Member Reviews
Julie O, Reviewer
Easy to read with an important environmental message that younger readers will ponder for hours, especially when they are outdoors.
From the first page, the reader is thrown into a world of excitement. Being 12 is a big deal..and we have a centre stage view.
Creative, thoughtful and original
Susan M, Reviewer
Pearl and her brother are eagerly waiting for their grandparents to arrive. When they find out from their parents that their grandparents are fostering and will be going with them on their summer vacation to Alaska, they worry that he will spoil their time with their grandparents. They meet CJ and find out he is staying with their grand parents until his father gets well. Pearl and Francis decide that this vacation may work out for them. They are hiking on Chilkoot Trail when a gruegle, a keeper of the forest misleads the kids. They become separated from their grandparents. They are helping the gruegles to take care of their trees. They are helping them save the trees from diseases". They also escape the tyranny of the Grand Gruegle. Now Pearl, Francis and CJ must work together to get back to civilization. Will they get back?
The author gives them a mystery besides an exploration of Chilkoot Trail and the Klondike Gold Rush. Scientific facts are included about beetles, and more about trees. They learned that trees look after each other through a symbiotic relationship. I found this book to be fascinating. I enjoyed reading about the gruegles. It’s a novel that has a mystery and at the same time learned some scientific facts about nature and why a child is fostered.
Abigail L, Librarian
A wonderful adventure that takes young readers on a journey through the beautiful landscapes of Alaska and the magical world of the gruegles. Pearl, Frances, and CJ's summer vacation becomes an unforgettable adventure when they find themselves lost in the forest and face the challenge of saving the trees from sickness while escaping the tyrannical Grand Gruegle. This book beautifully weaves together themes of family, friendship, and the importance of nature in a way that is entertaining.
Sue E, Reviewer
Hey, adventure seekers! If you're ready to embark on an epic journey through the wilds of Alaska with a trio of fearless kids and some forest-dwelling gruegles, then The Secrets of Chilkoot Trail is your ultimate ticket to excitement! This book is like a rollercoaster ride through the magnificent forest, filled with thrilling twists and turns. Pearl, Frances, and CJ are the coolest gang you'll ever meet, and their quest to save the trees from sickness and escape the not-so-nice Grand Gruegle is a wild ride you won't want to miss. Plus, you'll learn some awesome stuff about the amazing way trees look after each other (it's like they have their own family secrets!). And guess what? There are cool questions at the end of the book that'll make you feel like a genius. So, grab this book and get ready for an adventure that'll make you appreciate the beauty of nature and the power of friendship. It's a forest-tastic read!
Denice L, Reviewer
As they are preparing for their annual vacation with their grandparents, Frances and Pearl find out CJ, their grandparents foster child, will be going with them. They fear CJ's presence will intrude on their relationship with their grandparents. When the 3 children are seperated from the adults, their Chilkoot Trail hike becomes a lesson in science and survival. They will learn that everyone has something to contribute and strengths come in all sizes and shapes.
The Secrets of Chilkoot Trail is a very good middle age book that everyone I've shared it with has found fascinating. It surrounds the children with the science of a tree's life and how every plant in a forest adds something to the overall health and beauty of the landscape. Suse Wilcox skillfully connects the forest's story with the children's journey to understanding CJ's plight. Two valuable stories in one book equals 5 easy stars from me and my reading posse.
