Posted on November 12th, 2018 by pajamapress
Brigham Young University, Children’s Book & Media Reviews
“Bass tells a riveting story of survival and friendship, staying true to the real Cree legend that has been passed down for generations. The story builds a moral message of not judging others or jumping to conclusions about them as Kyle and Jared work together and learn more about the other. The protagonists were able to form a true friendship that genuinely benefited the other as they passed through their experiences together. Bass does a wonderful job of setting the scene for the novel and describing the landscape, particularly the forest. The author also adds an educational value to the book by demonstrating basic survival skills such as having water, knowing the landscape, and avoiding harmful plants while utilizing helpful ones. Overall, a wonderful story for anyone looking for a thrill and to learn something new.”
Click here to read the full review
Posted in Karen Bass, The Hill, Uncategorized | Tagged book-review, canlit, cree-culture, cree-mythology, first-nations, karen-bass, kidlit, native-culture, we-need-diverse-books, ya-fiction
Posted on June 26th, 2017 by pajamapress
“This tale is set in Canada. When you get out in the middle of nowhere in Canada, it really is. Jared has no sense of direction, has never even been camping and hates being in the position he is now. Kyle is angry that Jared won’t listen and knows that he’s being looked down on because he’s an Indian. They have plenty of time to discuss those issues and find each other’s hot buttons on the trail. The problem is that they are not alone….
There’s myth, legend, shapeshifting and coming of age all wrapped together in this story. I have some Yakima Indian relatives, so the storyline drew me in. I have camped in the woods and had closer contact than I wanted with a bear. I sure wouldn’t want to meet the monster in this story…”
Click here to read the full review
Posted in The Hill | Tagged book-review, Canada-150, canlit, Cree-legends, cree-mythology, diverse-books, diverse-YA-books, karen bass, ya
Posted on January 10th, 2017 by pajamapress
“…There are some horror story qualities to this novel. Some of the Cree culture is explained, especially in terms of their beliefs about the spirit world and legends. This is an engaging adventure story about two boys on the verge of manhood. Recommended.”
—Laura McConnell
Read the full review in the January/February 2017 issue of School Library Connection
Posted in The Hill | Tagged book-review, canlit, cree-culture, cree-mythology, first-nations, karen-bass, kidlit, native-culture, we-need-diverse-books, ya-fiction
Posted on October 25th, 2016 by pajamapress
…The Hill isn’t a typical story of survival in the wilderness. The boys do need to fend for themselves, but there’s something far more sinister than wild animals and the elements in the forest – Jared and Kyle are being pursued by a Wihtiko, a Cree legend come to terrifying life. The pair need to learn to work together and overcome their differences in order to survive. The dynamics between the two were really interesting – they’re complete opposites and have nothing in common, but in a very short time and under extreme circumstances, they forge a strong bond. Jared especially learns a lot about himself through Kyle, which was interesting to see.
The Hill was different from anything I’ve ever read. I loved that it was written by a Canadian author, set in Canada, and used a real Cree legend. I was also really happy to see a main character who was Native. This is so (unfortunately) rare that it actually made me ridiculously excited! The Hill is a creepy, paranormal twist on a survival story. It has great messages about privilege, stereotypes, and friendship. I’d particularly recommend it to fans of the TV show Supernatural – the Wihtiko is similar to the Wendigo, which Sam and Dean fought in season one.
Click here to read the full review
Posted in The Hill | Tagged book-review, can-lit, canadian-literature, cree-mythology, karen-bass, ya-fiction