Falcon
Wild by Terry Lynn Johnson 176 pages
This is novel is the fourth work of
author Terry Lynn Johnson’s that I have read. Two were fiction and one was
nonfiction. I have enjoyed all four.
Johnson employ’s that old writer’s adage well: Write what you know.
Johnson lives in Ontario, Canada,
with her family and her eighteen sled dogs.
As she was researching the novel, she learned that falconers and mushers
both share the same passion for their sport.
I’ve always thought that falconry
was fascinating, so I was eager to embark on this adventure.
Karma and her brother Gavin are
homeschooled. They live in the Montana backcountry and help their parents
operate a raptor education center. Karma’s current goal is to obtain a falconer
apprentice license so she can work with her Aunt Amy.
Karma has been working with a
rescued falcon, Stark, that was left to die, but now the owner wants her back. Karma,
her dad, and Gavin are on their way to return the bird to its rightful owner
when they have to stop for gas. They encounter a juvenile-delinquent appearing
young man, Cooper, whom will have a strong role later in the story.
Back on the road, they take a short
cut, but several miles down the road, the van has an accident and flips over.
Karma’s dad’s legs are trapped. She and Gavin are shook up, but otherwise
unhurt. Stark has gotten loose. With no cell phone service, Karma must try to
get help. According to the GPS when they turned off the main highway, the
highway should be a few miles ahead.
Karma walks and walks, but finds no
highway. Eventually she runs into a complete dead end and Cooper turns up
again.
Cooper’s appearance on the scene
seems too in coincidental to be believable. Other than that, the story is good
as Karma and Coopers are “tested by mountain terrain, wild animals, severe
weather, injury, and their own waning hope.”
Falcon
Wild receives 4 out of 5 stars
in Julie’s world.
