In a Far Country: The True Story of a Mission, a Marriage, a Murder,and the Remarkable Reindeer Rescue of 1898

Book Description

In the fall of 1897, eight whaling ships became trapped in the ice on Alaska's northern coast. Without relief, two hundred whalers would starve to death by winter's end. Mercifully, an extraordinary missionary, Tom Lopp, and seven Eskimo herders embarked on a harrowing journey to save the whalers, driving four hundred reindeer more than seven hundred untracked miles.

At the heart of the rescue expedition lies another, in some ways more compelling, journey. In a Far Country is the personal odyssey of Tom and his wife Ellen Lopp-their commitment to the natives and the rugged but happy life they built for themselves amid a treeless tundra at the top of the world. The Lopps pulled through on grit and wits, on humility and humor, on trust and love, and by the grace of God. Their accomplishment would surely have received broader acclaim had it not been eclipsed by two simultaneous events: the Spanish- American War and the Alaska gold rush. The United States and its territories were transformed abruptly and irrevocably by these fits of expansionist fever, and despite the thoughtful, determined guidance of the Lopps, the natives of the North were soon overwhelmed by a force mightier than the fiercest Arctic winter: the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

Life in Alaska in the late nineteenth century was frought with constant danger and unimaginable challenges........2007-06-17

They certainly were a hardy lot. Those who chose to come Alaska in the latter part of the nineteenth century faced obstacles and hardships that most of us simply cannot comprehend. So why did they come? Despite the fact that the industry was in decline, fleets of whaling ships from such distant ports as New Bedford, Mass. and San Francisco, CA still made the trek to the Bering Sea each year in an effort to eke out a living. Those in the business of saving souls viewed Alaska as fertile territory to spread the Good News. And as the nineteeth century drew to a close there was yet another important reason why thousands would risk life and limb to come to the Alaskan wilderness. The Great Alaskan Gold Rush was on! "In A Far Country" is author John Taliaferro's remarkable account of the events that were unfolding in Alaska during these years.
Tom and Ellen Lopp were missionaries who came to Alaska in the early 1890's. Tom was a Presbyterian from Indiana while Ellen was a Congregationalist who hailed from Minnesota. Both were assigned to a mission at Cape Prince of Wales on the western tip of the Seward Peninsula. Only a month after meeting in July 1892 Tom and Ellen were married. As things turned out Tom and Ellen would start a family and spend the next dozen years ministering to the Eskimos at Cape Prince of Wales. The work was dirty, difficult and exhausting but proved to be extremely rewarding nonetheless. During their years at Cape Prince of Wales the Lopps opened a mission school and assisted in the effort to establish a herd of reindeer in the area. The man who had attracted both Tom and Ellen to Alaska through an advertisment in "American Missionary" magazine was one Sheldon Jackson. Jackson, who was at the time the general agent for education for the new U.S. Territory of Alaska was absolutely convinced that bringing reindeer to Alaska was the key to the regions economic future. Reindeer were indigenous to neighboring Siberia and had been used there for centuries as both a source of food and for transportation. Jackson envisioned teams of reindeer driven sleds moving people, commodities and even the mail throughout the Alaskan territory. At the same time Sheldon Jackson argued that the reindeer could replace the dwindling numbers of caribou as the primary source of food for the native Eskimo population. "In A Far Country" details how large herds of reindeer would eventually be established in several areas of the Alaskan wilderness. Finally, John Taliaferro spends a great deal of time chronicling what became known as the Overland Relief Expedition. At the end of the summer of 1898 a total of 8 whaling ships who were operating in the Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast of Alaska became trapped in the ice and were unable to leave the area. It was feared that unless help arrived in time more than 200 sailors would eventually starve to death. The Overland Relief Expedition was organized and Tom Lopp was tapped to lead the final leg of this Herculian rescue effort. What an incredible adventure!
I found "In A Far Country" to be quite compelling reading indeed. The publishers quite wisely furnished a detailed map of the region at the beginning of the book and I found myself referring to it again and again. I find that inclusion of maps like this often greatly enhances my understanding of the events being discussed in the text. All in all this is a nicely written book about important history that has been largely forgotten. Recommended!

