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Bigfoot Mountain
Minnie and her stepfather, Dan, are stuck in their small cabin at the foot of the mountain struggling to come to terms with the death of her mother – and each other. But when Minnie and her friend Billy discover four giant footprints on a mountain trail, everything changes.
Kaayii and his clan have to move across the mountain to escape huge forest fires, but find their ancient paths blocked by new holiday cabins… As Minnie and Kaayii’s paths unexpectedly entwine, can they help each other, and heal their families?
Kaayii and his clan have to move across the mountain to escape huge forest fires, but find their ancient paths blocked by new holiday cabins… As Minnie and Kaayii’s paths unexpectedly entwine, can they help each other, and heal their families?
- GenresChildrensContemporary
140 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2021
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 24, 2021
really good book. Heart warming.
June 28, 2021
Minnie’s about to have an adventure.
Bigfoot Mountain is a charming children’s story with added depths that would make it perfect for home or classroom reading. Firstly, it’s an exciting story with adventure, peril and responsibility woven into the story as Minnie encounters the Bigfoot tribe. The two strands of the narrative from Minnie and then Kaayii’s perspectives come together in a very satisfying manner making Bigfoot Mountain an enormously pleasing read.
However, aside from a narrative that engages and captivates because it is action packed and entertaining, there’s so much more to Bigfoot Mountain. The themes are perfect for middle grade children because Roderick O’Grady introduces conflict, family, friendship and the environment in a way that educates at the same time. There are wonderful descriptions of the natural world and illustrations at the end of the book that help bring those descriptions to life. They would make an excellent catalyst for further research and study too, as would the Bigfoot story with children perhaps finding out about local myths and legends close to their own homes.
Further still, is the wonderful exploration of grief. Minnie’s mother’s death impacts the story so that children can explore their own grief and come too understand how their feelings are natural and acceptable. This theme also illustrates for young readers that adults have similar feelings and find them just as difficult to manage. I found myself wiping away a tear on a couple of occasions.
Minnie and Dan are not a conventional nuclear family, as Dan is Minnie’s step father, so that children in modern family units can identify with them and feel their own families are normal whatever their components. I really appreciated the way in which Minnie is the major character, giving status to children in an adult world and to females in general. The friendship she has with the younger Billy also exemplifies how we can make friends across a range of age groups, but perhaps the most important aspect here is her awareness of Kaayii. Here Roderick O’Grady makes clear, without preaching, that it is possible to embrace difference, to live harmoniously and to be kind to one another. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of Bigfoot Mountain.
But Bigfoot Mountain isn’t just for children. Roderick O’Grady’s narrative also reminds adults to consider their impact on the environment, to reignite their childlike awareness of nature and joy in life, and to be open to new possibilities and truths. As someone half a century older than the target audience I found the writing moving, educational and important. I think Bigfoot Mountain has resonance and relevance for readers of all ages; for now, and in the future. I loved it.
Bigfoot Mountain is a charming children’s story with added depths that would make it perfect for home or classroom reading. Firstly, it’s an exciting story with adventure, peril and responsibility woven into the story as Minnie encounters the Bigfoot tribe. The two strands of the narrative from Minnie and then Kaayii’s perspectives come together in a very satisfying manner making Bigfoot Mountain an enormously pleasing read.
However, aside from a narrative that engages and captivates because it is action packed and entertaining, there’s so much more to Bigfoot Mountain. The themes are perfect for middle grade children because Roderick O’Grady introduces conflict, family, friendship and the environment in a way that educates at the same time. There are wonderful descriptions of the natural world and illustrations at the end of the book that help bring those descriptions to life. They would make an excellent catalyst for further research and study too, as would the Bigfoot story with children perhaps finding out about local myths and legends close to their own homes.
Further still, is the wonderful exploration of grief. Minnie’s mother’s death impacts the story so that children can explore their own grief and come too understand how their feelings are natural and acceptable. This theme also illustrates for young readers that adults have similar feelings and find them just as difficult to manage. I found myself wiping away a tear on a couple of occasions.
Minnie and Dan are not a conventional nuclear family, as Dan is Minnie’s step father, so that children in modern family units can identify with them and feel their own families are normal whatever their components. I really appreciated the way in which Minnie is the major character, giving status to children in an adult world and to females in general. The friendship she has with the younger Billy also exemplifies how we can make friends across a range of age groups, but perhaps the most important aspect here is her awareness of Kaayii. Here Roderick O’Grady makes clear, without preaching, that it is possible to embrace difference, to live harmoniously and to be kind to one another. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of Bigfoot Mountain.
