there was no service anywhere and that he would be stuck there for a while. Kyle and Jared then went back down the hill to the plane but took a wrong turn that put them on the other side of the mountain. This is when their journey began to find their way back to safety. While out on their adventure they run into many problems and learn many lessons. After reading this book all the way through I can say I enjoyed reading it. I usually don’t read books or even finish books but this book I wanted to finish and read all the way through. Sometimes Karen Bass added too many details that made the story seem like it was going on forever but they were all very well put details. The book flowed together very well and after each chapter you want to just read on and on. If I was to recommend this book to other readers I would recommend it to people who like the outdoors and realistic fiction. There are many different adventures that take place and make you seem like you're in the adventure. I would 100% recommend this book to others in the future.
After reading this book I have learned a lot about how to mentally picture what is going on. When the boys were starving and had limited food I could imagine what they felt and the setting around them. This book taught me that polar opposites can become friends eventually when you really try. My experiences with this book were very good because I have never wanted to read or finish a book and this book got me to that place.
Every year Jared has to go to his dad's house in Alaska and has to take a small plane to get there, this year though that plane didn’t make it. His plane crashed and then he was stranded alone in the woods. Kyle, a Cree native american, saw their plane crash and ran over to help them out. He pulled the pilot out of the cockpit and threw him on the shore while Jared scrambled to escape. Once everyone was out Jared started to freak out and tried to call for help but he had no service on his phone. He then spoke to Kyle and started his trek to the top of the hill to attempt to get service on his phone, that was not a very good idea though. Once up there Jared found out that there was no service anywhere and that he would be stuck there for a while. Kyle and Jared then went back down the hill to the plane but took a wrong turn that put them on the other side of the mountain. This is when their journey began to find their way back to safety. While out on their adventure they run into many problems and learn many lessons. After reading this book all the way through I can say I enjoyed reading it. I usually don’t read books or even finish books but this book I wanted to finish and read all the way through. Sometimes Karen Bass added too many details that made the story seem like it was going on forever but they were all very well put details. The book flowed together very well and after each chapter you want to just read on and on. If I was to recommend this book to other readers I would recommend it to people who like the outdoors and realistic fiction. There are many different adventures that take place and make you seem like you're in the adventure. I would 100% recommend this book to others in the future.
After reading this book I have learned a lot about how to mentally picture what is going on. When the boys were starving and had limited food I could imagine what they felt and the setting around them. This book taught me that polar opposites can become friends eventually when you really try. My experiences with this book were very good because I have never wanted to read or finish a book and this book got me to that place.
February 24, 2017
Book name:The Hill Writer:Karen Bass Review written By: Yuhang
So first of all,I really enjoyed this book and i like the characters.The book is about two teens Kyle and Jared trapped in a spirit world.And how they worked together.This review you'll know everything that I know about the book,well not much.The book is based on a movie by the way.
Short summary
'Jared’s plane has crashed in the Alberta wilderness(desolate), and Kyle is first on the scene. When Jared insists on hiking up the highest hill in search of cell phone reception, Kyle hesitates; his Cree grandmother has always forbidden him to go near it. There’s no stopping Jared, though, so Kyle reluctantly follows. After a night spent on the hilltop—with no cell service—the teens discover something odd: the plane has disappeared. Nothing in the forest surrounding them seems right. In fact, things seem very wrong. And worst of all, something is hunting them.'
What's the problem or what happened to the boys?
-Jared's dad's plane crashed.
-Lost in the forest.
-Trouble finding food and water.
-Trapped in a spirit world.
-The worst is that they meet Wendigo, a legend that lives in the cold forest.
-Conflict between them.
Conflict
Kyle and Jared need food and water to survive.
They must convince each other to do something
They tried hard to kill Wendigo so they can leave the spirit world.They made several plans and in the end it was moved.
Problem between Kyle and Jared
There's a pretty big issue about their conversation.A white rich kid(you can know it from his father)and a poor looking native boy(in Jared's way)working together,there's gotta be something different about what they did.Learn more on the "what did i learn" section.
How the book is connected to me,the world and other books?(Connection)
-To Me
I connected to the characters because I can feel the exhaustion that they have when they were climbing up the hill,I can feel the fear when they met Wendigo and I can also feel the curiosity when they hear something weird.
I enjoy the book because I like history and historical fiction books.(Comment)
-To Other Books
I don't know any book that is related to the book 'The Hill'. But I do know there is a movie that is similar to this book.I think is called Cree legend.
