The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary

This book grabs you from start to finish! The author has a gifted way of drawing you into the story and you actually feel like you are back in high-school. It is an endearing feel good story. The characters in the book reminded me of when I was a kid with my first crush and will have you rooting for them. I live in the PNW and will now be walking the woods with a different perspective looking and Listening for signs of Sasquatch. I really hope I don’t scare myself now! This is a great read and leaves you with a smile on your face and wanting more. I can’t wait for Jake , Jasmine and Lanny’s next adventure!

Twelve-year-old Jake Nelson has just moved with his single mother to Washington state from their home in Orlando, Florida. They have moved in with his grandfather and Jake has to start at a new school, where he has a bad encounter with a bully right off the bat. Jake struggles to make friends other than third grader Lanny on his bus, a precocious and nosy kid who is bent on helping Jake with his (private) hobby of Sasquatch hunting. Soon Lanny refers a very popular girl to Jake because she believes she has seen something mysterious in the woods. The three team up to try to discover what is lurking in their local park while Jake also struggles with a mystery of his own regarding the father he has never known.I was interested in this book because, like the author, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (Washington State, in fact) and I love a good cryptid story. The author accurately portrays the woods and weather of the area, and I can imagine being in the evergreen-scented, damp woods along the coast. I was a little thrown off when I read the description of the book because it mentioned illustrations, giving me the impression the story would feature a lot of pictures. In fact it does not, just on the cover and silhouette images of branches at the start of each chapter. The story itself is an emotional story of fitting in, looking for family, and believing in something few others do. I recommend this book for upper elementary-aged readers, especially boys because they could relate to Jake and the ups and downs of adolescence.

A fun, wonderful story set in the atmospheric Pacific Northwest. Perfect for young adventurers or for parents-children book club.

I loved this book, and it had me invested in the mystery from the first chapter. I loved Jasmine, Jake and Lanny’s friendship and the dynamic of the S.H.O.W throughout the book! It was interesting to see a popular girl from school talk to and eventually become friends with the new kid in town. It was also cool to see how Jake takes his grandfather’s interest in Bigfoot to the next level. My favorite part was the ending, but I won’t give away anything. I can’t wait for more!-AT, age 12

This was great book! Highly recommended and I hope that the writer will produce more books Sasquatch related.