Karen Bass is a multi-award-winning author of novels for young adult readers. Graffiti Knight won the CLA Young Adult Book Award, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, the R. Ross Annett Award for Children's Literature, and the CAA Exporting Alberta Award. A former library manager, Karen lives and writes in Hythe, Alberta.
The writing is descriptive and fast-paced, with an impending sense of dread overshadowing everything as the boys try to outrun and outwit the Wihtiko. A survival and buddy story with broad appeal for tweens and teens. School Library Journal The pace is relentless, the amply creepy threat is believable, and the setting is fully realized. There is enough Native American culture to add welcome flavor and depth... Suspenseful, fast-paced, and hard to put down. Kirkus Reviews There are many reasons why Jared and Kyle should never be friends: different backgrounds (affluent white urban single child vs Indigenous youngster living at a camp) and different values (fashion and coolness vs family bonding and respect for the elders). But since a plane crash left Jared stranded in the bush, he has to rely on Kyle's survival skills. The worst part: Jared's trusty mobile phone isn't any help. So he ignores Kyle's warnings and climbs a sacred hill to get reception. That infuriates Wihtiko, a terrifying monster from Cree legend. It will take more than bush wisdom to survive. Mutual respect is the only power that can save the teenagers. Award-winning author Karen Bass skillfully combines survival drama, mystery, thriller, and Cree mythology to craft a fast-paced fantasy novel well anchored in the real world. At once a gripping read and an ethnographic study, The Hill successfully transcends didacticism. The White Ravens catalogue The inclusion of the indigenous mythological characters is a brilliant addition, and creates truly frightening scenarios. But the best part of this book is the interplay between the two main characters. Jared is the spoiled city kid, and Kyle the tough outdoorsy one, but they are both so much more than the stereotypes would suggest. Resource Links Alberta-based Geoffrey Bilson Award-winning author Karen Bass draws on the Cree legend of the Wihtiko for her latest YA novel, which blends adventure, horror, and some good old-fashioned coming-of-age wisdom...The dynamic between the boys is the best part of the narrative, and will open many readers' eyes to the issues of race, class, and privilege Quill & Quire A plane crash launches a gripping story of survival and mystery in The Hill by Karen Bass. The award-winning author successfully weaves Cree mythology into the fast-paced adventure of two teens from vastly different worlds. Together, they learn that outwitting a creature from the spirit world is only possible with mutual respect -- Larry Loyie The blend of realism and mythology is a difficult mix to pull off, but Bass succeeds admirably. The Hill is an interesting and unique addition to the ever-expanding body of teenaged wilderness survival novels... the added elements of Cree traditional beliefs and cross-cultural tensions help Bass establish her own niche within this field. CM Magazine ...this Hatchet meets Lost tale is presented in a way that's suitable for the younger end of the YA spectrum. And, really, it's impossible to stop reading to see if anyone gets eaten. The Globe and Mail Through a fantastical, yet modern and timely tale, Bass shows how the power of circumstance can bond even the most stubborn with life-changing results. The National Reading Campaign Karen Bass has created a riveting novel that beautifully blends a fast-paced adventure with a wonderfully creepy horror story, using First Nations' mythology to tie the two stories together. Canadian Children's Book News There are some horror story qualities to this novel. Some of the Cree culture is explained, especially in terms of their beliefs about the spirit world and legends. This is an engaging adventure story about two boys on the verge of manhood. Recommended. School Library Connection ...a chilling tale of endurance in northern Alberta, blending a survival story with the supernatural of Cree legends. It's hauntingly gripping YA and I think it's her best story yet. CanLit for LittleCanadians Karen Bass anchors the fantasy element with such gritty, sore and smelly reality and such nail-biting terror that the reader has no choice but to be hooked. -- Marsha Forckuk Skrypuch The Hill was different from anything I've ever read. I loved that it was written by a Canadian author, set in Canada, and used a real Cree legend. I was also really happy to see a main character who was Native. Ramblings of a Daydreamer Bildungsroman abounds; Empathy is actualized; And Diversity is embraced. In addition to serving as an excellent choice for pleasure reading, English teachers may view The Hill as an outstanding candidate for class novel study. Lisa Brennan Another fabulous young adult book, The Hill was creepy - and kept me reading to the end. BookTime ...What could have been a run of the mill survival story is turned on its head when the two unknowingly enter another world inhabited by a Cree legend called a Wihtiko and it's hunting them. Kyle and Jared...face some facts about themselves and each other along the way. The excitement builds throughout the story and leaves the reader breathless. The inclusion of Cree language and legends makes this story even more substantial and worth reading. Youth Services Book Review
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