Leepike Ridge Leepike Ridge . Wilson, N.D; New York, Random House, 2007. Grade Level: grades 6-8) ISBN 13 (hardback): 9780375838736 ISBN 10 (hardback): 0375838732 ISBN (paperback) & cost: 9780375838743; 0375838740; $15.99 Blanket Permission to Reproduce Book Jackets: Random House |
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Synopsis:
Tom thought he would do about anything to prevent his widowed mother from marrying Jeffrey, a teacher at his school. However, Tom hadn't bargained for the mysterious adventure he soon found himself on! Even though the authorities have given up on finding Tom after he suddenly disappears, his mom just feels in her bones that he is still alive, and doesn't want to give up looking for the son with whom she had so strongly bonded after his father's death.
General Review:
Anyone who has faced seemingly impossible odds will be able to relate to Tom, who struggles to grow up without a father, and then faces being stuck in an underground cave with only a corpse as a companion! Can he possibly find the strength and hope necessary to escape from this dark, damp prison? Readers will follow Tom with bated breath as he tries to decide who to trust, and pushes himself to the limits of endurance.
Themes: Subject areas: Missing persons – Juvenile fiction; Caves – Juvenile fiction; Adventure and adventurers – Juvenile fiction; Mothers and sons – Juvenile fiction; Buried treasure – Juvenile fiction
Author information: N. D. Wilson is a Fellow of Literature at New Saint Andrews College, where he teaches classical rhetoric to freshmen. He is also the managing editor for Credenda/Agenda magazine, a small Trinitarian cultural journal. He lives in Moscow, Idaho with his wife and four children ( http://www.powells.com/kidsqa/wilson.html ).
Author's website: http://www.ndwilson.com/ndw
Discussion Questions: (Standard 3; Benchmark 3)
• Why does Tom's mother tell him to apologize to Mr. Veatch (Jeffrey)? Do you think he should?
• Have you ever visited a cave? Was your experience anything like Tom's?
• What role does Argus play in the story? How have animals affected how you've felt during traumatic adventures in your life?
• What treasures do Tom and his mother find?
Activities:
• Research caves in the United States. Can you find any information on underground cave and lakes? Standard 5, Benchmark 3
• Look up information on water clocks that are similar to the one Reg built . Sketch a diagram of such a clock which explains how it works. Standard 5, Benchmark 3
• What would you write on a cave wall (as Reg did) if you thought you were going to be there forever? Pretend you are stuck in an underground cave, and design your own cave inscription. Standard 5 Benchmark 3
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- Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
- Abel's Island by William Steig
- Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
- A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer
