Bones on Black Spruce Mountain

by David Budbill

Book Overview

Seth and Daniel's camping trip to a lonely mountaintop becomes a journey into a painful past that Daniel must confront.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553155962
• ISBN13: 9780553155969
• Release Date: February 1986
• Publisher: Skylark Books
• Length: 126 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Excellent reading for kids.

Like many people, I first read "Bones" when I was an elementary school kid, and the experience was one I'll remember always. I remember thinking how lucky the boys in the story were to have parents that would let them take a camping trip by themselves at their age! This book has a dark and atmospheric feel to it, complicated emotional tensions and, yes, a little terror, but nevertheless if your children are bright and courageous readers, you should not deny them the opportunity of going on this adventure. Don't be surprised if they come back from it with a far-away, mature look in their eyes---like the protaganists!

Feeling Nostalgic?

I have just recently discovered the joys of reading. After being forced to read in grade school and high school, I never really took it upon myself to read for pure enjoyment. Then with College, you read so many textbooks, why would you ever want to pick up a book and read if you're not getting paid or making a grade? Well, it's books like this that you can think back on and relive. Aside from the Hardy Boys and some Stephen King, this is the only book that I chose to read for fun. Remembering back, it was probably the title that grabbed me, as I was always an odd kid that liked metal music from the age of 8 (Metallica and Iron Maiden). I remember really enjoying this book and while I was compiling a list of the very few books I've read in my life, this was the one I couldn't quite remember the title. I knew I read a book (yes, a - one - book) when I was about 11-13, but couldn't quite remember the title. Well, this is it! I typed in "bones mountain" into a book search engine and this is what popped up. I have since ordered the book and can't wait to read it. As those times that you want to relive some old memories creep up, I'm glad I read this as a kid, cause it's something that I can go back to and enjoy reading again. Thanks to those who provided other reviews to confirm that this is the right book.

Oh Seth!

This was one of my favorite books as a kid. Don't remember too much about it, so I think I should buy it and relive it again.

Diamond in the Rough

If you have a young reader who doesn't like to read, offer this book. This book is an adventure from front to back which keeps you wanting more the entire time. I own three copies of this book and have read it at least a dozen times. This was the first book that I ever CHOSE to read and ENJOYED. Unfortunately many times children/students are forced to read books for school, during summer vacation, or by their parents. Though everyone's intentions may be good, they are not always productive. Like I said, this book is a must in my world. I was that daydreamy adventurous kid who didn't want to "waste the time" to read a book. But after I realized that my daily adventures didn't have to end when I laid down to go to bed and I could continue my adventures with Seth and Daniel in this book each night . . . I was hooked then in fifth and sixth grade and am still hooked today. This book is my security blanket of books.

Vermont adventure

Spruce Mt. near Barre, VT is David Budbill's inspriation for "Bones on Black Spruce Mountain". A visable presence from his writing cabin Budbill fantasized about climbing the mountain and what he might find at the top. He turned this fantasy into a fast paced adventure story about two boys setting out on the camping trip of their lives. Once the boys proved that they were right they could never share their discovery without betraying the bones that they found in the cave at the top of the mountain. David Budbill won the Dortho Canfield Fisher Book Award fo this book. The school children of Vermont voted this book the best on published during 1978 and it has been a popular one here in Vermont ever since. When Bidbill accepted the award he told the students who supported his book to kick in the screens of their television sets and get outside and explore for themselves.