When Rennie's dad, the Major, goes overseas on assignment, he enlists his mother-in-law to babysit Rennie. Babysit! A guy who's about to turn fifteen! But Grandma is no surrogate drill sergeant. She has fun on her mind. That means ditching school and heading to avalanche country for a surprise ski trip. Nothing can ruin Rennie's vacation, not the lodge owner, who turns out to be Grandma's geriatric long-ago boyfriend, not the annoying backcountry guide or the crooked park ranger or the pushy businessman from Mumbai, not even the explosions. And definitely not the most beautiful girl in the world, whom he meets while stumbling onto a murder plot.
In this hair-raising prequel to Close to the Heel and From the Dead, the loyal, smart and observant Rennie heads to avalanche country.
In this hair-raising prequel to Close to the Heel and From the Dead, the loyal, smart and observant Rennie heads to avalanche country.
"Strengths here are fast-paced storytelling, attention to setting and skiing details, and the leisurely pace at which the author reveals clues and red herrings...Recommended."
– CM Magazine
"Rennie typifies the growing, always hungry young teen, grounded in the present with little thought to the future…Secondary characters Derek, Rod, Raj and Chuck are artfully drawn—their characters clear in their words and actions. Annie is a powerful, strong young woman with clear goals who challenges traditional Indian values…Ski and avalanche scenes are believable and thrilling. Dialogue flows naturally and moves the action along as Rennie's inner voice reveals his feelings, questions and beliefs. The theme of honour killings will intrigue both boys and girls while all readers will sympathize with Rennie's grief and admire his courage."
– Resource Links
Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award (MYRCA) | 2018 | Nominated
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens | 2017 | Commended
