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Jennifer Trafton
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The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic Kindle Edition

by Jennifer Trafton (Author), Brett Helquist (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 283 ratings
Ten-year-old Persimmony Smudge lives a boring life on the Island in the Middle of Everything, but she longs for adventure. And she soon gets it when she overhears a life-altering secret and suddenly finds herself in the middle of an amazing journey. It turns out that Mount Majestic, the rising and falling mountain in the center of the island, is not really a mountain - it's the belly of a sleeping giant! It's up to Persimmony and her friend Worvil to convince the island's quarreling inhabitants that a giant is sleeping in their midst and must not be awakened. The question is, will she be able to do it?
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  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    194 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    930L
  6. Publisher
    Puffin Books
  7. Publication date
    December 2, 2010
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. ISBN-13
    978-1101445518
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Persimmony Smudge, 10, is leading a life as dull as her name on the Island at the Center of Everything. But one day she goes out to find another magic pot (having broken the first one) and soon finds herself in the midst of a dangerous adventure. Twelve-year-old King Lucas, who loves pepper, disdains his subjects, and has a talent for rudeness, sends Persimmony, along with Worvil the Worrier and Guafnoggle the Jester, to see if there’s really a sleeping giant under Mount Majestic and, if so, to make sure he is absolutely, positively not awakened. First-time novelist Trafton uses delicious descriptions and flight-of-fancy words to put Persimmony on the path of a hero’s journey, and the story is filled with characters who make an impression. If the book gets a bit long in places, Helquist’s pencil illustrations (though at times rather sketchlike) neatly break up the text. In this tale, which would lend itself well to reading aloud, Trafton offers a fresh take on a very familiar genre. Grades 3-6. --Ilene Cooper

Review

There's a funny, witty read ahead .... A good book for the family to read aloud. --Chicago Tribune

(Starred review) Trafton imbues her tale with a delightful sense of fun and fascinating, well-rounded characters - playful wordsmithing and flowing dialogue make this an excellent choice for bedtime read-aloud. --Publishers Weekly

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00466ILUU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin Books (December 2, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 283 ratings

About the author

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Jennifer Trafton

Jennifer Trafton

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JENNIFER TRAFTON is the author of THE RISE AND FALL OF MOUNT MAJESTIC, which was a nominee for Tennessee’s Volunteer State Book Award and the National Homeschool Book award. HENRY AND THE CHALK DRAGON arose from her lifelong love of art and her personal quest for the courage to be an artist. When she’s not writing or drawing, she teaches creative writing classes and workshops in a variety of schools, libraries, and homeschool groups, as well as online classes to kids around the world. She lives in a 150-year-old farmhouse in Nashville, Tennessee, along with her husband, an energetic border collie, a miniature rooster, an assortment of chickens and ducks, and a ghost who haunts the staircase

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
283 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book entertaining and well-suited for family reading, with a delightful story that's woven expertly into the narrative. The writing style is witty and hilarious, with paragraphs that customers want to read aloud, and they appreciate the creative characters and illustrations that complement the text perfectly. Customers praise the book's fanciful nature and brilliant pacing.

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29 customers mention "Enjoyment"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and well worth reading, noting that it appeals to both children and adults, making it a great family read.

"Such a goofy, fun, well-told story! We read this as a family (oldest is 15, youngest 5)...." Read more

"...that this novel has intricacy and depth that will be good to explore at a more leisurely pace...." Read more

"...Also, the narrator's fun and clever voice makes the story all the more enjoyable...." Read more

"...levity and wit of Lemony Snicket into a story less dolorous but equally rousing...." Read more

21 customers mention "Story quality"18 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, which is woven expertly into the narrative, with one customer noting it features magical creatures.

"Such a goofy, fun, well-told story! We read this as a family (oldest is 15, youngest 5)...." Read more

"...even after a quick first read, it is clear that this novel has intricacy and depth that will be good to explore at a more leisurely pace...." Read more

"...Also, the narrator's fun and clever voice makes the story all the more enjoyable...." Read more

"...I can't rate it highly enough. Engaging and entirely unique story (which seems to be a rarity these days) with strong, loveable characters and a..." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style of the book, describing it as witty and poetic, with one customer noting its twinkle-eyed prose.

