From School Library Journal
Grade 4-6-A snowboarding vacation sets the scene for 11-year-old Callie's emotionally laden first-person narrative about her friendship with Jen, and the arrival of a new girl. Despite her secret fear of heights, Callie agrees to go snowboarding with Jen, because she knows if she doesn't go, Isabella will. As Callie courageously progresses through lessons, she observes two younger students berate and exclude another child. When she learns that this is typical behavior for these boys, she questions her own behavior toward Isabella. Bunting creates a real sense of place through her clear description of the girls' trip from Pasadena to the Sierras and continually balances emotional tension with snowboarding trivia. This solid story with a satisfying ending mirrors the rocky ride of forming friendships. Ritz's realistic black-and-white drawings set the scene and capture the characters' joys and anxieties.
Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. Eleven-year-old Callie is worried. Despite her great fear of heights, she has agreed to go on a snowboarding trip with her best friend, Jen. Then there is Izzy, the new, pretty, friendly girl at school. Unfortunately, Izzy is a double threat: not only has she hit it off with Jen but she is also a snowboarding aficionado. Though frightened almost to distraction, Callie makes the trip to Monster Mountain with Jen's family. Realistically, she isn't able to conquer her fear, but she does discover that everyone is afraid of something and that fear is natural--even for snowboarding daredevils. The story line and writing are solid, though some of the language seems a bit out of date or awkward. Despite this minor flaw, the novel will appeal to girls interested in cold-weather sports as well as those who enjoy stories of friendship. The shorter page length and generally easy-to-read text will prove a good match for those reading just below level.
Jennifer LockeCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
