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Category: Young Adult Dream Realm Award Finalist: Best Cover Art
Description: When Gwynne is forced to leave New York City and all her summer plans for a personal makeover to visit her cousin Neeta in Oregon, she can't believe she's being sent to "the middle of nowhere." What's in Oregon anyway, besides trees and bears? And what's this about a monster called "Bigfoot?" Gwynne wonders how she'll ever survive her trip to the wilderness. It isn't long, however, before cousin Neeta wonders how the wilderness will survive Gwynne's visit! On a camping trip Gwynne gets lost, has an encounter with a bear, stumbles on the stars from her favorite soap opera, and adds to the legend of Bigfoot. But along the way, she learns to appreciate the magic and purpose of old-growth trees and the philosophy of leaving only footprints in the ancient forest. [Cover art by Dirk A. Wolf]
eBook Publisher: Hard Shell Word Factory, 2006
EPIC eBookstore Release Date: May 2006

3 Reader Ratings:

Great	Good	OK	Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [122 KB], ePub (EPUB) [188 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [92 KB], Portable Document Format (PDF) [822 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [99 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [154 KB], Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [156 KB], hiebook (KML) [326 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [220 KB], iSilo (PDB) [82 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [105 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [177 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [138 KB]
Words: 30186
Reading time: 86-120 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Portable Document Format (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"Ann Herrick delivers a story of culture clash, family interactions, wilderness adventure, and an environmental theme of protecting ancient forests, all with laugh-out-loud humor and characters you'll long remember."--Pat Engelking, District Librarian, Lowell School District, Lowell, Oregon

"...Ms. Herrick had me on the edge of my seat flipping the pages faster to see what happens to Gwynne. This story was so good, that I read it in one day. Which is pretty amazing, because when you are getting yelled at every fifteen seconds to help clean up, you have to find better hiding places each time. Pick up a copy of this story and remember, Walk Softly and Watch Out for Bigfoot or he just might get you."--Lydia Funneman, Writers Unlimited Reviewer

"Herrick's use of nature in 'Walk Softly And Watch Out For Bigfoot' as the active dynamic rationale for Gwynne's growth as a person is excellent. Writing is deft, clever, and just plain interesting.... Herrick presents a compelling account of family, and learning to think of others as well as self, culture shock, and outdoor adventure, all taking place within a framework of Cousin Neeta's determination for preservation of an endangered part of very old Oregon forest. Writing is accomplished all with chuckle-to-chortle humor and entertaining, credible characters. 'Walk Softly And Watch Out For Bigfoot' is a sure hit for the target audience of middle grades to high school readers. Good choice for the classroom pleasure reading shelf, the personal library and home school reading list."--Molly Martin, Scribes World

"...Ann Herrick creates the story of a young girl pulled between childhood and adolescence as well as the fast-[paced] life of the city and the expansive forests of Oregon. Most interesting, perhaps, is the use of nature in this story as the driving force behind Gwynne's growth as a person ... the writing is smooth and often witty..."--Joelle Charbonneau-Blanco, Wantz Upon a Time

"...when Gwynne learns to focus on others instead of herself, she ends up finding a treasure she never could have imagined. 'Walk Softly and Watch Out for Bigfoot' is a fun and quick read... Filled with plenty of humor, drama, and culture clashes, readers will also be surprised to find lots of facts about taking care of the environment. Recommended for readers 12 and up, especially those looking for a wilderness adventure."--Alyssa Feller, YA Books Central

I SLAMMED MY SPOON into my cereal bowl. "Why on earth do I have to go to Oregon?"

Mom ignored the clattering spoon. "What can I say, Gwynne? Your Aunt Elaine eloped. I couldn't very well tell my sister to postpone her first honeymoon so Dad and I could go on our second one."

"This is just great!" I put on my longest pout. "First I'm robbed of a trip to Europe. Now I'm being shipped off to Oregon. At least in Los Angeles I could've gone shopping with Aunt Elaine. I might've even gotten the autographs of the cast of Central Hospital! What can I do in Oregon? What's there?"

"Trees." Dad poured cream into his coffee. "A lot of trees."

"Big deal! There are trees in New York. Central Park is full of them. We even have one in our courtyard."

Mom leaned across the table and patted my hand. "Gwynne, I'm sorry about Los Angeles. I know you're disappointed. As for being 'robbed' of a trip to Europe… well, how many kids do you know who go on a honeymoon with their parents? Besides, we'll take you the next time."

"When?" I yanked my hand away from Mom's. "In five years when I'll be too old to enjoy it?"

Dad sighed. "You're only fourteen. I hardly think you'll be too old at the tender age of—"

My turn to sigh. "Dad. You just don't understand."

"We try to understand," said Mom in a tight voice. "I wish you'd do the same."

Guilt pricked at me. I knew Mom and Dad going to Paris for their twentieth anniversary was not a crime. But I felt left out.

Besides, how would I face the kids at school in the fall? A vacation in a dull place like Oregon would be bad for my image, lowly as it already was.

And there were other things to worry about. I chewed my lip. "What about all those bears out in Oregon?"

"I'm sure we'd hear if there were wild animals roaming the streets," said Mom. She brushed my bangs to the side, which I can't stand. It's such a patronizing gesture. Besides, they're my bangs. "You probably won't see anything more terrifying than a few deer."

I snorted. The horses in Central Park were enough to make me nervous.

Mom brought out her reassuring smile. I knew she'd try her everything-will-be-okay approach. "You'll have a good time in Oregon. You've always had fun with your cousin Neeta."

"But that was at Gramma's house in Indiana," I protested. "There was a great park and swimming pool in West Lafayette. Besides, I haven't seen Neeta since Gramma died. It's been three years! Maybe Neeta's changed."

"Well," said Dad, "I'm sure you'll still like—"

"And Aunt Madeline is such a bore!" I raised my voice. I didn't really like pointing out the obvious. But I was desperate. "All she does is knit. And Uncle Judd…" I rolled my eyes. "He's such a know-it-all. He spouts off constantly."

My parents were silent. I figured they would be. They couldn't deny what was true.

"Your Uncle Judd is a great guy in a lot of ways," Dad finally said. Then he grinned. "If I could put up with his 'spouting off' when we were growing up, you can put up with it for ten days."

"Your Aunt Madeline is nice, too," said Mom. Her right eyebrow rose and she did what all parents do when they knew their arguments were weak. They turned into dictators. "There's really no other choice but for you to go to Oregon. Our plans are set. We can't change them, even if we wanted to."

"Hmmph." I curled my lower lip and stared down at my fingernails, trying to exude misery from every pore.

"Don't whine and pout and make your aunt's and uncle's lives miserable, either," said Mom.

"I wouldn't do that," I said indignantly. "I'm not a baby!"

Mom and Dad looked at each other.

"Remember, it's only for ten days," Mom said. "After all, we wouldn't want to impose on your aunt and uncle any longer than that."

Translation: They wouldn't want to stick them with me any longer that that! I'd run out of arguments. "I guess going to Oregon will be okay," I said, even though I was sure it would be horrible. I knew it was what they wanted to hear.

"We want you to have a good time," said Mom, as if their wanting it would make it so.

"I know," I said. That seemed to satisfy everyone, so I excused myself and went to my room to pout in privacy.

I'd had my own plans before the second-honeymoon idea was sprung on me. I was tired of being a dreary Honor-Roll nobody who always sat next to the pencil sharpener. I needed a new image!

Copyright © 2006 Ann Herrick.