 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
High as a Hawk: A Brave Girl's Historic Climb
- By T. A. Barron
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Inspiring account of young climber.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that 8-year-old Harriet Peters feels the absence of her mother, who has recently died. But she puts her trust in her father and in a mountain guide she has befriended.
What's the story?
In the darkness of early morning, Harriet Peters starts climbing Colorado's Longs Peak with her father and famous mountain guide, Enos Mills. When her father collapses in exhaustion, Harriet begs to go on to accomplish the dream of her deceased mother --- to reach the top, and to see a hawk.
Painful blisters, a thundering herd of elk, howling wind, and a snowstorm threaten Harriet's mission. But Harriet and her guide are a powerful team. They find reward in a pair of shining wings.
Is it any good?
Inspired by the true story of Harriet Peters' 1905 climb up Longs Peak with Enos Mills, founder of the Rocky Mountain National Park, T.A. Barron deftly recounts the climbing tale as he has imagined it. Although in his endnotes Barron admits to taking poetic license, he says Enos Mills' daughter and granddaughter supported his research, and that his story's historical basis is accurate.
Barron's first-person narrative feels authentic. Young Harriet shares her wonder, fear, exhaustion, and exhilaration with the reader. In a read-aloud session, listeners gasp when a herd of elk startle Harriet; they moan when Harriet escapes from snow, thunder, and lightening under a lip of rock. And best of all, they can't take their eyes off Ted Lewin's stunning illustrations. Taking his cues from a 1905 photo of Mills and Peters (Barron gives no clues as to who took the photo, included in the endnotes), Lewin's up-close images create light, movement, and emotion that give the book great impact.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Harriet chooses to climb a mountain to remember her mother, who loved nature.
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
| Author: | T. A. Barron |
| Illustrator: | Ted Lewin |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Penguin Group |
| Publication date: | November 19, 2004 |
| Number of pages: | 32 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
vote now
Will you read High as a Hawk: A Brave Girl's Historic Climb?
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
