I really enjoyed this heartwarming adventure story by Paul Mason. The story flips between two different perspectives: Ellie, a young girl in search of yeti in the Himalayas for her uncle's latest documentary, and Tick, a yeti youngling who is desperate to find out more about humans and why they caused his mother to be banished.
At first Ella is excited at the possibility of capturing a yeti on camera, but when Tick accidentally sets off their camera trap, she begins to realise that there may be consequences if the world finds out about the sett's existence. The consequences for Tick and the rest of his sett are indeed severe and he must do everything he can to stop their secret getting out, leading him on a dangerous journey to save the whole international collective.
The world of the yeti is well-crafted and I enjoyed how different yeti folklore from around the world was woven into the story. The themes of conservation, family and friendship convey a powerful message and create a touching tale, making this a great adventure story for children.

Ella is on location for a wildlife documentary shoot with her famous uncle, Jack Stern, and his camera crew, as they search for Yeti in the foothills of the Himalayas. When she stumbles across footage of a Yeti on her camera trap, the hunt intensifies, but Ella begins to realise that Jack might not be the conservation hero she believed him to be, and will stop at nothing in his quest to make a name for himself as the explorer who uncovers the ways of the Yeti and exposes their whereabouts. Ella has to make a choice about where her loyalties lie, and whether she will defy her uncle in order to preserve the secrecy necessary to the survival of the Yeti.

Tick is a similarly conflicted young Yeti, forbidden from interacting with the human race, yet desperate to follow in his banished mother’s footsteps and discover more about humans than the conservative leaders of his sett will allow. The Yeti exist because their secret life as sustainers of the eco-system on which the world relies remains just that – secret – and if Tick compromises the sett, the whole Yeti race will be under threat. Tick’s curiosity gets the better of him, and it is not long before his and Ella’s paths cross and the Yeti way of life is thrown into disarray.

There is so much to love about this book; Tick and Ella defy the odds and make choices they know in their hearts to be right, despite immense external pressures, exhibiting courage and perseverance in adversity. We see other characters develop and change – Jack turns out to be more sinister than he appears at first, while Dahl, stern and austere elder and guardian of Tick’s mountain Yeti sett, gradually softens through the story and becomes a father figure, complex in his emotions and capable of love and gentleness. The author’s imagination is wild, creating not just one sett of Yetis, but a worldwide network of setts, joined from one continent to the next by waterways, weaving an education in geography into his narrative. And, of course, the main theme is one of conservation and sensitivity to our environment, teaching children in the form of story that everything in our world is connected, and that nature should be accorded with respect and reverence for its complexity – a lesson taught, not through preachiness, but through the instincts of a small girl who looks into the eyes of a Yeti, and connects.

I loved this beautiful and heart-warming tale, with vivid descriptions and an absolutely glorious cover. I can't wait to read book two.

A rather cute and fast middle grade read that I enjoyed reading. We switch between following a young girl called Ella who is on a yeti-hunting expedition with her uncle, and Tick, a yeti who wants to know more about the humans and why his mother was banished after interacting with them. I loved the whole Yeti side of things with their community and their rules. It was very fun and some really well done parts to this. Would whole-heartedly recommend!

I was lucky to be approved by Netgalley to read the International Yeti Collective By Paul Mason which is a Middle Grade Book telling the story of the Yeti who are trying to keep themsevles from being found by the humans after Tick who is quite an entertaining character gets caught on camera. I loved the different types of Yeti from around the world and their interactions but the Human characters were not as 3D I can't really picture them. I did like the character of Ella but would of liked a bit more of a connection between Ella and Tick instead we got two different stories that entwined a bit but they only together in the story nearly to the end of the book where alot of the action took place. For this reason I am giving The International Yeti Collective 3 stars.

was looking for a story to read in the winter months, that would make me feel good and when I started reading The International Yeti Collective, I knew I was onto something. It had this real heart-warming vibe that I have come to expect from books just like this.

Firstly, let’s just talk about the Yeti! I LOVED them and found it fascinating reading about their tight knit communities and how they lived their lives. Granted, I wouldn’t want to eat what they ate, but everything else just sounded, well rather awesome. Also, I found the history behind their names to be utterly intriguing, and some even had me chuckling to myself a bit. This unique world that the author created was so original and imaginative and for that he gets a thumbs up.

Plot wise, I’ll admit it did start off rather slowly for me and I did start to wonder when the action was going to kick in. There was a really slow build up, but once the plot got going I was really eager to find out what was going to happen next! I was a bit disappointed at the lack of face to face communication between Ella and Tick, which was what I thought was going to happen, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.

Tick, I loved him! He was just an adorable, lovable character who I felt sorry for at certain times throughout the story. His eagerness to protect his friends, family and tribe was admirable and his connection with Ella, despite hardly communicating with her was quite heartwarming. Ella was also a rather determined character, ready to do what was needed to make things right. Her enthusiasm towards protecting the Yeti was just inspiring and I could see her character becoming an animal rights activist.

The International Yeti Collective was an adventurous, unique read that’s full of imagination and wit! It’s a great book to curl up with and read throughout the winter if you want something that will both entertain and fill you with hope.

Ella is excited to be spending time in the Himalayas with Jack, her famous uncle, during the school holidays. Accompanied by a small film crew, they’re determined to track down the elusive yeti and then share their incredible find with the world.

