Good little novel for YA on families and wilderness survival, etc. Ivy has to trek up a mountain to meet with her hermit aunt and learn more family history. ( )

While compiling a genealogy of her family of successful attorneys, 16-year-old history buff Ivy Breedlove treks into the mountain wilderness to interview a reclusive aunt with whom she identifies and who in turn helps her to truly know herself and her family.

I ended up liking this book, but I thought the beginning was really slow. The main character is easy to relate to, but she is obsessed with history and especially genealogy which not many kids are into. She may inspire some to look into their family's history, but some may get discouraged when their real families cannot possibly compare to the fascinating history of the Breedloves. Overall I liked it, but it wasn't one of my favorite Bauer books. ( )

I am working my way through all of Joan Bauer's books and I love this one, too! The young Ivy Breedlove is a wonderful character, but it's her Aunt Jo that I'll remember long after I've closed the book. Aunt Jo is eccentric but very real and very memorable as is Mountain Mama. One of the things I also love about Ms. Bauer's books is that the reader learns something along the way: anything from shoes to pumpkins or, in this case, a wintry mountainous trek through the Adirondacks. ( )

It's been a while since I read this one, but if I remember correctly, it wasn't Joan Bauer's best. That's not to say that it was bad - Joan Bauer is amazing. It's still a cute and different story that's worth a read. :) ( )