But Bigfoot Mountain isn’t just for children. Roderick O’Grady’s narrative also reminds adults to consider their impact on the environment, to reignite their childlike awareness of nature and joy in life, and to be open to new possibilities and truths. As someone half a century older than the target audience I found the writing moving, educational and important. I think Bigfoot Mountain has resonance and relevance for readers of all ages; for now, and in the future. I loved it.
August 13, 2022
What a beautiful book! A story of courage, healing, protecting the natural world and incredible adventure, this book has everything you want. With evocative writing, Bigfoot Mountain conjures up the depth, beauty and nature of these mountains with such power that you can smell the scent of pine wafting on the winds. The story causes the reader to consider how we, as humans, fit into nature and how our actions can help or hinder. All the characters are painted in such a way that we immediately relate and understand, whether human, bigfoot or animal. We see and feel their dilemmas; their fears, their courage and their joys. Through brave, bold Minnie and all her careful research and examination, it stretches our creative thinking, pushing to question what we know is real and what may be possible. She may have her moments of fear and frustration, but her voice will be heard! And she will make all those around her take action; the right action! And this one certainly has adventure in spades. While all the action takes place in a small area, it expands that space, creating a vision that takes us right in. The intrepid exploration of the mountain trails (by the way, there’s a map! I do love a map!), the unfolding discoveries of the beauty and the danger, the unbelievable encounters…it’s just consuming. There are nail-biting moments and episodes that build to great relief and quiet, powerful joy. Along with the fantastic exploits, this is also the tale of two families; one human, one Bigfoot; finding their way past the tragedies that have befallen them. I actually felt like I was living through this moment in time with these people and all they experience. Adventurous, brave, moving, filled with hope and heart, and totally enthralling; I can whole-heartedly recommend climbing up Bigfoot Mountain.
June 6, 2021
A very good story
This is a fast page-turning story about Bigfoots in the forest. It is compassionately written and wholly believable. I would recommend it to any strong readers of any age. I would love to read a sequel.
This is a fast page-turning story about Bigfoots in the forest. It is compassionately written and wholly believable. I would recommend it to any strong readers of any age. I would love to read a sequel.
December 15, 2021
Minnie lives with her stepfather, Dan in a lakeside cabin in an off-the-beaten-track holiday site in the Pacific Northwest. They are surrounded by mountains, full of gaming and hiking trails – however, Dan and Minnie’s relationship is a road less travelled. Dan’s only been in Minnie’s life a couple of years, and, since her mother died, plunging them both into grief, they’ve built a strange kind of non-communicative life together. Dan gets on with maintenance, Minnie gets on with exploring. They both miss the person that brought them together.
One day, Minnie and her friend, Billy, take a hike up the hill where they discover large footprints. As Minnie’s return trips to the forest bring her closer to the truth of a bigfoot clan, a young sasquatch (bigfoot) called Kaayii is equally curious about the intrepid human girl…
I love Minnie’s character – persistent, go-getting, incorrigible – and I love her love of learning. Her mother taught her about the environment, but she’s always keen to know more. And Billy’s quips are hilarious – there are lovely touches of humour throughout. It’s the perfect back-to-nature two-for-one tale as we go hunting for bigfoots (big feet?) with Minnie, and then go sniffing out humans with Kaayii!
But this is more than a fun read – it’s such a clever book, bringing two parts together in a satisfying conclusion. And I’m not just talking about Minnie and the bigfoot. For, while the story sweeps you up in the romanticism and mystery of the great outdoors, it also deals with grief, loss and a fractured family; and it does so tenderly, revealing the cracks before carefully, slowly, patching them up again.
Sewing all the threads together is a love of the landscape. There are beautiful descriptions about the sights, smells, sounds, textures and tastes of the woodlands, and such exquisite details – from the scent of a leaf to the stance of a deer – it’s like a love-letter to the wilds.
Bigfoot Mountain is heart-warming tale about nature and natural instinct – but it’s also about survival and learning to love. It’ll make a big imprint on your heart.
December 25, 2025
4/5⭐
This was a very heartwarming story about family and love. I personally loved how Minnie and Dan's relationship grew into Minnie being able to call Dan Dad. The only reason it doesn't get a higher rating is because I felt it could get a bit boring at times and there were some parts that were just unnecessary, but as well as this, there is a chance I might read the sequel.
This was a very heartwarming story about family and love. I personally loved how Minnie and Dan's relationship grew into Minnie being able to call Dan Dad. The only reason it doesn't get a higher rating is because I felt it could get a bit boring at times and there were some parts that were just unnecessary, but as well as this, there is a chance I might read the sequel.
November 30, 2022
A beautifully written story that weaves family relationships with the myth of Big Foot. It was mesmerising and will be loved by children and adults, thoroughly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews