Mountainfell by Katharine Orton

Mountainfell is in a world far from our reality, but imbued with many of the problems we recognise - the abuse of power, the challenge to fit in, the degradation of the environment we share. In this place lives Erskin, a young girl raised with the fear of the mountain and the dragon who calls it home. But Erskin feels that she doesn’t fit and her community looks at her askance - could she be magic-addled? When her older sister, Birgit, is taken by the dragon, Erskin sets aside fear, and taking her strange cat, and a tag-along companion sets out on the quest to rescue Birgit. The quest has unexpected dangers and consequences and everything Erskin thought she knew is turned upside down.  But magic happens and the strange children become heroes with the help of the environment that is also under stress from attacks from those who wish to take without consideration of the future.

This is an adorable fantasy tale with youthful heroes who rise above their own insecurities which makes it a wonderful Primary years story.  The ability to hear and communicate with the world around them gives a magical environmental feel to the problems the characters face. I loved the slow growth in confidence of the central character, Erskin, and her sidekick Leif demonstrates wonderful friendship attributes. As they realise that they have been lied to all their lives, and that the dragon is not to be feared and that they are in a position to set things right, they must do all they can before it is too late. There are hints of classic fantasy quests like Rowan of Rin or Tolkien’s fantasy world, but with a youthful simplicity that makes it immediately appealing for younger readers. The quest and adventure aspects within the fantasy and magical settings have unique qualities and readers aged 9-13 will absolutely love this story.

Themes: Fantasy, Magic, Fear, Environment, Non-conformity.

Carolyn Hull