The Fear Place

Rating:
Summary: Must read!
Review: As a teacher, I would strongly recommend this book be added to any classroom library or list of books for students to read. The sibling rivalry between Doug and his older brother Gordie will be easily related to among students. There is definite growth in the main character as he is forced to face his strongest fear. Students will be able to discuss and connect with this story in many ways: the way their parents left the brothers in the wild alone, the sibling rivalry between the brothers and/or between their mother and uncle, or how the cougar plays into the story. This novel will keep your students interest.

Rating:
Summary: FEAR PLACE BY PHYLILIS REYNOLDS NAYLOR
Review: THE FEAR PLACE BY PHYLLIS REYNOLDS NAYLOR IS ABOUT AN 11 YEAR OLD KID, NAMED DOUG, WHO'S FAMILY GOES TO THE ROCKY'S MOUNTAINS IN COLORADO EVERY YEAR. THIS VACATION WAS DIFFERENT THEN THE REST.DOUG'S PARENTS LEFT FOR BOSTON FOR A FUNERAL AND LEFT DOUG AND HIS OLDER BROTHER, GORDON, BY THEMSELVES. WELL, ONCE AGIAN GORDON HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH DOUG AND LEFT HIM ALL BY HIMSLEF. DOUG CAMPED ALONE UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS A COUGER IN THE AREA BUT IT BECAME DOUG'S FRIEND. DOUG LEARNED HOW TO SURVIVE . WHILE DOUG WAS TRYING TO SURVIVE , GORDON WAS IN ALOT OF TROUBLE. HE BROKE HIS LEG, AND IT WAS UP TO DOUG TO SAVE HIM. WE'LL GORDON SURVIVE? WILL DOUG EVERY FIND HIM AND OVERCOME HIS BIGGEST FEAR? YOU WILL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU READ THE FEAR PLACE.
PHYLLIS REYNOLDS NAYLOR USSES DIALECT ON THIS STORY. ALSO SHE USINH FIGURATIVE LANUGUAGE TO DESCRIBE FEELINGS AND EVENTS. SHE ALSO USING SENSORY IMAGES SO THAT THE READER CNA RELALY SEE THE LIFE OF THE WILD, ON THE CANYON. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE A LAKE THAT LEADS INTO A WATERFALL. SHE ALSO MAKES THE CHARACTERS USE INTERNAL DIALOGUE. THE AUTHOR, PHYLLIS REYNOLDS NAYLOR, HAS WON A NEWBERRY AWARD. THIS BOOK WAS VEYR GOOD AND I RECOMMEND BOYS BETWEEN 9-13 SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

Rating:
Summary: WILDERNESS SURVIVAL AND SIBLING RIVALRY
Review: This intense tale will rivet you to your chair, just as the young hero is riveted in fear about a certain ledge on the mountain. Extended sibling rivalry between brothers threatens to undermine their very survival, as implacable fate and terse narrative communicate a sense of impending danger. The plot marches inexorably to the moment when Doug must brave a critical site on a circuitous mountain trail, which has long been his personal fear place.

Tension builds in this sparse story--almost like a play with basically three characters: 12-year-old Doug, the younger brother/victim of his older brother's nasty tricks; Gordon who baits Doug daily for psychological sport; and a wild-card nobody counted on--a non-aggressive female cougar.

Doug comes of age on this short, geological camping trip with his hated rival brother and preoccupied parents--until they are called away by a family emergency, leaving the boys to fend for themselves. Each tries to survive independently, with unexpected results. But there is another fear place inside Doug's conscience, when Gordon fails to return to camp after several days--fear For his brohter. Since when is Doug his brother's keeper?

Nor is it safe to be exploring treacherous ridges and unknown trails with a cougar roaming about. But it would take too long to notify the park ranger. So Doug's his worst fear place is the threat of the denuded family-- emotional baggage inherited from his mother, who never was reconciled to Her brother. Can anything break this chain of sibling jealousy and rejection? A gripping tale which will spellind the reader.