-To the world
Kraken,wendigo,yeti...all those kinds of unknown mysterious creatures, monsters, we really should 'check them out', because someday-if they are real-they might attack us human, and it'll be to late if that happens.
What question do I still have?
-I searched up Wendigo on YouTube and it says that Wendigo lived in cold forest but why Kyle and Jared in the book showed us that they found Wendigo at the top of a hill and it was hot that day?(I know this is sort of unnecessary, I'm just curious.)
-How did Kyle get to the forest and met Jared,if he lives in the forest,how and why did he get lost too?
-I'm still not sure where and how is the pilot?
-'sometimes scared is the smartest thing you can be.'
I don't really know who actually create this phrase in the book and what's the meaning of it.
In my opinion, i thought we should be calm instead of scared.
What did I learn?I learned how a rich kid work together with a native,rural kid.And compare what they did differently when they got lost,examples:1 While Kyle was trying to search for clues,observing the forest around him and trying to find a way out,Jared was testing the WiFi,call 911 or that kind of stuff.2 The book told us a lot of things about why they can't be friends'Reason #11 we couldn't be friends:why would a nice guy want to be friends with a PCB?'(From the the book)something like that.3 Kyle build the tent for Jared,Kyle teach Jared what to eat and what not to in the forest and Kyle heal the rift on Jared's leg,without Kyle,Jared can't survive. The best benefit that I know about Jared is that he can chat...a lot!
I learned that if two people help each other and cooperate instead of quarreling at each other,things will get better always.
About the author/book
The book is write by an award-winning author of Graffiti Knight,she is Karen Bass.She wrote some other books,some famous ones are 'Uncertain Soldier'&'Drummer Girl.She's a Canadian YA (Young Adult)Author.She is also a writer of historical fiction for young adult.She won many award by writing fun historical book for young adult.Just like the book that I am doing right now,'The Hill'.
It's about an archaic creature that lives in the forests.
Wendigo/Other
Wendigo is an unknown creature that lives in the cold forests of North America(You might think that we are in the region, but don't worry, it's still unknown).It's sort of scary, Wendigo is a demonic spirit that is believed by native American. The 'Monster' is human-like(In my opinion, people can only think about monsters that looks like human. They just put some decoration, make them larger, taller or more scary.),but taller and gaunt. They have sunken eyes and yellowish, decaying, rotten skin. They are super thin and have an unending hunger that craves only human flesh. 'The best known way to become a Wendigo is through cannibalism(Eating other humans).'
What can I do better next time?
I'll add more detail and write more on the conflict section.
So first of all,I really enjoyed this book and i like the characters.The book is about two teens Kyle and Jared trapped in a spirit world.And how they worked together.This review you'll know everything that I know about the book,well not much.The book is based on a movie by the way.
Short summary
'Jared’s plane has crashed in the Alberta wilderness(desolate), and Kyle is first on the scene. When Jared insists on hiking up the highest hill in search of cell phone reception, Kyle hesitates; his Cree grandmother has always forbidden him to go near it. There’s no stopping Jared, though, so Kyle reluctantly follows. After a night spent on the hilltop—with no cell service—the teens discover something odd: the plane has disappeared. Nothing in the forest surrounding them seems right. In fact, things seem very wrong. And worst of all, something is hunting them.'
What's the problem or what happened to the boys?
-Jared's dad's plane crashed.
-Lost in the forest.
-Trouble finding food and water.
-Trapped in a spirit world.
-The worst is that they meet Wendigo, a legend that lives in the cold forest.
-Conflict between them.
Conflict
Kyle and Jared need food and water to survive.
They must convince each other to do something
They tried hard to kill Wendigo so they can leave the spirit world.They made several plans and in the end it was moved.
Problem between Kyle and Jared
There's a pretty big issue about their conversation.A white rich kid(you can know it from his father)and a poor looking native boy(in Jared's way)working together,there's gotta be something different about what they did.Learn more on the "what did i learn" section.
How the book is connected to me,the world and other books?(Connection)
-To Me
I connected to the characters because I can feel the exhaustion that they have when they were climbing up the hill,I can feel the fear when they met Wendigo and I can also feel the curiosity when they hear something weird.
I enjoy the book because I like history and historical fiction books.(Comment)
-To Other Books
I don't know any book that is related to the book 'The Hill'. But I do know there is a movie that is similar to this book.I think is called Cree legend.
-To the world
Kraken,wendigo,yeti...all those kinds of unknown mysterious creatures, monsters, we really should 'check them out', because someday-if they are real-they might attack us human, and it'll be to late if that happens.
What question do I still have?
-I searched up Wendigo on YouTube and it says that Wendigo lived in cold forest but why Kyle and Jared in the book showed us that they found Wendigo at the top of a hill and it was hot that day?(I know this is sort of unnecessary, I'm just curious.)
-How did Kyle get to the forest and met Jared,if he lives in the forest,how and why did he get lost too?
-I'm still not sure where and how is the pilot?
-'sometimes scared is the smartest thing you can be.'
I don't really know who actually create this phrase in the book and what's the meaning of it.
In my opinion, i thought we should be calm instead of scared.
What did I learn?I learned how a rich kid work together with a native,rural kid.And compare what they did differently when they got lost,examples:1 While Kyle was trying to search for clues,observing the forest around him and trying to find a way out,Jared was testing the WiFi,call 911 or that kind of stuff.2 The book told us a lot of things about why they can't be friends'Reason #11 we couldn't be friends:why would a nice guy want to be friends with a PCB?'(From the the book)something like that.3 Kyle build the tent for Jared,Kyle teach Jared what to eat and what not to in the forest and Kyle heal the rift on Jared's leg,without Kyle,Jared can't survive. The best benefit that I know about Jared is that he can chat...a lot!
I learned that if two people help each other and cooperate instead of quarreling at each other,things will get better always.
About the author/book
The book is write by an award-winning author of Graffiti Knight,she is Karen Bass.She wrote some other books,some famous ones are 'Uncertain Soldier'&'Drummer Girl.She's a Canadian YA (Young Adult)Author.She is also a writer of historical fiction for young adult.She won many award by writing fun historical book for young adult.Just like the book that I am doing right now,'The Hill'.
It's about an archaic creature that lives in the forests.
Wendigo/Other
Wendigo is an unknown creature that lives in the cold forests of North America(You might think that we are in the region, but don't worry, it's still unknown).It's sort of scary, Wendigo is a demonic spirit that is believed by native American. The 'Monster' is human-like(In my opinion, people can only think about monsters that looks like human. They just put some decoration, make them larger, taller or more scary.),but taller and gaunt. They have sunken eyes and yellowish, decaying, rotten skin. They are super thin and have an unending hunger that craves only human flesh. 'The best known way to become a Wendigo is through cannibalism(Eating other humans).'
What can I do better next time?
I'll add more detail and write more on the conflict section.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2017
When the plane crashed, fifteen year old Jared finds that the pilot is injured and can't help to get them rescued. Kyle Badger, a fifteen year old Cree Indian helps Kyle get out of the plane. Jared can't get cellphone reception at the crash. He decides to climb a hill but Kyle tells him no, it isn't safe. Since Kyle can't keep Jared from climbing the hill, he goes with him. They have several experiences with the Wihtiko and Wesakechak.
The author writes an excellent survival story mixed with Cree legends. Wihtiko is a man-eating spirit being and Wesakechak is a trickster figure. It is very realistic. There is tension between Jared and Kyle due to the differences in their cultures and beliefs. It was interesting for me to see how the boys matured as they rise to the challenges that they are given climbing the hill. This is a novel anyone can enjoyed.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The author writes an excellent survival story mixed with Cree legends. Wihtiko is a man-eating spirit being and Wesakechak is a trickster figure. It is very realistic. There is tension between Jared and Kyle due to the differences in their cultures and beliefs. It was interesting for me to see how the boys matured as they rise to the challenges that they are given climbing the hill. This is a novel anyone can enjoyed.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Net-galley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Read
August 30, 2018“The Hill” , a young adult, adventure, and thriller book by Karen Bass, based upon a character named Jared, whose plane crashes in northern remote Alberta, and Kyle, a Cree teen witnesses the crash and comes to assist. As Jared is woken from his concussion, desperate for help, he goes off to climb the top of a nearby hill in order to get few bars on his phone. Kyle warns Jared about the terrifying Cree legend about the forbidden hill. Jared ignores Kyle and heads on, as Kyle follows. Unfortunately there is no cell service.
Once they climb down and things get eerie when the crash site disappears and strange sounds haunt the night. Climbing that hill took them both into a different dimension. Separating their likes and dislike, they work together to escape this dimension and save themselves. The author's message is use teamwork as the best solution to any delima.