Excellent adventure .......2007-03-24

This is a little known adventure story of missionary people, personalities, government polititians, native Americans, & foreigners. It has graphic illustrations of problems and errors made when dealing with different cultures in unknown and adverse climates. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it.

Life on the Edge of Civilization.......2007-03-09

It must have taken individuals of rare inner strength to even have the desire to go establish a Christian mission at Cape Prince of Whales, 55 miles across the Bering Strait to Russia and only 70 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Even more surprising to me was the number of women, single or married to missionaries, who went as well. Tom and Ellen Lopp were both single, that is until six weeks after they met.

This is a story of the mission at Cape Prince of Wales, the Lopp's and of a dramatic rescue where Tom and seven Eskimo herders drove a heard of reindeer some 700 miles to rescue stranded sailors whose ships had become frozen in the ice. This was a trip to rival the other famous trip in the cold, but up until now has been little known.

All in all, a most interesting book about life on the very edge of civilization.

epic adventure.......2007-02-06

This book rightly takes its place among the other tales of heroic arctic travel. It is well researched, the writing is sprightly, and the characterizations both compassionate and vivid.

Unsung Heroes.......2007-02-06

This was a fascinating book. It takes an honest look at subjects as diverse as; culture clashes, mission work, family struggles, man verses nature, government inner workings, and humanity's dual nature (good and evil). A whole cast of unsung heroes finally get their day. Unfortunately, it comes about 100 years too late. Although the author resides in our current day of political correctness, his characters do not. Frankly, I find them refreshing.

The Alaskan frontier is shown as the mishmash that it must have been. Competing groups vied for their own goals and dreams. They inevitably mixed and influenced each other resulting in the lines that formerly demarcated distinct people groups being erased and blurred. The outcomes of this amalgamation ranged from laudable triumphs to scandalous tragedies.

For some reason (maybe growing up in the hot South), I have always enjoyed books about Polar Regions. The first book I ever read was Jack London's Call of the Wild. I read In a Far Country in less than a week because the story kept my interest. It is one of the few books that I really hated to complete. I did not want to leave the characters.

Far Appalachia: Following the New River North

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I can't believe I loved this book
Great trip told by a great storyteller
Great adventure
a pleasant read
A place in time and history

Far Appalachia: Following the New River North
Noah Adams
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385320108
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Noah Adams, the amiable host of NPR's All Things Considered, is no stranger to the world beyond the Beltway; a native of Kentucky, he's logged plenty of time in wild country, and the travels he recounts in his latest book take him through some of the most rugged in the eastern United States.

Adams travels along the New River, which rises in the mountains of North Carolina, flows generally north into Virginia and West Virginia, and eventually merges with the Ohio and Mississippi. Along the way--traveling by car, bicycle, and canoe--he explains the workings of rapids, his ancestral connection to Appalachia as well as its the history, and even the origins of the term hillbilly. As he wanders, Adams points out local oddities (such as a school bus that incongruously rests on a huge boulder in the middle of a stretch of the New River) and takes in bluegrass festivals, family picnics and the occasional family feud, and little towns and large vistas, by all appearances having a grand time along the way.

"This is just a book about a river. There was no quest involved, only a wish to understand more about this part of the country and my family's past." So writes Adams, with characteristic understatement. It may lack grand purpose, but his book is a pleasure for anyone who knows the country of which he writes, and anyone who enjoys a backroad adventure. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

With his sharp eye and gentle wit, Noah Adams doesn't just tell stories, he lets them unfold -- quietly, powerfully, and eloquently. Now the beloved host of NPR's All Things Considered and bestselling author of Piano Lessons takes us on a river journey through the heart of Appalachia -- a journey shared by pioneers and preachers, white-water daredevils, bluegrass musicians, and an unforgettable cast of vivid historical characters.

Noah Adams has Appalachia in his blood. A native of eastern Kentucky, he comes to the headwaters of the New River not just in search of adventure but to better understand his own unique heritage. Following the New River from its mile-high source on North Carolina's Snake Mountain to its West Virginia mouth, Adams travels by Jeep and by bicycle, by foot and, most thrillingly, by white-water raft to explore the history, natural beauty, and fascinating characters waiting around every bend and turn.

