Kneeknock Rise

Reviewed by Claire Vath Natalie Babbitt's Kneeknock Rise was the recipient of a 1984 Newberry Award. Babbitt's classic tale centers around Instep, a small town at the foot of a mountain. The townspeople live in fear of the monster at the top of Kneeknock Rise, aptly named for the kneeknock birds upon which the monster, or Megrimum, feasts. Egan sets out to attend the Instep fair and stay with his relatives--Aunt Gertrude, Uncle Anson, cousin Ada and Anson's brother, Uncle Ott. The first night there, he's informed that Uncle Ott is missing. Panicked townspeople hang onions and wishbones over their doors to ward off the Megrimum. The day of the fair, Ada challenges Egan to climb the rise. Ready to face the unknown, he sets off. When Egan gets to the top, he learns the truth of the Megrimum and Uncle Ott's whereabouts. After reading this book, it's easy to see why Natalie Babbitt's books are classics. She easily crafts a suspenseful plot, her writing is solid and her imagination endless. Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star story for middle readers (age 10-14).

I am 40 now, but read this book when I was probably 7. I still remember it as one of my favorite books of childhood, and I was always a voracious reader as a child (I read less now due to the sad busy-ness of being an adult). The kids are saying that the book is predictable, but to me it was not. I was still of an age then where I believed that monsters were possible, and if all children believe that they are not, then I think we are living in an age where we are entirely too cynical. Part of the joy of childhood is believing in magic and spooky things - they're fun. If you approach this book certain that monsters don't exist (like an adult would) then sure, the ending is predictable. But if you're still experiencing the joy of childhood, then you might just find that this book is terrific.

I still have vivid memories of my 2nd grade teacher reading this book to the class 20 years ago. It's quite a thriller. What I liked best about it then was that it was a mystery/ghost story with a kid like me as the detective. Of course, it drove us all crazy when the teacher would quit reading for the day. We were constantly on the edges of our seats.

It is about a little boy named Egan, who goes to a town called Instep to visit some of his relatives. Instep is right along the side of a cliff called Kneeknock Rise. Up on top of the rise there is a creature known as the Megrimum. Nobody knows what the Megrimum is, but Egan finds out!!!