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A Fabulous Creature
Reluctantly accompanying his parents on a vacation trip to the Sierras, sixteen-year-old James falls in love with a wealthy young girl whose avid interest in hunting conflicts with James's love of nature
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
4 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
82 books457 followersZilpha Keatley Snyder was an American author of books for children and young adults. Three of Snyder's works were named Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid and The Witches of Worm. She was most famous for writing adventure stories and fantasies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 27, 2018
Much of the power of Zilpha Keatley Snyder's A Fabulous Creature comes with the subtlety she weaves through the landscape of the Sierra Nevadas.
James Fielding is less than thrilled his parents when his parents get the rare bout of “happy-boyhood theory”-itus and instigate a summer retreat in the wilderness. But he surprises himself with how quickly his apathy towards nature is quickly overturned by his discovery of its beauties… not least of which is a majestic stag. And what starts out as an observational curiosity with the resort next door becomes full-blown fascination when he meets the vivacious hottie Diane and a trio of kooky kids led by the puzzling girl Griffin.
Coming-of-age stories are a dime a dozen, but this is one of my favorites (incredibly obscure though it is). Why? I’ll let the New York Times* cover me on this one:
A lot of teenagers—hell—like a lot of people, are too cleverly detached by half. And as James learns to step away from this easy path, to really see meaning (in this case, in nature) and stand for it. And well, isn’t that what coming of age is all about? Choosing to become Someone.
~ Reread 1/2/2010
James Fielding is less than thrilled his parents when his parents get the rare bout of “happy-boyhood theory”-itus and instigate a summer retreat in the wilderness. But he surprises himself with how quickly his apathy towards nature is quickly overturned by his discovery of its beauties… not least of which is a majestic stag. And what starts out as an observational curiosity with the resort next door becomes full-blown fascination when he meets the vivacious hottie Diane and a trio of kooky kids led by the puzzling girl Griffin.
Coming-of-age stories are a dime a dozen, but this is one of my favorites (incredibly obscure though it is). Why? I’ll let the New York Times* cover me on this one:
"It's a good book - not only because it pits the plastic people against the wilderness people and mixes the mythic and real, but because Snyder is true to her own story. She herself does not succumb to the expediencies of plasticity and artifice. In a richly symbolic texture, her settings of camp and wilderness become powerful protagonists. "James thinks he’s a lot cleverer than he really is. And like with all her characters, Snyder exaggerates this tendency with specifics to both tap into our stereotype and develop it to represent something bigger. In her world, a deer is also a lord of the valley. A girl also a beast, human also nature, and a small victory also towering growth.
A lot of teenagers—hell—like a lot of people, are too cleverly detached by half. And as James learns to step away from this easy path, to really see meaning (in this case, in nature) and stand for it. And well, isn’t that what coming of age is all about? Choosing to become Someone.
~ Reread 1/2/2010
March 6, 2016
James Fielding was not at all happy when his parents decided to spend the summer in “the wilderness”, his plans had included girls and learning to talk to them, not nature. But once he got over his stubbornness he discovered that he enjoyed the wild. The landscape, the animals. And especially one deer, a magnificent stag that he comes across in a hidden valley, and over time, as he brings it food, grows accustomed to James’ presence. Not only does it tolerate him, it comes to greet him.
And then he meets Diane, a vision in a pink bikini, and suddenly he learns that maybe his summer plans to talk to girls might come to fruition after all.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder wrote over 40 books in her lifetime, 3 of which were named as Newberry Honor books, so I’m guessing that quite a few Americans might have heard of her, or read her books? I’d never come across her before this book, but I can certainly see why she was an award winning author.
It is, in many ways, a very typical “coming of age” story; boy meets girl and all that goes along with that. But it is also very well written, and it is very affecting.
James thinks of himself as very smart, smarter than he really is. And although the book is told from his POV, we can still see how much he is missing out, all the clues he isn’t picking up on, or maybe he is just choosing to ignore them.
At times it is a tad on the cliched side, and James certainly has some unflattering opinions of girls at times. But he is a teenage boy, and I think that Snyder does enough to show the reader that this is James’ opinion, and that he is often very wrong about the world.
Taking a quick look through the goodreads reviews I have to say I was amused by all the people commenting about the sexual aspects of the book. James is a 15 year old boy, and this is about his summer falling in love, so yeah, its going to come up. But nothing is ever described, and I think that even if younger children read it they won’t pick up on certain aspects that some adults might object to. Also, do none of these people remember being young themselves? Honestly, there is nothing wrong with anything in this book, stop being so prudish!
And then he meets Diane, a vision in a pink bikini, and suddenly he learns that maybe his summer plans to talk to girls might come to fruition after all.
Zilpha Keatley Snyder wrote over 40 books in her lifetime, 3 of which were named as Newberry Honor books, so I’m guessing that quite a few Americans might have heard of her, or read her books? I’d never come across her before this book, but I can certainly see why she was an award winning author.
It is, in many ways, a very typical “coming of age” story; boy meets girl and all that goes along with that. But it is also very well written, and it is very affecting.