Tick is a yeti who knows, like all yeti do, to stay far away from humans. Curiosity gets the better of him though and he can’t resist a quick peek at these strange creatures. This decision could have dire consequences, not just for Tick but for every yeti.

“We all make mistakes in life, Tick. It’s how you respond to them that counts”

Although this story is told from both Ella and Tick’s perspectives, and Ella does play a vital role, I will remember this book as Tick’s story. I adored this yeti, from his sweet nature to his “idea flies”, which manage to both cause trouble and help him. Tick’s story proves that we can live beyond our labels.

“If we are not true to ourselves, young yeti, then we are nothing.”

Humans and yeti aren’t the only creatures you’ll find in this book. I was quite partial to a yak called Shaan. I learned of the existence of a bird with the best rainbow of feathers I’ve ever Googled: the Himalayan monal. Then there was Flittermouse, the most adorable bat I’ve ever wanted to befriend.

I loved learning about yeti history and culture. The lighting system in their setts was ingenious - they clap to wake the glow worms! I smiled each time it happened. I especially enjoyed learning the fun, descriptive yeti names, which included “Nosh (she who makes nibbles)” and “Crisp (he baked in the sun)”. I never tired of their varied greetings; my favourites were “Even a tiny star shines in the dark” and “One shall not reach the top of a mountain by sitting on the bottom”.

By thinking outside the box and being open to new ideas, characters in this book learn that just because something has always been done a certain way that doesn’t automatically mean it’s the only (or best) way to do it. When you are brave enough to try something new the results can be amazing, even if it can be scary in the beginning.

There’s an overarching theme of conservation which plays out throughout this story. While the message was clear, I never felt like I was being hit over the head with it. I appreciated Ella having the strength to speak her truth to adults and loved that her voice made a difference. It’s empowering for kids (and anyone, really) to read about characters who stand up for what they believe in.

My main niggle was Jack’s turnaround near the end of the book. While it was inevitable and I’m very glad it happened, he changed his tune too quickly for me to find it believable. Having said that though, I’m not this book’s target audience and doubt I would have quibbled about it had I encountered this book as a child.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.

This book was so much more than I anticipated. I was expecting a fun tale about a girl discovering, and consequently protecting, yetis. What I got was so, so much better. A vividly and beautifully imagined yeti society - similar to our own, yet different - that could, almost, be real. I absolutely love the yetis, and their purpose (can’t say more without spoilers). Their names are brilliant too. I wish I could give more than five out of five stars. This is my second favourite book of 2019 (I read 200-300 books a year, so that’s really saying something). Highly recommended, to children and adults alike.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this heart-warming, action-packed adventure with its wonderful wisdom and messages around the strength to be gained from friendships and teamwork.
Ella is spending her holidays with her famous Uncle Jack whilst he is on an expedition to find the elusive Himalayan yetis for his new TV show. But surely yetis are just legendary creatures? Not at all! That’s just what they want us to believe. They are very much a collective of the most wonderful creatures living all over the world, with the best naming system EVER which I completely loved: Tick (he with no time to waste); Plumm (she sweet on the outside with hard centre); and, Nagg (he who pesters) to name but a few!
Tick is a youngling yeti whose deep-set and completely understandable curiosity about humans gets the better of him, so he finds himself visiting Ella’s camp. Unfortunately, his visit does not go unnoticed … and the whole yeti way of life is soon under threat! Whilst Uncle Jack is determined to expose the existence of yetis to the world, kind-hearted Ella, who has an affinity with animals, begins to question his decision, and fears she may have put the yetis in danger … but is it already too late to help them?
Banished from his sett for breaking the ancient laws, Tick stumbles upon the knowledge that the humans are hunting them. He must warn his sett of the danger they are in … and so begins a fantastic fast-paced adventure with Tick and his friends in a race against time to stop irrefutable evidence of their existence being exposed to the world.
The journey is full of danger, risk, humour and incredible courage. Existing friendships are deepened and new ones are formed along the way through the re-emergence of the International Yeti Collective as they must work together to save their way of life, a life very much tied to the preservation of nature. I loved the themes of friendship and teamwork, and how the yetis are stronger united and working together than apart. I also adored the detailed description of the yeti world which I found completely fascinating from the fungusatory to the knowledge set down in the ancient slabs.
Tick is a wonderful character who seeks to redeem himself after inadvertently endangering the yeti way of life. Despite his feelings of guilt, shame and fear, he is honest and brave enough to admit his mistakes, take responsibility for his actions and undergo incredible risks in his efforts to save the yetis from exposure to the human world. He also has the strength to trust in Ella when the other yetis are sceptical that any human can be trusted.
This is a wonderful, heart-warming story, perfect for readers of 8+ who I have no doubt will enjoy discovering more about the secret yeti communities hidden from us humans!

This was a fun story with delightful characters that I would love to discover in the wild and protect from the gaze of the world. I enjoyed the idea of the different species of yeti’s and I’m curious at the potential for a series. Tick was fantastic and his curiosity and bumbling nature was a delight. The names of the yeti’s were very creative and made me laugh. The fact that there is also an environmental message hidden within an adventure story was also a positive thing for me.

Overall, this brightened my day.