"Such a goofy, fun, well-told story! We read this as a family (oldest is 15, youngest 5)...." Read more

"...Trafton's writing voice is vibrant. She brings the levity and wit of Lemony Snicket into a story less dolorous but equally rousing...." Read more

"...Almost poetic, this book begs to be read aloud...." Read more

"...Her writing is contemporary, but sparkles with an almost Victorian glamour that most contemporary authors can't touch...." Read more

11 customers mention "Language"10 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's language, with several noting it's an excellent read-aloud that includes paragraphs worth reading out loud, and one customer highlighting its extensive vocabulary and fun word combinations.

"...Trafton gives us sentences worth quoting every few pages, and paragraphs you will want to read out loud, even if you're not reading it to a child..." Read more

"...Also, the narrator's fun and clever voice makes the story all the more enjoyable...." Read more

"...Almost poetic, this book begs to be read aloud...." Read more

"...It's this balance of great language, interesting characters and cohesive plot that make Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic a worthy book for your 8-14..." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"8 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning the plucky heroine and another noting the kids loved the disgruntled heroine.

"...The characters, too, are well-drawn. They are flawed, yet heroic; they learn important lessons on their various quests for adventure, safety, beauty..." Read more

"...story (which seems to be a rarity these days) with strong, loveable characters and a plot as fun as it is unpredictable...." Read more

"...It's this balance of great language, interesting characters and cohesive plot that make Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic a worthy book for your 8-14..." Read more

"...So fresh & unique. However, character development was nearly non-existent, and none of the characters were very likeable, including the heroine...." Read more

7 customers mention "Creativity"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, describing it as fanciful and unique, with one customer noting how it sparkles with Victorian glamour.

"...Everything about its physical appearance is beautiful. The size, heft, illustrations, pages, make it a tactile delight...." Read more

"...I thought the concept & plot were great! So fresh & unique...." Read more

"...Her writing is contemporary, but sparkles with an almost Victorian glamour that most contemporary authors can't touch...." Read more

"...Her writing is so witty and fanciful, but with beautiful meaning. I am hoping she writes more. My daughter finished it in less than a week...." Read more

7 customers mention "Illustrations"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the illustrations in the book, noting that they are a perfect complement to the text, with one customer highlighting the wonderful pencil sketches.

"...The characters, too, are well-drawn...." Read more

"...very original and fresh...." Read more

"...The size, heft, illustrations, pages, make it a tactile delight. Five stars for the debut of a brilliant new children's author. Encore!" Read more

"...And loved to examine the excellent illustrations by Helquist whose great art I've enjoyed in Lemony Snicket books and Blue Balliet's Chasing Vermeer..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the pacing of the book.

"...Light. Strong. Perfect execution...." Read more

"This is a brilliant and creative book by a new author...." Read more

"Absolutely wonderful, in a class with Tolkien and Narnia!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Keryn Herbold
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read aloud
    Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Such a goofy, fun, well-told story! We read this as a family (oldest is 15, youngest 5). Although geared towards the younger age range, this book captivated all of us. My oldest guessed the plot almost immediately, but it didn’t stop her from begging for the next chapter. Lessons learned and laughs had.
    One person found this helpful
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  • LV Carlson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Reading... Again!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I got this book to read with my kids (ages 5 & 7) at bedtime. One chapter a day is our rule, but they talked me into two chapters of this book (not a hard sell), and even then I wasn't ready to quit, so I finished it after they went to sleep. I devoured it for the plot, which is delightful, exciting, and twisty. But even after a quick first read, it is clear that this novel has intricacy and depth that will be good to explore at a more leisurely pace.

    Mount Majestic is worth reading for the language alone. Trafton gives us sentences worth quoting every few pages, and paragraphs you will want to read out loud, even if you're not reading it to a child (not to mention her brilliant knack at transcribing English as spoken though a very bad head cold). The characters, too, are well-drawn. They are flawed, yet heroic; they learn important lessons on their various quests for adventure, safety, beauty, and pepper; but they never once preach.

