Play Book Tag discussion

This is a lovely tale that begins with a father and daughter living alone near a mountain. They seem to be the last humans alive on earth, but we don’t know why. The earth is clean and the animals and plants all seem healthy. They live completely off the land, hunting, fishing and gathering food. They make what they need from the materials at hand, including animal hides and guts. There is a lot of detail about how they did things, which I would have liked a lot more if I hadn’t already read similar books, such as My Side of the Mountain. I really enjoyed the discussions of nature and the constellations. They take a trip to the ocean to collect salt for the year, and the father finds curious human items. After the father dies, a bear appears to help the girl get home. (He has to take a long nap first.) She wonders why he can talk, amd he claims all animals communicate, but you have to listen hard. The book deals with death and grief very gently, and I think it would be suitable for mature kids, YA and adults. Some of the conversations reminded me of the Road, but this book is much more accessible, and hopeful. I enjoyed the ending.