Distilling history from legend, Adams tells of men and women whose lives crossed the New River before him: Daniel Boone, fleeing his farming family in search of wilderness; Cherokee Indians driven west on their Trail of Tears; and the ill-fated men who traveled thousands of miles to work on the Hawk's Nest Tunnel, making a fortune for a company while their lungs filled with deadly silica dust. And along the way Adams follows the echoes of his own distant heritage, interweaving his river journey through Appalachia with yet another voyage, thousands of miles away.

With eloquence and compassion, Noah Adams paints a luminous portrait of a land and a people as richly vital and complex as America itself. At the same time, his quietly personal chronicle captures the sheer magic of the flowing waters: their sound, their eddies, their utter unpredictability. A vibrant and unforgettable read, Far Appalachia mesmerizes and haunts like the bluegrass music that still rings through the mountains and valleys in which it was born.

Customer Reviews:

I can't believe I loved this book.......2004-04-20

But I did. It is not at all the typical stuff I usually read. It was such an entertaining and gentle read. Adams is such a wonderful story teller. I felt as if I took that journey right beside him. As far as I am concerned, I have floated down "The New" myself now. I borrowed the book I read from my library but I am purchasing two for my Mom and my sister.

Great trip told by a great storyteller.......2003-10-20

This book wonderfully caputres what the New River is today. Part rural, part tourist, and part developers dream. The book lacks some historical perspective on the river, but still offers a great journy in the tradition of "On the Road" and "Blue Highways".

Great adventure.......2003-08-07

I thought this book was a great adventure down the New River. I enjoyed the descriptions of appalachia people he encountered along the way, and had a great time as he meandered through the valleys of the New.

a pleasant read.......2002-12-19

The review on the back of this book describes it as powerful and passionate. Hardly. It is a pleasant, easy book. If you've got a weekend coming up with not much to do, get yourself a copy of this book to read. The book is not very in-depth or thought-provoking but is an enjoyable way to pass the time. Adams has taken a series of snapshots of life along the New River, featuring historical characters, old-time musicians and young kayakers. What he has achieved is a portrayal of a region that has suffered much from the negative stigma of poverty and backwards hillbillies and made it seem like a very appealing place to live. For that I applaud Mr. Adams. But he does not get into the history, culture and society of a place that many other travel writers are so good at. For that I'm a little disappointed. It is a very nice read though.

A place in time and history.......2002-12-01

In traveling the New River from North Carolina to West Virginia, Noah Adams found a part of America that sometimes stands still in time, and other times seems to go backward. Part of his journey relates to an earlier epic of his own life spent in Appalachia. Whatever the reasons, he paints a picture of the river's path that is both nostalgic and distant.

Coal mining was a big industry in much of this section of the country, but much of it is gone now. Towns, mines, have almost completely disappeared, while others are ugly blots on the landscape. And still, the New River cuts its way through mountains, creating gorges, south to north, in the same way it has done for millennia. Bridges cross it. People live beside it. And a new industry -- whitewater rafting, kayaking, and other touristy pursuits -- has encroached on its waters.

As Adams traveled the river, he met professional guides, herbalists, and others who make their livings on the river. Many, perhaps most of them love the river. Each knows some of its history, and their stories often only whet our appetites.

Book Description

A story of love and adventure in Alaska, and a moving testimonial to a beloved wild place. Murie received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her environmental work.

Customer Reviews:

Two in the Far North.......2007-01-16

Parts of this book were very interesting and I respect the woman and the adventurous lifestyle, but parts were dated for me and other parts were too long. I do not think that is was well told.

Alaska by an Alaskan.......2004-07-16

Many of the best-known books about Alaska, its people and wilderness, have been written from an outsider's perspective (John McPhee, for example, or Joe McGinniss), with an outsider's sense of detachment and strangeness, as though what they were commenting on were just slightly odd on some level.

Margaret Murie (known as "Mardy"), gives as Alaska from a true insider's perspective, as one who grew up with it, knows it in her bones, and loves it the way we love our closest family.

Born in 1902, Mardy moved to Fairbanks at age 9, where kids went to school in -50F temperatures and where the only way in or out of Alaska in winter was on the back of a mail sled propelled by sled dogs. One of the first grads of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, she married the naturalist Olaus Murie and honeymooned in the Arctic. Over the years, fearless Mardy even took her infant children on expeditions into the wild.

