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English Awards
Peg is an eight-year-old who was born at sea and lives on her parents' fishing boat. She is restless and thinks she has spent enough of her life "sloshing around the bottom of the world." Peg is keen to climb to the top of the world's tallest mountain, as she has heard the view is quite something. With nothing more than the clothes on her back, a fishing pole, a tent, a pack full of interesting snacks and a can-do attitude, Peg goes off to tackle Mount Everest. Somewhat disappointed at the size of the mountain, she says, "If that's the best there is, I'll just have to put up with it." She passes other climbers who warn: "You'll need clamps and cleats and cables! You'll need poles and picks and pulleys! They say there's a monster up there -- the Yeti!" but she is completely undeterred, and decides to climb up herself. The Yeti, although "big as an iceberg" and "a bit out of sorts" after she yells in his ear to wake him up, does not frighten our plucky heroine in the least. In fact, after the savage beast has been soothed through the liberal administration of pork scruncheons, he helps Peg achieve her goal of reaching the summit of Everest and then accompanies her home where he takes up a career as a fisherman. This is an over-the-top tale that kids will love. The exaggerated text by Kenneth Oppel is brought to life by the full-page, vibrant Plasticine illustrations of Barbara Reid. -MR |
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