A review by hickorynut
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A beautiful story about an adolescent girl's journey after her family loses everything in the Great Depression and must start over with nothing in the wilderness of a mountain. Her father is injured and rendered comatose and Ellie, her mother, and siblings are left to figure out how to survive on their own. Ellie becomes drawn to the wild off the mountain, respecting nature and learning of natural medicine. She eventually finds her way to Cate, an elderly woman who lives deep within the woods, as well as a boy named Larkin. 

There is a strong focus on Ellie trying everything in her power to awaken her father, getting her ideas from the wild off the mountain. She learns more about healing and medicine from Cate, and eventually her two worlds collide in a tangled way. There was much grief, hope, and resilience, and Ellie's bravery and beautiful mind were lovely to read.