The book is an indivisible combination of autobiography and nature writing. Murie has a remarkable eye; her descriptive powers rival McPhee's but her tone is more one of powerful affection rather than awe. My favorite story was of a young teenage Mardy, on her way to the Lower 48 to go to high school, catching the last mail sled out of town in the spring of 1918. This spring trip took many days; at each river crossing there was a possibility of not making it over the thinning ice.

What an adventure! Combined with that adventure is a powerful romance, the lifelong relationship between Olaus, a professional naturalist; Mardy, the fearless and intrepid companion; and Alaska herself.

Mardy Murie died only last year, at age 101. If you read this book, you will regret having just missed her; she deserves to be missed.

"My sense of wilderness is personal" - Margaret E. Murie.......2003-05-10

Mardy Murie is often referred to as "The Grandmother of American Conservation" and "The Grand Dame of the American Conservation movement, but somehow after reading her story, these titles barely seem adequate to describe such an incredible and personal woman. While we may liken Murie to women like Rachel Carson or Anna Botsford Comstock, Murie's journey is singular. We follow her from her childhood in Wyoming to graduation at the University of Alaska, through love, into the far reaches of the Alaskan North.
Murie successfully bridges the personal and the political, her own life and her life's work, her love for one man and her love for their work together. You will laugh with her, you will cry with her, feel scared for her, and come to love her. She will become your hero.
We must recognize Murie as an American treasure, but we must also recognize that Murie's inspiration is perhaps more important now than it ever was. The most obvious reason for this statement is the continuing struggle to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from growing oil interests. We must also recognize, however, that Murie could be the inspiration for the young generation of leaders in conservation-- a group of leaders that undoubtedly must include women. That there are very so few women leaders in conservation has caused the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women to recognize the struggle of women in their efforts to achieve leadership positions in the conservation movement. Other organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, the Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation have launched campaigns to attract more women into leadership roles. The lack of women in environmental leadership reflects America's view of rugged individualism in our collective imagination...nowhere has this myth been more prominent than in the discussion of America's last frontier-- a very personal discussion for Ms. Murie.
Not only is Margaret E. Murie a woman in the conservation movement, but she is an American treasure with a very personal and very political story to tell. Even as she approaches her 101st birthday in August, she continues to speak out for Alaska's lands, peoples, and wildlife. Her story is not one of fame, comfort, or glory, but it is her American story. Mardy Murie will become your hero, your inspiration and your friend. Take the journey with her.

"And I see them dancing.....".......2000-11-14

I, first, heard of Mardy Murie and her husband, Olaus, while watching John Denver's The Wildlife Concert. He wrote A Song For All Lovers for their deep and abiding love for each other and for the state of Alaska. The song's beauty gave rise to my curiousity. And, recently, while watching a documentary of Mardy's life, I became determined to read this book about her life.

This book is a must have. Mrs. Murie paints with words, a picture so vivid of Alaska's tundras and plains, that I felt as if I were part of it. The lifestyle was hard, but satisfying, and this woman's life was nothing short of fascinating. Mardy Murie is a living testament to the strength and beauty of women, and she leaves a shining example of what a woman can do. In her assistance in Olaus' work for the ANWR and other Alaskan Land Conservancies, to her carrying on of that work, she is a beacon to us all of what we can do.

Book Description

"Mayday! Landed on river. Engine out.
Floating toward the falls."

When the engine of their float plane fails during a water landing near the head of Canada's monumental Virginia Falls, what began as a sightseeing detour turns into a survival mission for two high-school students and their elderly companion.

With the brutal sub arctic winter about to fall like a hammer, Gabe Rogers, his boarding-school roommate, Raymond Providence, and Raymond's great-uncle, Johnny Raven, are trapped in a deadly wilderness. Braving icy rapids and desperately hunting for moose in their struggle to fend off starvation, all three travelers must rely on the others' knowledge and courage, or survival is out of the question.

Customer Reviews:

Wilderness Survival.......2007-06-30

Gabe's father works as a diamond excavator in Canada. Gabe decides to go to boarding school nearby in order to be able to see his father more often. His roommate is a native Canadian, a guy named Raymond who has trouble adjusting to the school routine after living in a small village his whole life.

