Missing in the Mountains Book

Jarod is a snowboarder and is stuck taking care of his younger sister, Jennifer, who is a beginning skier. When a bully threatens the two, Jarod convinces Jennifer to ski out-of-bounds to avoid a conflict. They venture into the restricted area and Jennifer watches in horror as her brother is buried in an avalanche. Will Jennifer be able to rescue her brother and, together, will they be able to find their way to safety?

Children's Literature

Eleven-year-old Jarod is glum about babysitting his eight-year-old sister, Jennifer, on a ski trip. Winding up in a life-threatening situation, the two must figure out how to survive despite a relative lack of gear and Jennifer's asthma. This decent "kids-in-peril" thriller should appeal both to boys and girls, since Jennifer and Jarod take turns having good survival ideas. Parents of asthmatic kids will like the active role Jennifer takes in managing her own care. A quibble--the author has the two of them out for much of the day without ever taking a break for food or drink. Although young readers may not care, cold-weather dwellers know that calories and hydration are essential in the wintertime.