James thinks of himself as very smart, smarter than he really is. And although the book is told from his POV, we can still see how much he is missing out, all the clues he isn’t picking up on, or maybe he is just choosing to ignore them.
At times it is a tad on the cliched side, and James certainly has some unflattering opinions of girls at times. But he is a teenage boy, and I think that Snyder does enough to show the reader that this is James’ opinion, and that he is often very wrong about the world.
Taking a quick look through the goodreads reviews I have to say I was amused by all the people commenting about the sexual aspects of the book. James is a 15 year old boy, and this is about his summer falling in love, so yeah, its going to come up. But nothing is ever described, and I think that even if younger children read it they won’t pick up on certain aspects that some adults might object to. Also, do none of these people remember being young themselves? Honestly, there is nothing wrong with anything in this book, stop being so prudish!
January 7, 2008
Zilpha Keatley Snyder is always worth reading.
April 27, 2018
Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and everything.
What a surprise! Although perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised. The Velvet Room was one of my favourite books as a kid, and I enjoyed several other of Snyder's books as a kid. (I also thought she had the coolest name as a kid, and still do.) This has aged quite well, too. The lack of texting and internet and such does date it slightly, along with the occasional reference to celebrities of the time, but it's never in a distracting way. Honestly, I've read modern YA set in the 80s or 90s that does more reference dropping and frankly that's not a trend I'm a big fan of. (Don't get me ranting on that.)
There is some casual racism from one character, but it's actually only like one occurance and that character isn't meant to be wholy sympathetic - I think you're meant to feel uncomfortable, not like how it was just accepted in, say, that last book up there. There's also one use of the R-word that startled me, but it isn't really used as a slur, and at the time the book was written, it's used in the way the word was used before it became a slur. Today I'd think it was highly innappropriate, as it was in a recently published MG I read where it was used as an insult. In this context, it's more like when you watch the Great British Bake Off and they use it talking about yeast. Startling, but not meant offensively. Would I prefer it edited out? Yeah. But not enough to turn me off the book.
And I think since the book is aimed at an older audience, you could use it as a way to talk about what's acceptable changing, and have a very interesting conversation.
James is also a really interesting chracter and fifteen year old white boys usually aren't so much, lol. It's actually endearing how bad he is with girls. He never comes across as creepy or leering, just inexperienced and a little gobsmacked by pretty girls. The book talks about his sexuality and even his sex drive some in a very frank way without getting gross or over the top about it. I've read books where I thought even teen boys would be uncomfortable about the portrayal, and this avoids that. James gets to be a character with depth who has many interesting and facets and sexual feelings, not just a walking erection.
And for a relatively quiet book plot-wise, it really is interesting. The language and prose are wonderful and I think a lot of the attitudes are surprisingly modern, like the conversation about hunting. It's pretty darn white (although really, in the context of a rich people resort thing, that does kind of make sense - see country clubs) and pretty much straight. However, there is a mention of gay people actually existing and while not the best context (James thinking another guy must either be gay or a girl's brother because he's not looking at her while she's sweaty), for 1981 it's at least something. Between that and how the book talks about sex, I'm kind of impressed. A little bit of envelope pushing never hurts, and there were definitely nudges here.
Honestly I'm okay recommending this one. Keep in mind the 1981 context, yeah, but it's a very interesting read and I think it could stand well among modern books. And you could have such interesting conversations with, like, students about how things have changed or stayed the same in the 35 years since it was first published. I'm keeping this one for sure, and I'm glad it got a reprint.
What a surprise! Although perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised. The Velvet Room was one of my favourite books as a kid, and I enjoyed several other of Snyder's books as a kid. (I also thought she had the coolest name as a kid, and still do.) This has aged quite well, too. The lack of texting and internet and such does date it slightly, along with the occasional reference to celebrities of the time, but it's never in a distracting way. Honestly, I've read modern YA set in the 80s or 90s that does more reference dropping and frankly that's not a trend I'm a big fan of. (Don't get me ranting on that.)
There is some casual racism from one character, but it's actually only like one occurance and that character isn't meant to be wholy sympathetic - I think you're meant to feel uncomfortable, not like how it was just accepted in, say, that last book up there. There's also one use of the R-word that startled me, but it isn't really used as a slur, and at the time the book was written, it's used in the way the word was used before it became a slur. Today I'd think it was highly innappropriate, as it was in a recently published MG I read where it was used as an insult. In this context, it's more like when you watch the Great British Bake Off and they use it talking about yeast. Startling, but not meant offensively. Would I prefer it edited out? Yeah. But not enough to turn me off the book.
And I think since the book is aimed at an older audience, you could use it as a way to talk about what's acceptable changing, and have a very interesting conversation.
James is also a really interesting chracter and fifteen year old white boys usually aren't so much, lol. It's actually endearing how bad he is with girls. He never comes across as creepy or leering, just inexperienced and a little gobsmacked by pretty girls. The book talks about his sexuality and even his sex drive some in a very frank way without getting gross or over the top about it. I've read books where I thought even teen boys would be uncomfortable about the portrayal, and this avoids that. James gets to be a character with depth who has many interesting and facets and sexual feelings, not just a walking erection.
