Daughter of the Mountains

by Louise S. Rankin and Louise Rankin

Book Overview

Momo has always wanted a Lhasa terrier--a dog like the ones the Buddhist priests hold sacred in their temples. And her dream is realized when a trader brings Pempa to her parents' tea house. But after a band of robbers steals the valuable dog and quickly escapes with him into the mountains, Momo is determined to catch them and recover her beloved Pempa. To do so, she must follow the Great Trade Route across the mountains--a path that most people avoid,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140363351
• ISBN13: 9780140363357
• Release Date: February 1993
• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A wonderful book!

Set in the early 20th century, this story explores the culture and traditions of Tibet, as well as the bond of love between a young girl and her stolen Lhasa (Tibetan) Terrier. As a proud parent of a Tibetan Terrier myself, I found the story to be both heartwarming as well as enlightening with regard to my own relationship with the little dog next to me, whose ancestors came from high in the mountains at the top of the world. As I read I could not help but wonder, if he was stolen from me, how far would I go to get him back. I was truly amazed by the journey little nine year old Momo set upon all alone. She has no money, and only meager provisions, but without a moments hesitation she sets off to rescue her beloved pet. From high in the Himalayas the book follows her adventure as she walks nearly all the way to Calcutta, India. With only her determination and the love in her heart, as well as her strong belief in Buddhist traditions to guide her steps and keep her safe. I highly recommend this tale as a book to be shared with a child or grandchild to encourage reading, or as the perfect bedtime story to be read a chapter at a time. I would also recommend it to anyone such as myself who just wants a little insight into the mystical appeal of the hairy little dogs from Tibet, that we have come to know and love as well as make a part of our family and homes.

Daughter of the Mountains

Like another reviewer, I read this book in junior high and never forgot it. I remember trying to make hot buttered tea, as the heroine drinks it all the time; I found it undrinkable. My granddaughter has a Lhasa Apso now and I've been trying to find the book - 7th grade was 45 years ago and I'd forgotten the title. Thanks to many online searches using: dog, Tibet, girl, childrens' book etc. here it is and I'm ordering it for her today.

I read & loved this book as a girl

This book is a wonderful story & it is especially won-derful to read in this the 50th anniversary of the achievment ofthe summit of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay.Momo showed courage as she made her way out of Tibet & down to In-dia.I also loved the way it introduced another culture & religion.

So glad it's still in print!

I read this book voraciously from start to finish when I was in 7th grade and have never forgotten it. It illustrates how important it is to have faith in a dream and to go after what you want even when everyone tells you it's impossible. And if you've ever dearly loved a pet, this is the story for you.Momo, a young Tibetian girl, yearns to own a Lhasa Apso, but an expensive pedigree dog like that is beyond her family's meager budget. Undaunted, Momo hopes and prays for one to come her way, certain that it will. Her faith and tenacity pay off when a traveling merchant presents her with an adorable Lhasa puppy, whom Momo promptly names Pempa. All is perfect in Momo's world until the day Pempa is stolen by thieves on their way to India. You will learn a lot about that part of the world as Momo tirelessly treks through Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and finally India to retrieve her beloved pooch.She stumbles into a lot of interesting characters along the way, making this story an even more enjoyable read.

A classic tale of a girl's courage and love

As a 6th grader I think I had this book permanently checked out of my school's library for the entire year. Great adventure and suspense, a fascinating look into another culture, an extraordinarily brave girl and her love for her dog, and a deeply satisfying ending -- a perfect combination. I'm so glad it's still in print!