Overall the book is a phenomena page turner, and is brilliant premise. Also I like how they included First Nations relation during this reconciliation period. I would rate this book 3.5 stars overall.
February 7, 2017
The book starts with a plane crash and a 'fish out of water' set-up: the 16 yr old rich city boy on board survives but has landed in the Canadian wilderness, rescued by a 16 yr old native boy. The passenger can't get his cell phone to work and demands help to climb to the nearby mountain in search of phone access. But the native boy has been told time and again, 'never venture to that mountain top.' He's never been told why the mountain is off-limits but has accepted it as a bad place. Part fairy tale, part adventure, part thriller, these two opposites will face their fears and grow as they do what every protagonist has always done when presented with a definite limit: they blithely charge ahead. This book could easily be a young adult book; I read it as an adult book. The book is an engaging and exciting tale. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 3, 2019
I thought the book was horrible. I couldn't even go to the 5 chapter because the author Karen Bass would jump back and forth with ideas. Which made it way more hard to read, plus every two-three paragraphs they would be in a different setting. Which I didn't like because she would not explain anything. I also didn't get any horror in the book which I was really sad because I was looking forward to some horror in the book. But I would not recommend this book because I think it was a waste of time.
Thank you for reading my review!
Thank you for reading my review!
February 25, 2016
Like two of Karen's previous YA novels, 'Grafitti Knight' and 'Uncertain Soldier', when the action gets going, it really gets going, enough such that I said "Woah" and "Holeee" a few times and I gnawed on a finger nail.
The story begins when Jared, spoiled and super annoying super rich kid of divorced parents from Edmonton, on his way in his father's private plane to spend his requisite summer month with his Dad in Canada's north, ends up crashed in a swamp near the border of Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, concussed and with a pilot who is unconscious, and no cell phone reception, and he's super annoyed by this.
This is not a re-imagining of the modern classic 'Hatchet' by Gary Paulson however. Jared really has no wilderness skills, doesn't know how to do anything other than listen to his iPod or text his friends. He doesn't want to get his jeans dirty not to mention wreck his new shoes, and he's very annoyed that there is no fast food immediately available in the area. A capable teen named Kyle appears to assist the survivors of the crash having spotted the airplane in trouble. The law of the bush is to never leave anyone behind no matter the difficulties.
Unlike Jared, Kyle is well versed in how to survive in the wilderness for a few days having lived in it, but Jared and Kyle are like oil and vinegar together. Jared is puny and miserable, Kyle is fully grown and has superior skills in the current environment despite both being 15, nearly 16. Jared has city attitude, Kyle has the patience of Job which is required for living and hunting in the wild, but both have preconceived beliefs about the other that they have difficulty by-passing. As the reader will find out, with no way to call his Dad to send another airplane to pick him up, rather than listen to Kyle's advice about what to do next, Jared insists impulsively on seeking out a higher position in the terrain in an attempt to retrieve cell phone service. Therefore he insists on treking to the top of a nearby hill, and despite protestations from Kyle about why they shouldn't, the two boys eventually make their way to the crest of the hill.
Of course there is no cell service, but adding fuel to the fire, when they look back from where they came from, there is no airplane and no pilot. What Jared hasn't figured out yet is that he has carelessly taken the duo to a time of ancient Cree legend. Tempers flare and the situation starts to spiral downwards. In this other dimension, the boys find themselves being chased by a man eating figure of Cree legend in a spirit world and where they can sense the living but cannot reenter present day. The boys will have to work together despite themselves in order to avoid what lurks in the shadows.
The plot and storyline are quite brilliant, the action is gripping, and lots of gross out moments lead ultimately to a very satisfying ending.
Spoilers - I've tried not to be too overt and to give too much away in this review but one never knows. So I guess a 'reader be wary' is in order. Just look at the rating stars instead and go away at this point, read the book to form your own opinion.
However, I can only give the novel a maximum of 4 stars because Jared is such a difficult protagonist to like for so long, that I think there could have been some editing done to tone this down a little. As a result the setting up of the story takes rather longer than it perhaps should which isn't what you want to happen when reading the beginnings of a thrilling adventure story.
Now I know that I am not the target audience so perhaps Jared is just more annoying to me than might be to others and for far longer than he should be, BUT my biggest complaint is that no reasonble 15 year old boy that I know would compile a list of reasons why he could never be friends with the big 15 year old kid who is his only mechanism for possible survival at all. Whether he was going to be my friend or not would be the very last thing I'd be thinking about as I was being eaten alive by mosquitos, getting next to no sleep, battling the elements and running through the bush to get away from a terrifying creature of legend in a place that isn't my world.
It just didn't ring true at all and sounded far too juvenile for this situation. Maybe a 6-10 year old might think up a list like this BUT never in this circumstance. For this a definite drop in star status to 4.
I also found myself also hoping Kyle would leave Jared behind in the bush. Pretty puleeeease.
Kyle on the other hand is a very likeable character throughout the book despite a life experience diametrically opposite to that of Jared. He lives by a code of honour and decency settled on him by his Grandmother and is unlike his cohort who for the longest time seems to have no values. He has to live by the life skills taught to him by his Grandparents and although he doesn't have all of the answers and he can react explosively, he is a thoughtful young man even when tested sorely by Jared and by the overwhelming circumstance of trying to bring this kid back to safety.
The reader needs to have lots of patience to slog through the 'friendship' issues and repeated whinings of the self involved Jared which overwhelms the gritty 'between-worlds' the boys find themselves in. Then the reader will get to the really hairy action and to see the boys working togther to solve some tactical issues in their attempt to get back to the real world by using other Cree legend lessons to outwit their foe.
This is where you too will be saying 'Woah' and 'Holee' and biting your nails because the ending is quite brilliant.
The story begins when Jared, spoiled and super annoying super rich kid of divorced parents from Edmonton, on his way in his father's private plane to spend his requisite summer month with his Dad in Canada's north, ends up crashed in a swamp near the border of Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, concussed and with a pilot who is unconscious, and no cell phone reception, and he's super annoyed by this.
This is not a re-imagining of the modern classic 'Hatchet' by Gary Paulson however. Jared really has no wilderness skills, doesn't know how to do anything other than listen to his iPod or text his friends. He doesn't want to get his jeans dirty not to mention wreck his new shoes, and he's very annoyed that there is no fast food immediately available in the area. A capable teen named Kyle appears to assist the survivors of the crash having spotted the airplane in trouble. The law of the bush is to never leave anyone behind no matter the difficulties.
Unlike Jared, Kyle is well versed in how to survive in the wilderness for a few days having lived in it, but Jared and Kyle are like oil and vinegar together. Jared is puny and miserable, Kyle is fully grown and has superior skills in the current environment despite both being 15, nearly 16. Jared has city attitude, Kyle has the patience of Job which is required for living and hunting in the wild, but both have preconceived beliefs about the other that they have difficulty by-passing. As the reader will find out, with no way to call his Dad to send another airplane to pick him up, rather than listen to Kyle's advice about what to do next, Jared insists impulsively on seeking out a higher position in the terrain in an attempt to retrieve cell phone service. Therefore he insists on treking to the top of a nearby hill, and despite protestations from Kyle about why they shouldn't, the two boys eventually make their way to the crest of the hill.
Of course there is no cell service, but adding fuel to the fire, when they look back from where they came from, there is no airplane and no pilot. What Jared hasn't figured out yet is that he has carelessly taken the duo to a time of ancient Cree legend. Tempers flare and the situation starts to spiral downwards. In this other dimension, the boys find themselves being chased by a man eating figure of Cree legend in a spirit world and where they can sense the living but cannot reenter present day. The boys will have to work together despite themselves in order to avoid what lurks in the shadows.
The plot and storyline are quite brilliant, the action is gripping, and lots of gross out moments lead ultimately to a very satisfying ending.
Spoilers - I've tried not to be too overt and to give too much away in this review but one never knows. So I guess a 'reader be wary' is in order. Just look at the rating stars instead and go away at this point, read the book to form your own opinion.
However, I can only give the novel a maximum of 4 stars because Jared is such a difficult protagonist to like for so long, that I think there could have been some editing done to tone this down a little. As a result the setting up of the story takes rather longer than it perhaps should which isn't what you want to happen when reading the beginnings of a thrilling adventure story.
Now I know that I am not the target audience so perhaps Jared is just more annoying to me than might be to others and for far longer than he should be, BUT my biggest complaint is that no reasonble 15 year old boy that I know would compile a list of reasons why he could never be friends with the big 15 year old kid who is his only mechanism for possible survival at all. Whether he was going to be my friend or not would be the very last thing I'd be thinking about as I was being eaten alive by mosquitos, getting next to no sleep, battling the elements and running through the bush to get away from a terrifying creature of legend in a place that isn't my world.
It just didn't ring true at all and sounded far too juvenile for this situation. Maybe a 6-10 year old might think up a list like this BUT never in this circumstance. For this a definite drop in star status to 4.