And for a relatively quiet book plot-wise, it really is interesting. The language and prose are wonderful and I think a lot of the attitudes are surprisingly modern, like the conversation about hunting. It's pretty darn white (although really, in the context of a rich people resort thing, that does kind of make sense - see country clubs) and pretty much straight. However, there is a mention of gay people actually existing and while not the best context (James thinking another guy must either be gay or a girl's brother because he's not looking at her while she's sweaty), for 1981 it's at least something. Between that and how the book talks about sex, I'm kind of impressed. A little bit of envelope pushing never hurts, and there were definitely nudges here.
Honestly I'm okay recommending this one. Keep in mind the 1981 context, yeah, but it's a very interesting read and I think it could stand well among modern books. And you could have such interesting conversations with, like, students about how things have changed or stayed the same in the 35 years since it was first published. I'm keeping this one for sure, and I'm glad it got a reprint.
July 21, 2012
I love reading summertime stories in the summer. This one featured a boy spending his vacation at a summer cabin in the Sierras (or rather more of a cabin development, with a central compound, tennis courts, swimming pool, etc), and worked the title metaphor as much as it could to apply to both to a majestic wild stag, and the hot girl in a pink bikini he meets the first day.
I kept blinking and having to remind myself that this was in fact published in 1981, because especially for a female author, there were a surprising amount of sexual references (everything but, pretty much, even if nothing was explicit). I found it funny more than anything, because it's sort of ahead of its time in that department. Speaking of which --
What really had me rolling were the pop culture references, such as when the main character's friend tells him that some women like the scrawny look as opposed to muscle. "Look at Peter Frampton and Rod Stewart." I keep telling people name-dropping makes your book dated, and now I have proof for the 21st century authors. Lucky thing those names stayed famous.
But I did love the book, predictable plot and all, and there were great description of the outdoors, as there always are in her novels. Worth picking up if you like her.
I kept blinking and having to remind myself that this was in fact published in 1981, because especially for a female author, there were a surprising amount of sexual references (everything but, pretty much, even if nothing was explicit). I found it funny more than anything, because it's sort of ahead of its time in that department. Speaking of which --
What really had me rolling were the pop culture references, such as when the main character's friend tells him that some women like the scrawny look as opposed to muscle. "Look at Peter Frampton and Rod Stewart." I keep telling people name-dropping makes your book dated, and now I have proof for the 21st century authors. Lucky thing those names stayed famous.
But I did love the book, predictable plot and all, and there were great description of the outdoors, as there always are in her novels. Worth picking up if you like her.
January 23, 2015
Snyder's coming of age tale about a teenage boy and his sexual awakening is, for the most part, sensitively told, and she does a fine job of bringing his voice into the third person narrative of the book, making it feel like a more personal story while still allowing the distance that helps it skirt moments that might otherwise feel a little bit twee. Though it can stray into the cliche, the characters feel real and developed, complex, and all of them are interesting, from the three leads to the parents (the teenage boy's mother is very well drawn), to the snack bar attendant and the more often discussed than scene best friend. Though at times it feels like the narrative glosses over significant moments in favor of keeping the story moving and an acceptable length for a YA novel, all the elements are there to make for a compelling yarn and some moments are genuinely breathtaking, despite the ending being a bit anti-climactic. The stag at the center of the story is a beautifully realized concept, and epitomizes what works best about this intriguing, affecting novella.
September 17, 2022
I read this amazing book as a teenager. Over the years it has popped out of my memory and into my thoughts here and there and every time I have moved I have taken it with me. What is so incredible to me is that a book written when I was 3 years old and read by me when I was 12 still resonates today. When I think back over the plot, characters and circumstances it is still completely and totally relevant. Pretty incredible considering it was written pre internet.
Setting aside my gushing, this book some how gets to the meat of that feeling of being 15. Of being curious and interested in the opposite sex and wanting to fit in but at the same time still being a smart, thoughtful nerd at heart and embraces the idea that being your own self is cool (and in a way sexy too). And it does this in a way that is completely age appropriate. Wow.
Setting aside my gushing, this book some how gets to the meat of that feeling of being 15. Of being curious and interested in the opposite sex and wanting to fit in but at the same time still being a smart, thoughtful nerd at heart and embraces the idea that being your own self is cool (and in a way sexy too). And it does this in a way that is completely age appropriate. Wow.
April 21, 2015
Wonderful story and interesting characters! I loved it! But I was surprised at the rather mild sexual references that wouldn't be appropriate for young teens.
Read
August 5, 2011Revisiting a favourite childhood author (how nerdy am I?), amazed by the sexual content, is this really appropriate for young teen readers? Love the nature themes.
May 28, 2016
Reread the copy I accidentally stole from the library at age ten. I love when childhood favorites hold up twenty years later.
September 29, 2014
This book is entirely inappropriate for younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews