Kids who like this might like Night of the Howling Dogs. I loved this, and only wish it was more detailed - it would be amazing to hear some stories from the search parties and rangers. ( )

This is an okay book about a kid called Donn, in the woods. It's a nonfiction book because it's a true story. He went on a fishing trip with his brothers and his dad, but they ended up climbing a mountain. Donn got separated from his family in a sleet storm and fell off the mountain. That night, he slept in a cave. In the morning, he traveled by a river, which he did for the rest of the days. On one day, though, he saw a bear! It didn't eat him. He saw a cottage and he ran desperately to it. There were people in it, and he was rescued. HIs parents picked him up, he became a celebrity,and he lived happily ever after. ( )

In the summer of 1939, Donn's father takes his sons and their friends on a fishing trip in Maine. Along the way, the decide to climb the tallest mountain in Maine, Katahdin. On the way up Donn and Henry, a local friend, keep getting ahead of the rest of their group. Eventually, they stop waiting for the others to catch up. Bad weather comes up, and Donn decides to leave Henry. As things get worse, Donn decides to go on, rather than stay put. The next morning Donn decides to head downstream.

Donn is lost in the wilderness for nine days. He eventually shows up 35 miles away from the mountain. Hundreds of people have been involved in rescue efforts, thousands, maybe millions, awaited word of his rescue. Upon his appearance, Donn receivers a medal from the president, parades, a book deal, and a life full of opportunities to speak about his experience. He modestly credits prayer, and God, with his survival. And also, the fact that he didn't give up. And finally, the Boy Scout training that told him to go downstream.

Donn Fendler is a putz. He's been telling this story for sixty years, and he hasn't thought about it. The lack of self-knowledge is staggering. What was at the time considered by some a miracle (that her survived and turned up) is the opposite, really. We aren't told details of any of the other kids in the group, but presumably, none of them were lost, died, or suffered any serious injuries. Yes, he was twelve, and he was impulsive, and I don't blame the kid for charging off half-cocked on his own despite every piece of advice he'd eve been given. People panic, they blunder. But Fendler created his problem by plodding on. I was never a boy scout, but I'm guessing that "head downstream" is a lesson that comes after about 50,000 others that say "stay put" and "don't leave your companions." Sure, it will eventually lead you to civilization, but there are some mighty big continents, and it can take a while, whereas staying put means the rescue party will locate you within hours, since they quickly had teams out scouring the mountain.

Fendler is a putz because his whole spiel is about his dogged determination to keep going, when the one thing he should never have done was keep going. If he'd stayed put he'd have been found in less than 24 hours, and no one else (like his father, or that poor bloodhound) would have suffered injuries. Think how much time, effort, money, and pain went into a rescue effort that was futile because the kid walked as far away from rescue as he could. Nine days of suffering in the wilderness, for Donn, and for all those other people, because Donn just wouldn't give up on making it worse.

People make mistakes. I get that. But Donn got a medal for doubling down on his mistakes every minute, every hour, for nine days. And he's had 70 years to realize that he made it almost impossible for God or anyone else to save him, and no where in his story does he acknowledge that.

Putz.

Library copy ( )

Had this on audio, the real author began to read, then faded into a boys voice. Really well read. Children were mesmerized by the story. Also, found a U Tube video of the author speaking to a group and answering questions. ( )

My daughter read "Lost on a Mountain in Maine" for 4th grade, but my 9 year old son had little interest in picking up the book - no aliens, guns, or rude jokes. I bought a copy of "Lost Trail" last weekend so that _I_ could read it - the cover is really appealing, and I already knew that the story was compelling.
I started reading it to my son while we were sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for his best friend. After about 5 minutes, he commented, "Wow - this story moves really fast!" He also LOVED the illustrations.
I put it in his backpack Monday morning (yesterday), figuring maybe he'd read a bit more during silent reading time. After he got home, I noticed that the bookmark was back at page 1. So I asked him if the bookmark had fallen out. Nope. He read it during silent reading time...and during aftercare...and in the car on the way home. Finished it before suppertime. Took it to school again today so he can start re-reading it.

As a side note, my daughter (now 15) and I had a chance to see Donn Fendler speak at the Portland Public Library a few years ago. It was a fabulous experience. He is a really engaging speaker, and loves to meet his readers in person. He even showed a short home movie that included the moment that he and his mother saw each other for the first time since his disappearance. Wow. He stayed after the talk to chat with any and all of the kids who wanted to meet him in person, autographing books and posing for photos. If you ever get a chance to meet Mr. Fendler in person, don't pass it up! ( )