On The Volcano follows the story of Katie, a girl born in 1855, who lives where few others have ever ventured. Her mother, now deceased, and father moved there because other areas were unsafe. Katie has lived a sheltered life and only seen a handful of people in her life, so she desperately wants to go to the nearest town and get a glimpse of other people, any other people! Her father allows it, but only if she is dressed as a boy, but that cover doesn’t last long in a town where everyone knows everyone. That short trip down the volcano and into town was the beginning of big changes to her world.
The story was charming and a lot of that had to do with the simplicity of the life Katie and her father were leading. It made me think of living in a time without technology, being grateful for the smaller things that we often take for granted. Katie and her father work to feed themselves and do as much as possible on their own. The few things they can’t do for themselves they wait for a regular friend and traveler to arrive to have help or Katie’s father ventures to town to pick up what they need. They have most of what they need right there at home and that has to be a wonderful feeling.
The tale fell short in the fact that it was highly predictable. Just from reading the beginning of the book, I was aware of everything that would happen in one way or another, so there really weren’t any surprises to be had. Even though it was predictable, it was still a well written and lovely story. While there was violence in the book, it served its purpose in moving the story along. The romances in the book were squeaky clean and any parent would approve…you just have to remember what time period the story takes place in.
- This reviewer also blogs at http://booksake.blogspot.com
- Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
- Date of Publication: April 14, 2011