Gabe is interested in going in a small plane to see the scenery in the area. His father arranges for him to ride along when one of Gabe's classmates and a village elder are flown to their home. Not until that day does Gabe find out that his roommate Raymond is dropping out of school and going home again.

On their way to Raymond's village, the pilot goes off-course and ends up dying trying to save the stalling plane. Now Gabe, Raymond, and the village elder, Johnny, are alone in the wilderness and fighting to survive. With winter coming on and temperatures well below zero on a daily basis, things are getting desperate.

I liked the information about surviving in the wilderness, although I don't expect I would ever need it. I also liked the growth of the characters and their process of learning to rely on themselves and on each other.

However, this book was pretty close in plot to some of Gary Paulsen's stories, which I think are better written.

Great Read!!!.......2007-05-29

I bought this book to use in a literature unit with two 8th-grade homeschoolers, one an avid reader, and the other a very reluctant reader. The book was a hit with both! The reluctant reader even started reading ahead on his own because he wanted to find out how the story turned out. The story stimulated some great discussions on literary technique (foreshadowing, cliffhangers), social and cultural ideas, wilderness survival, making choices, and gaining maturity through adversity. There were also lots of opporunities to expand the boys' vocabulary.

We highly recommend this book!!

Far North .......2007-02-06

This is the best survival book since hatchet. The characters are likeable and it has a good plot. Unlike the earlier reviewer, who said they had everything to survive, they did have all the right gear, but they were not experienced outdoorsmen. They had a gun, but no ammo.(until later, and even at that they had only three bullets...) This story is realistic and enjoyable. I hope that someone wll make a movie out of it...If you are a survival/action/adventure book reader, or any book reader for that matter, I would read this book. Its educational, realistic, and a really enjoyable read.

Far North.......2006-06-09

Gabe Rogers and Raymond Province must depend on each other for their very survival. As much as they despise the idea they must rely on each other to live another day. Will the harsh weather defeat them? Or will the wildlife devour them first? Read Far North by Will Hobbs to find out. I would recommend this book to all thrill/ adventure readers.

The first reason I would recommend this book is for its never ending thrill ride. For Example when Gabe and Raymond on a plane over the harsh environment of Canada their pilot decides to land. But when they try to regain altitude the plane breaks. Another example is when they must find food without any weapons and to survive the cold nights with little clothing.

The second reason I would recommend this book is for its unpredicted suspense. Such as when they first set off to look for food but get chased by a pack of wolves. Another example is when they find a shotgun in the supply box in the back of the plane which they use to fend of the wildlife.

The last reason I would recommend this book is due to its very close relationship with reality. Such as when the author chooses to use 2 high school kids instead of body-builders. Another example is when the author uses fierce and very hungry animals instead of animals that want to have tee parties. Another example is when a plane that transports people over vast expanses of harsh and fierce habitats carries a gun for protection.

I would recommend this book to all people that enjoy adventure and don't hesitate to face a challenge. This book, like many others of Bill Hobbs, has action, adventure, and a realistic basis. This book will keep you up for hours on end. Not to mention the fact that it will not put you to sleep.

Nathan K.

Good Story.......2006-05-13

I'm an avid reader, and I like survival stories a lot. Far North is a good example of one! The writer really creates the feel and emotions of the different stages that Gabe and Raymond, two high school students in the wilds of Canada's Northwestern Territories, go through in their epic journey for survival. Compared to similar stories (like Gary's Paulsen's books) Far North is somewhat predictable but has just enough twists and turns in the plot to make it interesting. The only reason I rated it 4 stars was because I expected MORE action (it did have some) and I could predict a few parts. Other than that, it was pretty good! If you're just looking for a book to read, I would recommend giving this one a shot.

Far North in the Arctic: Counting Alaska's Animals (Paws IV Children's Books)

Average customer rating:

BEST BOOK EVER!
Far North in the Arctic is FANTASTIC!