I also found myself also hoping Kyle would leave Jared behind in the bush. Pretty puleeeease.
Kyle on the other hand is a very likeable character throughout the book despite a life experience diametrically opposite to that of Jared. He lives by a code of honour and decency settled on him by his Grandmother and is unlike his cohort who for the longest time seems to have no values. He has to live by the life skills taught to him by his Grandparents and although he doesn't have all of the answers and he can react explosively, he is a thoughtful young man even when tested sorely by Jared and by the overwhelming circumstance of trying to bring this kid back to safety.
The reader needs to have lots of patience to slog through the 'friendship' issues and repeated whinings of the self involved Jared which overwhelms the gritty 'between-worlds' the boys find themselves in. Then the reader will get to the really hairy action and to see the boys working togther to solve some tactical issues in their attempt to get back to the real world by using other Cree legend lessons to outwit their foe.
This is where you too will be saying 'Woah' and 'Holee' and biting your nails because the ending is quite brilliant.
March 9, 2017
How did this book get published? How? I thought one of the basic characteristics of writing a book was, you know, ACTUALLY having a plot.
After plodding through these pages for a freaking month, I finally finished and let me tell you, the ending did not help at all. The two main characters were both annoying and racist, the scary monster has about three minutes of screen time, and really, how can a book based off a Cree legend that includes a plane crash be this boring? It's a crime. Seriously.
After plodding through these pages for a freaking month, I finally finished and let me tell you, the ending did not help at all. The two main characters were both annoying and racist, the scary monster has about three minutes of screen time, and really, how can a book based off a Cree legend that includes a plane crash be this boring? It's a crime. Seriously.
February 22, 2017
I thought The Hill was okay. For me it just didn’t have that wow factor. It was interesting learning a little about the Cree tribe and what they believe in. The Hill is the story of Kyle and Jared being hunted by what the Cree people call a Witiko. Some might know it as a windigo. Kyle is a really great person who helps others, even if he doesn’t like them. Jared is a snotty little rich kid city boy but he changes his perspective on people around him and what he thinks of them. The Hill wasn’t for me but it might be for you. You might like it if you like a little mystery.
May 5, 2017
This book was okay in my popinion, however I found that there was a lot of repetitive scenarios. It was all about the nature and how a city boy has to adapt to live in the wild with help of a Native boy his same age. It interesting in someways where they hated each other in the begining. They argued about race, knowlege and more. One part I liked was how the author included the reasons why Jared, the city boy, thought they would never be frineds. Also, some parts of the book were funny and so made me want to read the book.
October 17, 2018
I thought the Hill by Karen Bass was a good book but not a great book. The dialogue between the young boys was stale and lacked realistic elements. The boys used very bland vocabulary and didn't use any vulgar language. The boys are 16 and 17 and I don't know about the teenagers you know but I feel the dialogue should have been a little more explicit to make it realistic. I liked how it combined the Native American mythology with a traditional lost plane crash giving off a bermuda triangle.
October 9, 2019
I couldn't make myself to read further than the half way mark. I couldn't find myself liking either of the main protagonists since the beginning. I'm sure there are other people would like this book, but for some reason, I just couldn't content with the story or characters. The font was big so reading was fast, but I knew once I hit 1/4 of the book that the writing, and tone of book wasn't for me.
March 18, 2022
Bass makes excellent use of the wildness of the Canadian landscape in this engaging horror novel, leveraging a well-known traditional creature from Cree folklore to ratchet up the tension throughout the novel. Although a shorter book, the story is not simple and straightforward as the protagonists must learn to trust each other as they navigate an otherwordly landscape. The fast pace will appeal to reluctant readers, while the elusive nature of the creature means that it is not too explicit for younger horror fans.
First published in 2016.
First published in 2016.
February 3, 2018
Not sure I can pin-point exactly why, but this book just wasn't for me. I found myself losing focus while reading (it just could not sustain my attention). However, I think it would be great for pre-teen & teen boys, or for any readers who enjoy survival stories. I can also appreciate the links made to Indigenous culture in Canada - they made the novel current and relevant.
December 31, 2018
I enjoyed this fast paced book. The theme and the characters were simple, and it had many entertaining moments. Some of the descriptions could have been more comprehensive, since I had trouble picturing a few of the scenes. Overall, I thought the story was a good mix of seriousness and humor. It was light entertainment, a quick read, and held my attention.
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