The Mountain That Walked

Kim Nowry is a freelance writer in Edmonton, Alberta.

Sixteen-year-old Charlie Sutherland, a destitute orphan living on the
streets of London, England, is sent to Canada as a “home boy” to
work on a farm in the Northwest Territories. The farm belongs to two
unlikeable brothers, Albert and Buck Brooks, who brutally exploit and
beat Charlie. When Albert suddenly dies, Charlie is unfairly accused of
being responsible for Albert’s demise. Fleeing the law, Charlie heads
to southern Alberta and ends up dealing with even more terrible hardship
as he struggles to survive. With courage and perseverance, however, the
young teen eventually makes his way to the town of Frank, where he hopes
to find work in the coal mine.

The story’s steady-paced action draws readers in as it leads up to
the real Frank Slide of April 29, 1903, when the collapse of Turtle
Mountain buried more than 75 people in less than two minutes. It was the
greatest North American disaster of the time, and Holubitsky’s
realistic descriptions bring the event to life. Worked into the story
are teen issues such as needing a sense of belonging, the importance of
friends, and the desire to strike out on one’s own. Charlie is a
sympathetic character with whom teens will identify.

The Mountain That Walked is a fine historical tale that young-adult
readers will enjoy. Highly recommended.