Far North in the Arctic: Counting Alaska's Animals (Paws IV Children's Books)
Cory Hansen
Manufacturer: Sasquatch Books/Paws IV Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1570613710

Book Description

This engaging book celebrates the wonders of Alaska in rhyme and meter. Adapted from the classic counting poem "Over the Meadow" by Olive Wadsworth, it inspires children to count the wildlife of the great northern wilderness: baby whales, bear cubs, fox kits, ptarmigan chicks, and more. In addition to the rhyme, the text includes a short description of each animal and a glossary that explains in simple terms things like what igloos are and why Alaska is called "The Land of the Midnight Sun."

Customer Reviews:

BEST BOOK EVER!.......2005-05-02

Far North in the Artic is a wonderful children's book. The book is enjoyable for both children and adults. It is a fun and easy way to learn true facts about artic animals in Alaska. This book can help children learn to count from one to ten as well. The pictures go beautifally together with the text. You will love to learn the facts and see the pictures for each animal. In the very back of the book there is even more facts about each of the animals. This is a MUST HAVE BOOK for teachers and parents to share with their children. Hansen did a good job at putting facts and fun together. This book is one of few books that you will want to keep forever!

Far North in the Arctic is FANTASTIC!.......2004-04-30

I am currently studying to become an elementary school teacher, and this book is FABULOUS for the classroom. Not only will the younger children love it because of the rhyme, counting, and sing-song, but the older children will like the encyclopedia content in the back exploring each of the animals mentioned within! I challenge anyone to find a better book depicting the Arctic and it's wildlife!

Few and Far Between: Moments in the North American Desert

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Few and Far Between: Moments in the North American Desert
John Martin Campbell
Manufacturer: Museum of New Mexico Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0890133220

Average customer rating:

Fascinating!
One of the best anthropological/adventure stories ever.

Book of the Eskimos
Peter Freuchen
Manufacturer: World Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000E49MP6

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating!.......2007-03-11

Peter Freuchen's Book of the Eskimos is -- bar none -- the most fascinating book I have ever read. It provides insight into a culture most people have never imagined, and never could imagine; a culture in which death is always only one small mistake away and the only rational response is to be happy now.

One of the best anthropological/adventure stories ever........2006-12-22

This is an wonderful book written by Danish explorer/adventurer Peter Freuchen (1886-1957). His account of his life with the Eskimos is full of affection, humor and admiration for the people whose lives he shared. He tells stories of incredible hardship and resilience along with detailed accounts of hunting, roles of the sexes, romance, trade, raising children, sled dogs, eating, religion, etc. At times he puts forth some blatantly racist views, but given the time when he wrote, and his respect and concern for the people he lived with, it is easily excused.
He lived with the Eskimos (Inuit) from about 1913-1920, and took many trips to Greenland both before and after that. He married an Eskimo girl and had two children with her, but she died of influenza in 1921. At the time he lived there, the Eskimos were still firmly in their traditional culture, but on the brink of transformation by white traders and Western culture.
This is definitely among my top 5 favorite true-life anthropology books and I have given it away and loaned it out more times than I can remember. Everyone seems to love it. It is entertaining, humbling and amazing.

Average customer rating:

Best Book I Ever Read
Very inventive and loads of fun!
3.5 Stars
2nd review for this book
A delightful and fast-paced fantasy adventure

Seven Professors of the Far North
John Fardell
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142407356

Book Description

When Sam visits Zara and Ben and their great-uncle, the quirky inventor Professor Ampersand, he never expects to embark on a fantastical adventure. But when Professor Ampersand and his group of professor friends are kidnapped by the evil Professor Murdo, it's up to Sam, Zara, and Ben to save them. They have only three days in which to journey to an icy, desolate land and uncover Murdo's sinister plot. Only then can they save the professors— and the fate of the whole world. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Best Book I Ever Read.......2007-03-12

I liked the book so much because it had a lot of action and some mystery. The 7 Professors started out as friends but one had a sinister plot in mind. Their goal was to build a university in the far north, but then the bad professor burned the buildings down and kidnapped the other professors. Will 3 kids be able to rescue the professors?! Read this book to find out.

Very inventive and loads of fun!.......2006-10-02

I'm not a kid, and I haven't been one for so long it's sad. But like a kid, the cover of the book caught my eye and intrigued me. The price was great so I bought it and I'm glad I did. This is a really wonderful book-- full of fun, adventure, and invention. Another reviewer here compared it to the Harry Potter books and I agree: it holds up quite nicely. The characters aren't quite as rich (Fardell doesn't quite seem to know what to do with Zara) but the story is a page-turner and you never know quite what you're going to get on that next page.

