When the Mountains Roared

Product Information

LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. Ruby is the determined daughter who tries to make the most of what life gives her, even when things go wrong or turn dangerous. She loves wildlife and photography. She’s scared of cars, the dark, and falling asleep. Don’t blame her. She has real, striking reasons for her fears. Jess Butterworth is really skilled at capturing setting — I could feel the warmth of that blazing sun and the silence of the mountains. I could sense the seclusion and the danger that lurked. The language is descriptive and engaging, simple enough for young children to understand but detailed enough so that readers of all ages will be lured into this story. Ruby becomes protective of the mountain, particularly the leopards that prowl the undergrowth. When she sees men behaving suspiciously she wants to know what’s going on.

That’s why it is such a stunningly compelling & evocative read that surpasses far beyond the highest of expectations, carrying with it an all-important message of preservation; of the potency of poaching; and of being at peace with the wild and the world; that I hope will live long not only in the minds, but also in the hearts of its readers. The mountain is covered in pieces of shiny grey slate. The same slate the roofs in the village are made of. I climb down and with a chalky stone I write a message to Praveen on some slate, before propping it against a branch in the tree.”

If you've ever watched these movies, then you'll know that I'm talking about deeply moving, entertaining and important story concepts.

Ruby knows there is something wrong as soon as she gets home one night. But she never imagined the changes that are about to happen in her life. Heralding her Himalayan heritage, real-life inspirations and childhood experiences, Jess once again vibrantly and beautifully realises the lush, mountain landscapes complete with their soaring scenery and diverse range of flora and fauna but this story starts itself in a wholly contrasting way… The whole book was an emotional adventure - I couldn’t put the book down. I was really happy that, with all the things they left behind in Australia, they kept the snakeskin.Another wonderful book from Jess Butterworth. I enjoyed running on the roof of the world but when the mountains roared was even more engaging. Ruby is a strong-minded girl with a passion of photography and living things. Her life has been hard over the last few years, but she’s still open to the wonder and beauty of her new home. I loved how swiftly she took to the mountain and the respect she showed it. There are leopards, of course, but that particular drama doesn’t show up until quite late in the book. Instead there’s a baby kangaroo, a young monkey, hungry bears and resident spiders to deal with, not to mention some suspicious acting adults. The descriptions in this book are brilliant, evoking the jungle and the animals there. There's some horrifying descriptions of poaching, but that's something we should be horrified about. The ending was a little bit Scooby-Doo; confronted by one photo implicating him, the villain immediately confesses to everything including things there was no proof of. I've marked down a star for that. But overall it's an interesting adventure story that shines a light on an important issue facing the world today.

Ever since her mum died, Ruby has been afraid. Of cars. Of the dark. Of going to sleep and never waking up. The story follows Ruby, a twelve-year-old girl who is grieving the recent death of her mother and has become filled with fear since her mother’s car accident. Ruby is an animal lover and she enjoys photographing wildlife. At the beginning of the story, Ruby faces the devastating news that her Dad is planning to uproot them from their Australian home and relocate to a remote mountain village in India to run a hotel. Rahul is the secretive father who drags his family out of their home in the middle of the night and takes them all the way from Australia to India. Although he always shows his affection for Ruby, he sometimes hides the truth. He has his own reasons for being scared, for being ashamed. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately for her, she finds herself having absolutely none of that. As facing yet more domestic and homely upheaval, the whole family – that’s Ruby, Dad, Grandma and Polly (her dog) along with an altogether unexpected animal companion – have to leave Australia in the dead of night whilst evading Dad’s ‘friends’ whom he owes money to. Ruby is a determined, courageous young girl, not afraid to face danger to save the defenceless. She does have more spine and more confidence than her father, who actually felt like a really weak, naive character.

Ruby's father and grandmother are also struggling to deal with this loss and we see this in the first chapter when they race to get away from Australia and on a boat into India without warning - to manage an abandoned hotel at the foot of the Himalayas. A vivid, warm and atmospheric adventure set in the mountains of India, about a girl who is determined to protect the wild leopards of the mountain from poachers, perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell. I thought we'd live here forever ... but then, I thought Mum would be here forever too. When Ruby's dad uproots her from Australia to set up a hotel in the mountains of India, Ruby is devastated. Not only are they living in a run-down building in the middle of the wilderness surrounded by scorpions, bears and leopards, but Ruby is sure that India will never truly feel like home - not without her mum there. Ever since her mum died, Ruby has been afraid. Of cars. Of the dark. Of going to sleep and never waking up. But then the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and everything changes. Ruby vows to do all she can to protect them - if she can only overcome her fears... About This Edition ISBN: Jess has blended so many different emotions into Ruby’s characterisation — grief, loss and wonder. Ruby is forced to navigate this new life, whilst also learning how to let go of her old life. She has to understand that she can enjoy life without her mother being in it, and even though life will never be the same again, that doesn’t mean it won’t be enjoyable and full of wondrous experiences.

There are a lot of things Ruby is scared of since her mum died, and it is not easy for her to overcome her fears, though she tries her best. This gives a strong message to readers that it’s okay to be scared of things and that facing your fears isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Meeting Ruby at the beginning, she’s very much a different girl to how she started. She was subdued: a shadow of herself, pulled from pillar to post and fearing the utmost worst of every situation. However by the end of WtMR, she has begun to overcome her deepest fears and developed into someone who’s mother’s steely determination and spirit lives on within her. Ruby, her grandmother and her father have to leave their home in Australia and move to a hotel at the foot of the Himalayas. They arrive in India with their pet dog Polly and an orphaned joey. When they arrive at the hotel they realise what a job they have in front of them to get it up and running and ready to welcome their first guests. All the while Ruby uncovers a poaching ring and vows to save the mountain leopards. But then the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and everything changes. Ruby vows to do all she can to protect them - if she can only overcome her fears... This is quite a sweet story - engaging, entertaining and uplifting. Occasionally, it crosses the line to didactic - it feels a little more preachy than it needs to be.

This is a middle grade book and would be engaging and appropriate for that level. I enjoyed the descriptions of India and it was obvious the author has a lot of affection for India.