Synopses & Reviews
"If you like Hank, you'll like Wilder Good, too."and#151;John R. Erickson, author of Hank the Cowdog
Meet 12-year-old Wilder Good, who lives with his parents and little sister, Molly, in a small town in southern Colorado. When he's lucky, he gets to go hunting with Gale Loving, a 72-year-old elder at the church the Goods attend, and a good friend and mentor to Wilder. They make sort of an odd pair, an old man and a boy, but they fit together pretty well in the outdoors. (Though sometimes Wilder still can't help but wonder what kind of a name "Gale" is for a grown man.)
Wilder plays basketball, is active in his 4-H club, likes to readand#151;his hero is Teddy Rooseveltand#151;and does all the things that seventh-graders do. (He has a "secret" girlfriend, too.) He's a Dallas Cowboys fan. But mostly he loves the outdoors, hunting in the Colorado Rockies with Gale or his dad, or at his grandfather's Texas ranch.
Wilder is on the threshold between being a kid and beginning to grow up, and he's trying his best to figure out just what it means to join that grownup world. There's a lot to learn, and he's grateful to have rock-steady Gale to guide him.
In The Elk Hunt, Wilder accompanies Gale into the mountains in search of his first elk. It's a special day for Wilder in many waysand#151;the biggest game he's ever hunted, and the first chance to use his grandfather's Winchester .270. He's determined to succeed with high marks.
Hunting elk is an exciting and demanding pursuit, but even after Wilder and Gale are headed home, there's still danger to faceand#151;that's when nature decides to really test Wilder's resolve.
S. J. Dahlstrom lives and writes in west Texas. He has numerous magazine credits for his writing and photography. The Adventures of Wilder Good is his first series. His writing draws on his experiences as a cowboy, husband, father, and founder of a boys' ranch.
Review
"Favorites of 2013"andmdash;Glenn Dromgoole of Texas Reads
"Among the best books for young boys I've seen in years. This is classic Americana, values and all. Make sure the boys in your family get in on the Wilder Good series."andmdash;Robert Pratt of Pratt on Texas
"The Elk Hunt is a book for young men's men."andmdash;Texas Home School Coalition
"Given the dearth of material on the topic and the readability of the text, this slim novel will be appreciated..."andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Through the mentoring of an old man, a boy develops strength and courage during an elk hunting trip in Colorado.
Synopsis
The Elk Hunt: The Adventure Begins (number one in The Adventures of Wilder Good series) is a book of fiction for young readers. Twelve-year-old Wilder Good goes on an elk hunt with his mentor in Colorado. The narrative is classic adventure story, in which an idealistic, modern ethos of hunting evolvesone in which hunting is not just harvesting a mature animal for food, but is a process for developing relationships with others and for becoming a stronger, more courageous individual.
As Wilder attempts to keep up, he seeks to prove himself a worthy companion to his older male mentor, Gale Loving. Gale takes Wilder on outdoor adventures because Wilder's mother is struggling with cancer and his father is occupied with her care.
The two characters live in rural Colorado. They drive to the San Juan Mountains for a one-day hunt for elk. During the hunt, Wilder is trusted with a rifle of his own. Both the narrative and the accompanying illustrations emphasize the importance of gun safety. During the hunt they have to face their fears and the limits of their strength as they deal with threats from fatigue, injury, and a wilderness predator. The story ends positively, and while The Elk Hunt is written with young readers in mind, readers of all ages will recognize and appreciate the characters and delight in the adventures of Wilder Good.
S. J. Dahlstrom is a writer in west Texas. In his writing he draws on his experiences as a cowboy, minister, husband, father, and boys ranch founder.
About the Author
S. J. Dahlstrom lives and writes in west Texas. He has numerous magazine credits for his writing and photography. The Adventures of Wilder Good is his first series. His writing draws on his experiences as a cowboy, husband, father, and founder of a boys' ranch.