
Paris is on a trek in the Himalayas with her uncle and her uncle's friends. On the way they come across a young Tibetan monk, Tahr, who reluctantly joins their party as his protector has died in an accident. As the trek progresses, Paris realizes the true reason for the journey - her uncle and his friends are a strange, gourmet dining club, dedicated to hunting down and eating the rarest possible animals. So when they discover a young yeti-like creature, who is very nearly human herself, Tahr convinces Paris that they have a duty to protect her, come what may. Dramatically told in a lyrical style by Philip Gross, a well-known poet for both adults and children.
Paris discovers that her uncle’s Himalayan expedition is a front for a clandestine group of hunters seeking to consume the world's rarest creatures. Paris, a young traveler, finds herself caught between loyalty to her family and the moral imperative to protect a vulnerable, yeti-like being discovered in the mountains. Alongside Tahr, a young Tibetan monk, she must navigate the treacherous terrain and the lethal intentions of the adults in her party. The narrative unfolds through a lyrical lens, emphasizing the stark contrast between the beauty of the landscape and the cruelty of the hunters' objective.
Readers frequently highlight the author's background as a poet, noting that the prose elevates the narrative beyond a standard adventure story. Discussion often centers on the unsettling nature of the antagonists and the moral weight placed on the young protagonists. Critics appreciate the balance between the physical challenges of the trek and the internal development of Paris as she confronts her uncle's true character. The atmosphere is consistently described as evocative, effectively grounding the fantastical elements within a realistic, high-altitude setting. Many readers find the ethical questions posed by the plot to be the most memorable aspect of the reading experience.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2005-01-06
Publisher:
Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN-10:
0192753835
ISBN-13:
9780192753830
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