Cute, but imperfectly researched, and with a touch of weird racism. (The coolies and house guards were very happy to serve the Sahibs....) A note on history by the author, but no way of knowing whether she knew whereof she spoke. ( )

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A young Tibetan girl wants a dog more than anything, but once she gets one, it is stolen from her to be sold far off in Calcutta. The book tells the story of her journey, alone, along the Great Trade Route to rescue her pet. A nice little story, but not one that especially pulled me in. ( )

Daughter Of The Mountains is a great read aloud for students in fourth grade and up. I think it has wide appeal for the impressionable young minds who like adventure and need a victorious outcome. Additionally, both the author and illustrator contribute detailed first hand experineces of the pass, having actually lived there.

The young girl Momo embarks on a life changing journey when her most prized poession was stolen; Pempa her dog from Lhasa. A lone traveler and trader steals Momo's precious friend while on route from the Jelep La pass of Tibet to Calcutta, India. The beauty in the story comes from the development of Momo's jouney; she sets off on the only pass which will lead her from the high mountains of Tibet all the way to Calcutta's coast. The danger, the perils will be worth it if she can get back her dog.

The author reveals Momo's strong character and her family's devoted faith as she navigates through the difficulties of the pass. Simultaneously, Rankin allows the natural beauty of the landscape and terrain to become appearant in Momo's appreciation of it. With outstanding illustrations and detailed descriptioins of the mountain pass, one can feel as if they were there; seeing and hearing the life it offers.

This would be a nice story to realoud just because it is a nice old story, written in 1948. As the story unfolds, the customs and traditions of two cultures will surface on occasion. It has all the elements of a classic story and the pace seems to be right for middle elementary students. Of course a lesson in georgraphy and some background history would help to authenticate this faraway place. If upper middle school students read this, it would be worth while to examine the British colonization of India and freedom they eventually found. ( )

With a well-defined conflict (the young 's dog is stolen), exotic but well-described and illustrated setting, and a decent plot, this is a good book to read. As many of the books set in unfamiliar times and places, learning a bit about the geography and history of the region will go a long way in increasing enjoyment of this book. The protagonist is a devoted Buddhist, and Buddhist theology is woven throughout. I would feel comfortable reading it aloud with children able to understand the difference between what they believe and what they find herein.