Pleasure Reading High School/Middle School: The True Story Lost Trail Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness by Donn Fendler

Title: 

The True Story Lost Trail Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness

Bibliographic Information:

Fendler, D., Plourde, L., & Bishop, B. (2011). The true story: Lost trail: Nine days alone in the wilderness. Camden, ME : Down East Books.

Weekly Requirement:

Pleasure Reading High School/Middle School


Plot Description:

Lost Trail a graphic novel based on the true story of Donn Fendler, who at the age of twelve was lost on Maine’s Mount Katahdin in 1939. Fendler’s disappearance made the national news and was later made into a book. Fendler was on a family hike and became separated from his family during a storm. The separation happened because panicked and rather than staying put with his friend he attempted to return back down the mountain to find his father. He quickly realized he was lost and began to panic. For nine days he walked through the wilderness alone, battling the elements, hunger, and fatigue. He was found in Stacyville, Maine, and shortly after reunited with his family.

Quantitative Reading Level:

Flesch-Kincaid 89.9

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 5.2

Qualitative Reading Analysis:
The book is written in American English. It begins with Fendler as an old man remembering his experience and then flashes back to his nine days lost on the mountain. The non-linear sequence of the text adds complexity to the story and may require students to need additional support to understand the timeline. The book is organized in ten sections, one for each day he was lost and tenths one for when he was found and reunited with his family. The book includes real excerpts from the Bangor Daily News that follow the investigation for Fendler. The newspaper excerpts adds another presentation of information in the story, which adds to the story's complexity. There book is illustrated with black and white cartoons.

Content Area:

Reading Literature Grade 4 and 5

Maine Common Core Content Area Standard:

English Language Arts Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.7
Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.7
Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, poem).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.9
Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Curriculum Suggestion:

Since the original story Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler is a required reading for the fourth grade in the state of Maine Lost Trail is an excellent option for fourth graders who are reluctant readers or reading below grade level. Teachers can also do compare and contrasting lessons with the book by either comparing the graphic novel to the original story. It can also be compared with a story like Hatchet to compare and contrast the difference between fiction and non-fiction. Fendler also makes personal appearances at schools throughout Maine to discuss his experience, so a teacher could have students read the book and then create their own questions to ask Fendler when he visits. One of the things Fendler discusses is wilderness safety, so teachers could use the book and his lecture for a safety unit. Teachers can also have students read the book and then do a lesson on reading maps by downloading the map of Fendler's journey from http://donnfendler.com/.

Personal Thoughts:

I loved this book! My fourth grade teacher read us the book and I found it captivating, so I was thrilled to discover another version of the book that is more accessible to reluctant readers!