The Trap

Was a very interesting read

On one level, there is only one character in The Trap—Nature itself. Smaller forms emerge and then are absorbed back into it—people, animals, trees, landscape, weather. Albert Least-Weasel, an old man caught in his own animal trap, alone in the brutal Alaskan winter, seems to know and accept himself as a temporary expression of Nature, even as he exerts all of his strength and skill to mount a last resistance against it. Somehow, Smelcer makes readers always aware of this larger truth, even as he pulls us into the drama, the struggle to survive, of the smaller characters within it. The reader always has a sense of the great power of the Alaskan landscape, as it alternates between latent and aggressive. The prose is clear, crisp, and patient as the land it describes. Caught between the vast, wasting power of the land and the fierce, quick violence of hungry animals are the intensely beautiful and sorrowful emanations of the human heart – courage, dreams, songs, words, memories, love. It is a plaintive and deeply moving story.

This story reminds me of Jack London's books. It is so beautifully told, and the author obviously knows nature and survival in the cold much better than the vast majority of writers.This book is slow and quiet. There are not the exciting, drama-filled moments as in today's books. Some young people won't be attracted to it. But it is a great book, with an Accelerated Reader level of 6.2. There is no inappropriate language, which is a rare things these days in junior high books.Johnny's grandfather gets caught in his trap when he goes to check it, and it takes several days before Johnny goes to check on him because they know he could be on his way down. By then it is just about too late.

Too much Indian religion, otherwise good book.

This book is along the lines of works by Gary Paulsen...but I feel that it is written much better. I generally don't like nature/survival stories, but this novel kept my interest. You can't beat that cover either---what an image!