Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

I loved Beyond the bright sea by Lauren Wolk and when I saw that her latest book Echo Mountain had been shortlisted for the 2021 Carnegie Medal, I immediately grabbed it from my local library. Lovers of historical fiction will be immediately engaged by the story of Ellie and her family, who after losing everything in the Great Depression, flee to Echo Mountain and begin a new life, building a log cabin, growing vegetables, and bartering for goods. Ellie loves the life and is intrigued by the beautifully little wooden animals and flowers made by an unknown carver that she finds around the countryside. When her father lies in a coma after a terrible accident, she is left to take over many of her father's jobs like hunting and chopping wood. She loves roaming in the woods and one day she is led by a large hound to an isolated part of the mountain where she finds the hag, Cate, and a wild boy named Larkin.

Life in 1934 Maine is vividly brought to life. Ellie has an affinity for the feelings of animals and other living things and finds it difficult to kill for food, but this is the only way that her family can survive. She is determined to find a way to bring her father out of his coma and her problem solving is most unusual. However, she is a determined girl who takes risks and is prepared to learn by doing, learning from her mistakes and she seems to have an innate ability to heal. It is fascinating to read of the remedies that were used to help the healing process, including putting maggots on wounds and potato poultices on sores.

The author describes in lyrical prose the natural beauty and dangers of the mountainside and brings Ellie's family to life. Her mother is burdened by poverty and feels unable to play her mandolin or bring any music into their lives, while her sister Esther longs for her old life. Little brother Samuel's outlook on life and quaint sayings add some humour to the story and the dogs, Captan, Maisie and Quiet are all important characters.

Readers will learn that first impressions are not necessarily the right ones and will celebrate the resilience of the mountain folk and the determination of Ellie. This would be an interesting book for a class novel and readers who enjoy a survival story may enjoy Nowhere on earth by Nick Lake.

Pat Pledger