For parents wondering about the book, it's definitely appropriate for kids as young as 9 or 10, provided they're up to reading a "real" book. The situations are tense but I don't think there's anything that's likely to give them nightmares. And the bad guys are punished, even when, as in one case, it's someone who does something illegal but is kind and helpful to the young heroes. Also, there are no, ahem, "adult" situations at all, so you don't have to worry about it in that regard. One other good thing is that two of the kids in the book are girls and they're very brave, noble and smart. Plus, they're presented completely on the same level as the boys, not just "smart for a girl" or anything like that.

The only problem I had was with the climactic scene: it seemed to be too quick, a little too convenient, and a little too easy. Once they got to that scene there were no more complications or twists. That's one thing I can say about the Potter books: they're twisty and interesting right up till the end.

I'm tempted to give my review only 4 stars for two reasons: 1) A "5" implies that this is the best-- that it can't get any better. But that's not the case. It *could* be better. And 2) Well, it could be better. HOWEVER, it's definitely worth reading and I wouldn't want to risk lowering the overall ranking by giving it only 4 stars. The qualms I had with the climax are likely just my own pickiness, so I don't want anyone put off, yet I do want to keep the review honest.

3.5 Stars.......2006-02-28

Young Sam Carnabie is staying Professor Ampersand and his great niece and nephew, Zara and Ben for a few weeks while his parents attend a conference. Professor Ampersand's home is filled with Rube Goldberg inventions and "labor saving" devices.

Late one night an old friend of the professor's arrives, exhausted and fearful with news that an old enemy, has returned. In the course of the evening, Professor Ampersand tells the children about an earlier part of his life when he and six other professors founded a university on Nordbergen , a remote island in the far North, only to be betrayed by one of them. Roderick Murdo was discovered to have kidnapped a baby for some ghastly experiment. The baby was saved but Murdo left the professors to die in the wilderness of the Arctic and disappeared.

Ampersand summons the other professors to let them know that their nemesis has returned to Nordbergen. As they plan how to thwart him again, Murdo's goons arrive and kidnap the professors. The children are left to follow the few clues they have in order to rescue them and save the world.

A secret subterranean railroad (very cool,) snowmobiles, and submarines convey the kids to Nordbergen. Murdo is a "James Bond" style villian whose human shaped high rise headquarters is a super complex of high tech gadgetry and genetic engineering evil.

The kids must figure things out but they are helped by adults along the way.

I liked the small b&w drawings that are sprinkled throughout the text. The book had an old-fashioned feel that got better as the story progressed. I will be interested to see how kids go for it.

2nd review for this book.......2005-11-21

I realized I wanted my review in the hardback too!

My son): I really liked the part when they were on the ISNT train and I really liked when they went on the plane and how one of the characters escaped. It was a fascinating book. I would definitely read another book that he has written.

(Mom:)My son read the book in 5 days and was glued to the book. It was a great adventure story about 3 kids saving the world (and it had a few pictures). It was a great mixture of a good story, fantasy and geography. In fact, the book was very well written especially for a children's book, but a much more manageable size than Harry Potter. My son is a third grader and enjoyed every minute of it!

A delightful and fast-paced fantasy adventure.......2005-09-24

THE SEVEN PROFESSORS OF THE FAR NORTH is an exciting adventure tale, rippled with inventive and surprising technology. It begins when 11-year-old Sam Carnabie is invited to spend his Easter holidays with an old friend of his parents, Professor Ampersand. Professor Ampersand, an inventor, has dozens of interesting contraptions, from a motorcycle built for four to an oven-boiler that heats water at the same time that it cooks food. Professor Ampersand's great niece and nephew, Ben and Zara, are delighted to show Sam all the innovative delights their house has to offer.