    I look forward to finishing this book (again) with my children; they will get a lot out of it this year. But more than that, I look forward to reading it with them again next year, and the year after that, because this is the sort of book that will grow as they grow. Mount Majestic will linger in the imagination and bear many re-readings for years to come.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Oscar
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and clever story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I found that the premise of this story (resolving an island's social and political conflicts so as not to wake a sleeping giant under a mountain) very original and fresh. Also, the narrator's fun and clever voice makes the story all the more enjoyable. While some characters at times seem to act in silly ways not justified by prior character development, such things can be overlooked since this is a book meant for upper elementary students who would not notice or care. If the characters' action and development were tightened up, I would have given the book five stars. The creativity and voice carries it all the way up to a four. With that said, I look forward to reading this story to my son when he's old enough to understand.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Rebecca Reynolds
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Persimmony Smudge can't help but march to a different saxophone.. er... accordion... Well, you get the idea. To the rote and unimaginative, she's an odd little girl with the vexing inclinations of an explorer or even (gasp) an artist. Yet her unwillingness to conform to the mundane ultimately leads her on a grand journey of redemption.

    Trafton's writing voice is vibrant. She brings the levity and wit of Lemony Snicket into a story less dolorous but equally rousing. Her craftsmanship is creative and exquisite, so that I found myself rereading sentences so perfectly constructed, I wanted to shout.

    A Trafton reader will get the sense that a great deal of fun was had in the making of story. The chapter titles alone are worth the cost of the book, with gems such as: "CH 15: 'In Which It is Better to Be a Noble Worm than a Dead Frog (or Something Like That.)'" and "CH 9: 'In Which a Lyre Tells the Truth (Perhaps)'". While reading, I felt a bit like I was watching an Olympic athlete, fitted with years of hard practice, caught simply in the childlike bliss of a ten-point vault. Light. Strong. Perfect execution.

    As I read, I found myself soaking not only in the primary plot, but also in the underlying layers of truth beneath it. This book functions on multiple levels, ministering to the spirit as well as the mind, and an astute reader will glean something from every one of them.

    One last note. This is a book you'll want to buy in printed form (not an e-version). Everything about its physical appearance is beautiful. The size, heft, illustrations, pages, make it a tactile delight.

    Five stars for the debut of a brilliant new children's author. Encore!
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Henry Reese iii
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative... Poetic... Captivating...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    As a parent of two boys (10 and 12 years old) who LOVE to read, I was myself captivated by the way Ms. Trafton writes and wanted to share her writing with them. Almost poetic, this book begs to be read aloud. After reading the first chapter (posted online)aloud to my boys, we couldn't help but purchase a dozen for Christmas gifts and to finish reading this imaginative tale ourselves.

    As a lover of good children's books and a seeker of good options to feed my children's imaginations and senses of adventure, I love that Ms. Trafton injects the story with ettiquette, substance, humor and fun. As for the boys, they have written their thoughts after completing the book in a marathon reading session during the latest rains:

    "I like the way this book was written and I learned many new words, though I'm not sure they're real. I especially enjoyed how arrogant Ms. Trafton made the king."

    "I like the way Ms. Trafton captures the sense of adventure and how she makes up huge words like 'discumbersomebubbulating.' Being the youngest, and smallest in my family, I also like how the small characters are used to do big things."

    All in all, we give this book 10 stars and recommend it highly to anyone who appreciates children's literature. My hope is that Ms. Trafton will continue to write these smart yet fun tales that are exciting and healthy for our children to read.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • karis annette
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent condition
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my 12 year old daughter
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  • mama panda
    5.0 out of 5 stars A silly yet serious adventure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Read this book with my 6&8 year old and we enjoyed it very much. My girls love adventure stories and this modern story was an adventure indeed with lots of interesting characters with unusual names. We loved that the heroes were heroes despite them not being perfect! Anyone can aspire to be a hero after reading this book.
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