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mikewomack's review against another edition
3.0
A cute story that I am sure I would have loved as a child. This would also be a good read aloud for young children who haven't learned the skill of prolonged listening over the course of weeks.
Good safe story for young ears.
Good safe story for young ears.
thisfoxreads's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone in the village of Instep is afraid of the Megrimum, a monster they believe leaves at the top of the low hill Kneeknock Rise. Though none have seen the beast, they can hear scary sounds when it rains--at it rains frequently.
Young Egan visits relatives living at the base of the Rise, just in time for the annual fair. The story of the Megrimum intrigues him, as does the sudden disappearance of Uncle Ott, who is feared a victim of the monster.
Upon a dare from his young spoiled cousin, Egan travels to the top of Kneeknock Rise...
This book well expresses the way that fears and superstitions arise, and how people don't want to lose those cherished beliefs--even if it means living in fear.
Enjoyable!
Young Egan visits relatives living at the base of the Rise, just in time for the annual fair. The story of the Megrimum intrigues him, as does the sudden disappearance of Uncle Ott, who is feared a victim of the monster.
Upon a dare from his young spoiled cousin, Egan travels to the top of Kneeknock Rise...
This book well expresses the way that fears and superstitions arise, and how people don't want to lose those cherished beliefs--even if it means living in fear.
Enjoyable!
sarahlgreene's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kgj4k4's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick read. I liked the story. Egan is visiting his Aunt, Uncle and cousin in a town where there is a legendary "monster". The monster comes out during storms late at night and all the villagers are scared. It's a cute book and definitely has another side to the story, but of course, I doubt a younger reader would go that far.
djahatimisor's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
barbarajean's review against another edition
4.0
I thought I was going to love this book. Halfway through, I was sure I was going to love it. It ended up leaving me with a lot of thoughts, but mixed feelings. The fact that this brief children's book left me thinking quite deeply is a sign of how good the book was, but still. I think I wanted something different out of it in the end.
One of the blurbs on the back of the book describes it as a "new folktale," and that's probably an apt description. The story tells the tale of a boy named Egan as he visits the town of Instep. Instep is situated at the base of Kneeknock Rise--a mountain that is continually shrouded in mist, home to the Megrimum, a fearsome creature that moans frightfully during rainstorms. The town's inhabitants have all kinds of superstitions about how to protect themselves from the Megrimum, and as Kneeknock Rise is the most exciting thing for miles around, there's a certain level of pride mixed in with their fear of the beast on the mountain. Kneeknock Rise acts as somewhat of a tourist attraction each year when Instep puts on a fair and travelers arrive hoping to hear the Megrimum. The reader is introduced to the monster and the legends surrounding it through the eyes of an outsider, as Egan tries to figure out exactly what it is that lurks at the top of Kneeknock Rise.
The book ultimately explores the nature of mystery and belief. Why do we believe? Is it because we need to believe in something, regardless of logic and fact and reason? Or is there something more to it than that?
One of the visitors to Instep describes what draws him to the town and away from his everyday life:
"It's the knowing there's something different, something special up there waiting. It's the knowing you could choose to change your days--climb up there and throw yourself right down the throat of the only and last and greatest terrible secret in the world. Except you don't climb up."
I loved that description--the desire for the mystery and the wonder of something utterly unknown. The fear of it, and yet the desire to keep it close, just in case. Because: you could. Or you might. One day.
One of the blurbs on the back of the book describes it as a "new folktale," and that's probably an apt description. The story tells the tale of a boy named Egan as he visits the town of Instep. Instep is situated at the base of Kneeknock Rise--a mountain that is continually shrouded in mist, home to the Megrimum, a fearsome creature that moans frightfully during rainstorms. The town's inhabitants have all kinds of superstitions about how to protect themselves from the Megrimum, and as Kneeknock Rise is the most exciting thing for miles around, there's a certain level of pride mixed in with their fear of the beast on the mountain. Kneeknock Rise acts as somewhat of a tourist attraction each year when Instep puts on a fair and travelers arrive hoping to hear the Megrimum. The reader is introduced to the monster and the legends surrounding it through the eyes of an outsider, as Egan tries to figure out exactly what it is that lurks at the top of Kneeknock Rise.
The book ultimately explores the nature of mystery and belief. Why do we believe? Is it because we need to believe in something, regardless of logic and fact and reason? Or is there something more to it than that?
One of the visitors to Instep describes what draws him to the town and away from his everyday life:
"It's the knowing there's something different, something special up there waiting. It's the knowing you could choose to change your days--climb up there and throw yourself right down the throat of the only and last and greatest terrible secret in the world. Except you don't climb up."
I loved that description--the desire for the mystery and the wonder of something utterly unknown. The fear of it, and yet the desire to keep it close, just in case. Because: you could. Or you might. One day.
scaifea's review against another edition
4.0
Egan travels to a nearby town to stay with his aunt and her family during the local annual fair. This fair isn't the usual thing, though - it's held in honor of and to celebrate the monster who lives on top of Kneeknock Rise.
This is a fabulous story about the difference between fact and truth, about people's willingness to believe even when evidence to the contrary is right before them, and about the strange power of myth. I loved it, of course. Babbitt can weave a special kind of magic into her tales.
This is a fabulous story about the difference between fact and truth, about people's willingness to believe even when evidence to the contrary is right before them, and about the strange power of myth. I loved it, of course. Babbitt can weave a special kind of magic into her tales.
iceangel9's review
3.0
Kneeknock Rise is a fable about man's need for belief systems. A young boy visiting another town hears a mysterious cry at the top of a rocky mountain. Despite evidence that the sound is an explainable, natural occurrence, the townsfolk refuse to believe it is anything but the wailing and moaning monster, the Megramum. Even when the sounds are proven to be a natural occurrence the town's residents refuse to believe. Why?
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
3.0
Egan goes to visit relatives and attend a local festival, but when he arrives, he learns about a dangerous monster that lives on a nearby rise. Goaded on by his cousin, Egan decides to show his bravery by climbing the rise during a storm. He learns the truth about the monster and tries to share it with the villagers. All refuse to deny the veracity of the monster, clinging to the legend despite the evidence of several eyes. Newbery Honor.
sstallryan's review
3.0
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't enjoy it as much as Jack Plank or The Search for Delicious. The question of whether there is a Megrimum or not still haunts one at the end of the book. One has to draw one's own conclusions about "faith", "belief", "proof" and the like. This perhaps was a bit too deep of a subject for Jonathan who is still in a bit of a black and white phase of life.