In Caverns of Blue Ice

by Robert Roper

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316756067
• ISBN13: 9780316756068
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books for Children
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Childish, yet somehow very satisfying

You'll finish this novel smiling, but for most people (those not extremely interested with mountaineering) it would probably be better to spend that cash on something else and check this out from the library. This is one of my personal favorites, however, and i strongly recomend reading it.

A Student's Review

In Caverns of Blue Ice, written by Robert Roper, is about a young girl Louise DeMaistre. The story takes place in Montier, a small town in southeastern France, about three decades ago. Louise's father, Jules DeMaistre, is a famous Alpine climber and mountaineer. Unlike her two brothers, Louise is not interested in following in her father's footsteps. She believes, along with her sister Elise and many other people at that time, that mountain climbing is only for men. Only after leading her brother off a mountain and to safety does she realize her talent. From that day on, Louise started to enjoy climbing and to appreciate the mountains. The novel continues to describe her accomplishments, her tough job as an apprentice to a very strict guide, the road to becoming the first women Alpine guide, and her rise to fame. She struggles but continues to prove that she can be as strong as any man on the mountains. When a young Canadian climber enters Louise's life however, the scene becomes much more complicated for her. Louise had never dealt with love before and she is forced to face new challenges. Years later when Louise has to look death in the face trapped in a blue ice crevasse with her true love, she regains her confidence as a woman climber and establishes a sense of security within her heart and mind. I was not only taken aback by the breath taking descriptions of the mountains, but also by Louise's courage to succeed and to prove herself to those people who doubted her. I felt sympathetic for Louise when her true love left and excited when she ascended her most difficult climbing route. This novel is not only suspenseful and romantic, but also leads you on an exciting and informational adventure through the French Alps and the blue ice caves of the Himalayas. When the story unfolds, Louise DeMaistre is a twelve-year-old girl who is quite chubby for her age. She is not very active and she hates the mountains. When her brother convinces her to take a short climb with him, she realizes something about herself that she had not known before. Louise eventually grows into her body, and she becomes a beautiful young woman with an amazing talent in mountain climbing. She struggles to find her identity and to prove to many people that she could succeed in a man dominated sport. However, when a young man enters the picture, Louise is left emotionally unbalanced. Never before had she experienced true love, and she is left lost in confusion and pain. Throughout the middle of the novel, Louise is faced with harsh physical and emotional challenges that leave her skeptical about continuing her career as a climber. At the end of the novel however, Louise finds peace within her heart, soul, and mind. She becomes much more mature and self-reliant and gains much more confidence in herself. As one could conclude, Louise DeMaistre changed in many ways throughout the novel, In Caverns of Blue Ice.