The Great Hibernation

Bought this as Tara and I are both Dartmouth College Alumnae. The intended recipient was a 12 year old girl, like the heroine, however, must confessed I read the book before giving it and really enjoyed it. Great for Middle School (and even their parents!!!). Planning to checkout Tara's other books.

I love how quickly how I sunk into the fantastical world of St. Polonius. I was rooting for Jean the whole time, and what a character to root for -- a very real (and sensible!) girl, trying to keep her head on her shoulders while her whole world flies off the deep end. But the thing I love most about this book is its quirky humor -- not just with funny lines, but with one hilarious set-up after the other. And, of course, I don't want to give away the ending, but it was all kinds of satisfying.

My son and I love this book so much that I keep coming back here to order more copies to give as gifts! With great characters, humor, mystery, AND a pet sheep, THE GREAT HIBERNATION has a wide appeal! I also love that there is a great mix of both female and male characters! There's a something for every middle grade reader!

I continue to buy this book for my grandchildren and their friends but I also loved reading it. Tara has done a great job writing a fun book that will appeal to all ages. I strongly recommend this captivating tale which at times, from an adult's perspective, is laugh out loud funny.

I absolutely love this funny and smart page turner, great for ages 9-12.

A delightfully captivating story that my grandson enjoyed reading . Highly recommend this for readers who seek adventurous opportunities to explore .

Good book for pre-teens...he loved it...

Author Tara Dairman (All Four Stars series) has released another great book!In The Great Hibernation, (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Kids, September 12, 2017) all the parents and teens in the town of St. Polonius fall fast asleep in a mysterious state of hibernation, and science-minded Jean Huddy can’t help but wonder if there’s a strange illness…or worse, a curse—a curse that Jean has brought upon the town.With parents and teens out for the count, Magnus, the son of the Mayor, proclaims the town charter requires the children of St. Polonius must take over their parents’ jobs, especially since St. Polonius is remotely located on a fjord and a blizzard has hit thereby preventing access to help. Naturally, the twelve and under crowd step up and start running things.Almost everyone is excited: The daughter of the librarian wants to throw out the Dewey Decimal system and file books by color; Axel Gorson, who is only eight, now drives the snowplow; and six-year-old Annemarie Hammerstein (the daughter of the local doctor) starts practicing stitches on her dollies! But it’s not all fun and games, because Magnus the Mayor is ready to run things with a Mafia-esque iron fist.Jean, her brother Micah, and a sheep named Rambo lead this story in adventure and hilarity, but also woven in are a handful of beautiful yet subtle devices in which this story deals with cultural differences and prejudices. For example, after a horrible kitchen incident where Jean doesn’t know what to do or how to act, Isara, the now proprietor of the restaurant whose family moved to St. Polonius from Thailand, comes to rescue. He offers a kind hand and says he knows what it’s like to, “be in a place where nothing makes sense. Were you don't know the rules. Sometimes, you need someone to show you the way.”The Great Hibernation delivers page-turning doses of intrigue, adventure, and humor with one fun-filled complication after another, a truly can’t-put-downable book!