https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLG5BH46/
Editorial Review For The Ghost Deer
Tater Thompson starts the story face down in the
Idaho dirt, tracking a huge white buck in the Sawtooth Mountains and trying not
to get stomped, stung, or caught by his dad. The early pages set him in central
Idaho in nineteen eighty seven, alone in thick brush as he follows deep hoof
prints from a strange deer that might be more legend than normal game. Then
real life hits harder than any antler. Back home Tater faces the Bogsley
brothers, a rough ranch, a worn house, and a bet that puts his old dog Bandit
on the line if he fails to bring home a buck. His grandpa Silas steps in with
quiet talks on being cornered, turning around, and choosing what to believe,
while the ghost deer looms in the background as both prize and test. The book
keeps circling themes of courage, family, and what it costs to keep your word
when trouble feels bigger than you.
The strongest part of The Ghost Deer is Tater
himself. He is not polished. He grumbles, makes a bad bargain with bullies, and
spends a lot of time second guessing himself. That makes him feel real. When he
argues with the Bogsley boys over the white buck and refuses to give up what he
has seen, the tension feels steady and personal. The scenes with Grandpa Silas
land well. His talk about being in a corner and needing to turn around gives
the story a clear moral spine without sounding like a lecture. The book also
leans on setting in a strong way. The mountains, the ranch, the dusty yard full
of junk, and the smell of cut hay all build a sense of place that sticks. The
black and white drawings of the mountains, the sagging farmhouse, and the eagle
over the chapter heading add to that feeling and give young readers a visual
pause right when the story shifts. And yes, you will probably want to shake
Tater a bit when he risks Bandit, which is a good sign that you care.
As part of The Sawtooth Legacy, this book clearly aims to
start a longer arc. The closing pages tease The Last Roundup and show
that the story of these brothers, this ranch world, and this strange buck will
keep going across several books. The bonus sample of the next book at the end
underlines that this is not a one and done story but part of a larger series
about Tater, the Bogsley brothers, and the Sawtooth country. Readers who enjoy
series that follow the same characters through new trouble will see that signal
right away.
This book will likely connect with readers who enjoy ranch
life, hunting trips, and outdoor challenges tied to family drama. The scenes of
Tater caring for animals, talking with his mom in the kitchen, and working
through his fear with Grandpa will speak to kids who live on farms or wish they
did. Young readers who have dealt with bullies will probably see parts of
themselves in Tater as he tries to walk past the Bogsley yard without ending up
in the dirt again. Adults who grew up on older boy and dog stories may enjoy
reading this one aloud, then stopping to grumble together over that reckless
bet about Bandit.
Overall, The Ghost Deer feels like the start of a
steady, grounded series about a boy trying to grow up without losing his best
friend or his sense of right and wrong. It mixes real stakes, a mysterious
animal, and quiet family wisdom in a way that should keep middle grade readers
turning pages. If you like mountains, mule deer, stubborn kids, and grandpas
who can outthink a problem from a porch bench, this is an easy yes.