When the Mountains Roared

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Poaching is the main theme and it's devastating effects on the environment. When Ruby discovers that the owners of the hotel are up to something, she enlists her new friend Paveen and her Grandmother to help her investigate, discovering more about her new home of India along the way. I do wish that we had learnt more about Ruby's home of Australia, as it wasn't mentioned that much. Nan’s afraid of flying so they board a cruise ship bound for India. Their tiring journey finally brings them to the bottom of the Himachal Pradesh and a haunted mountain. Life for the family is confronting, their new hotel needs a large amount of work, with the owners e involved in wildlife poaching. Ruby captures photos of the beautiful world around the hotel, she is an observer, listening to secret conversations and trailing her father’s employers. There are moments of fun and laughter, the colourful Holi festival, caring for Joey, watching Bollywood films, making friends with Praveen and dancing to Bollywood music with Dad and Nan. Another wonderful book from Jess Butterworth. I enjoyed running on the roof of the world but when the mountains roared was even more engaging.

Ruby is a determined, courageous young girl, not afraid to face danger to save the defenceless. She does have more spine and more confidence than her father, who actually felt like a really weak, naive character. Ruby is a strong-minded girl with a passion of photography and living things. Her life has been hard over the last few years, but she’s still open to the wonder and beauty of her new home. I loved how swiftly she took to the mountain and the respect she showed it. There are leopards, of course, but that particular drama doesn’t show up until quite late in the book. Instead there’s a baby kangaroo, a young monkey, hungry bears and resident spiders to deal with, not to mention some suspicious acting adults.There is a powerful message in this book about conservationism and protecting wildlife.; there are references to plastics and to respecting the earth. It is something that 12 year old Ruby is passionate about, and it was wonderful to see a young character who cared so much:

Users who like WHEN THE MOUNTAINS ROARED by Jess Butterworth, read by Rameet Rauli - Audiobook extract This is an atmospheric and enticing story that explores an important theme about preservation and it will appeal to readers in Years 4-6. The animals promised by the cover of When the Mountains Roared were a powerful motive for us to start reading and, from the kangaroos to a cute leopard cub, the scorpions to the goats, they didn’t disappoint. Both boys and girls were equally hooked by the story, and the fast-paced chapters kept everyone reading.Ruby’s new home in India is a run-down hotel up on Durga mountain. Her dad is the new hotel manager, and he’s supposed to fix everything and get the hotel in good working condition. It is so emotional because at the beginning Ruby’s mum and the mother kangaroo both die. I was worried it would be a sad book, but it wasn’t. I thought the whole story was adventurous and wonderful. But despite this new found love of the mountains she soon discovers a dark secret that it hides - poachers. These poachers are on the hunt for endangered leopards and will do anything to hide what they are up to.

If you know any young readers who love animals and adventures then they should enjoy this. The descriptions are beautiful, Ruby’s spirit is admirable (if slightly worrying at times) and the underlying messages of family, friendship and saving the planet are always worth reading. Jess’s descriptions of place are fantastic, and you easily lose yourself in Ruby’s world as you read. I didn’t want to leave. Initially, Ruby’s life in India is awful: the hotel they are living is is derelict and has no electricity. Ruby hates her room there and in an attempt to feel closer to her mother, she camps in her trusty tent on their first night there. Camping brings with it bad memories too:When the Mountains Roared teaches young readers about Tibetan and Indian culture. It also educates readers on animal protection and poaching, but that education feels like osmosis. Jess isn’t beating readers over the head with information, but rather, allowing children to learn the culture and the importance of animal protection slowly as the plot develops. This is fantastic for a children’s novel, because the last thing kids want is to feel like they’re *learning* when reading a fictional novel. It was very animal heavy and the main character has a lot of love for animals but the book didn’t really make me feel this. For example a missing dog is not cared about until it is important to the plot. Ruby is most definitely her grandmother’s granddaughter all over. It’s her grandmother’s curiosity, stubbornness and willpower that’s been instilled within her that really makes Ruby take charge of the situation that she finds herself living in and to try her utmost, with her grandmother’s help, to seek a resolution. Ruby must not only fight her fears but stand up for what she truly believes in even when it appears that most around her, including her nearest and dearest, don’t. The future of these animals rests on Ruby’s shoulders.