Ever since her mum died, Ruby has been afraid. Of cars. Of the dark. Of going to sleep and never waking up. But then the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and everything changes.
Without warning Ruby’s mother is killed in outback Australia. Her mother, a herpetologist leaves a gaping hole in Ruby and because of this sudden loss, she doesn’t know how to cope.
Ruby’s father and grandmother are also struggling to deal with this loss and we see this in the first chapter when they race to get away from Australia and on a boat into India without warning – to manage an abandoned hotel at the foot of the Himalayas.
At first Ruby hates living in this remote location but as time goes on she makes a friend, learns about the mountains and sees how much help she can be to the local wildlife.
But despite this new found love of the mountains she soon discovers a dark secret that it hides – poachers. These poachers are on the hunt for endangered leopards and will do anything to hide what they are up to.
You will fall in love with the mountains of India and be in awe of the determination and strength that Ruby displays despite the loss she has just experienced.
Children will relate to Ruby and Praveen and their ability to see beyond what adults see when it comes to making a difference in the world.
When the mountains roared by Jess Butterworth is an excellent read, set out in small chapters and adorned with leopard print, young readers will find this book a page turner yet a mananagable one.
When the mountains roared is a great book for a class novel study as it links in India and Australia, animal conservation and natural disasters.
So what else can you do with this book?
– Find out where Ruby moves to from reading the description in the novel. Work out how long it would take to get there by boat and bus.
– Does this book have any similarities to Jess Butterworth’s other book ‘Running on the roof of the world”?
– Where in the world are animals poached and why does this happen? Explore what poaching means and measures in place to stop this from happening.
– Explore the differences in children’s lives around the world. Compare Ruby’s life in Australia to Praveen’s life in India as a goat herder.
– What are superstitions and why do they exist? Do you have any superstitions? How can superstitions be helpful and harmful?
– How many leopards (different types) are left in the world? Is poaching the only reason they are endangered?
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