No sooner have they finished dinner on the very first night of Sam's visit, however, than an urgent message arrives, quickly followed by five of Professor Ampersand's former colleagues. Together with another scientist, Professor Murdo, they were once responsible for trying to found a top-level university at Nordberg, a tiny island in the far north. However, when Professor Murdo's unethical experiments came to light, he decided to flee, taking his six colleagues with him and abandoning them in a huge field of snow and ice. Only a secret known to one of them, a secret they've all promised never to reveal, got them home safely. When Professor Murdo's private soldiers show up a few hours later and kidnap all six professors, Sam, Ben and Zara are left with only a confusing clue to the secret and their unwavering determination as they set off to find the professors and unmask Murdo's frightening scheme.

The three children's surprising and exciting adventures are at the heart of the rest of the book as they wend their way north to the island of Nordberg. Alternating with scenes from the life of another girl, Marcia, who ends up in Professor Murdo's clutches for entirely different reasons, the story of Ben, Zara and Sam's escapades are edge-of-your-seat exciting, but always plausible in the context of the story. Fardell's world of surprising inventions means that the reader is constantly making new discoveries right along with the kids in the story. Although based in fact and science rather than fantasy, Fardell's world building is on a par with the Harry Potter books --- in fact, THE SEVEN PROFESSORS OF THE FAR NORTH reminded me more of the spirit of Harry Potter than any of the numerous copycat fantasy books spawned since the young wizard's success.

Each of the three children brings his or her own skills to the adventure --- Sam's preparedness, Ben's map-reading abilities, Zara's boldness --- and each of them comes up with innovative ideas when they're most needed, usually just in the nick of time. As the book approaches its exciting conclusion, it's easy to believe that their adventures have helped Sam, Ben and Zara develop the courage they need to confront Professor Murdo.

From start to finish, John Fardell's THE SEVEN PROFESSORS OF THE FAR NORTH is a delight to read.

--- Reviewed by Paula Jolin

Feels Like Far: A Rancher's Life on the Great Plains

Average customer rating:

I couldn't put this book down
Touching...
A Beautiful Book

Feels Like Far: A Rancher's Life on the Great Plains
Linda M. Hasselstrom
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618124950

Book Description

In Feels Like Far, award-winning author Linda Hasselstrom paints an intimate portrait of family, love, work, nature, and survival against the backdrop of the far-flung South Dakota prairie. Sixteen linked stories tell of the joy of training a first horse, the heartbreak of finding a fatally injured cow, the beauty of cavorting nighthawks, the stubbornness of her father, a rigid old rancher who bucks at old age, the deep, almost spiritual bond she shares with a friend who is diagnosed with AIDS. "In deliciously direct and unsentimental style" (Kathleen Norris), Hasselstrom maps the landscape of her life, demarcating the same beauties and brutalities that intermingle on the Great Plains she calls home.

Customer Reviews:

I couldn't put this book down.......2004-02-29

I unboxed this book, flipped open some pages to preview and before I knew it, I had read 60 pages standing in my kitchen. Legs buckling, I sat and finshed the book in one sitting. The book is compelling because Hasselstrom's storytelling makes you want to read further, but also because her writing mesmerizes the soul. I found myself rereading sentences and hanging on the beauty of her unique prose. "How does she write like this?" I kept asking myself. Her ability to take you within the moment is unsurpassed. You don't need to be a cowgirl to enjoy this book, but if you are, you'll finish it in one sitting--or standing--like I did.

Touching..........2002-09-27

Reading this book was a wonderful experience. What a touching story of a family that develops as all families do; realizing we love our family members even more when we accept them loving us the only way they know how. All this against the backdrop of a still unspoiled area of America. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this region, history or living.
Allen

A Beautiful Book.......2000-05-26

People from the prairies of South Dakota and North Dakota aren't pretentious. Well, some might be, but they tend to stand out in miserable ways. Linda Hasselstrom's writing is like the people of her home: careful, persistent, simple, surprisingly complex, fascinating. Your own family and home may be very different from Hasselstrom's, but through her writing you'll gain a better understanding of your own people and place of origin. Hasselstrom is a master; she shows us how to cherish the tribes we were born into, despite the inevitable losses and disappointments of life. She ranks right up there with Kathleen Norris and Patricia Hampl.

Texas and the Far West (North American Historical Atlases)

Average customer rating:

Texas and the Far West (North American Historical Atlases)
Rebecca Stefoff
Manufacturer: Benchmark Books (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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