Dakin is a 14-year-old girl who dreams of meeting a gargoyle, marrying a prince, and visiting the Farthest-Away Mountain, which no one has ever managed to do. One day she thinks she sees the mountain nod to her, so she takes that as a sign and sets out to do All the Things. Adventures ensue.

A middle grade fantasy that feels like a bedtime story a parent makes up as she goes along, in the sense that it seems a little hodgepodge with “and then…and then…” vibes. Which isn’t necessarily all that bad, although the writing could be a little less clunky. ( )

My friend Linds had this on her shelf and suggested I give it a try - being short and having time during our hang out I figured sure!

This is very much like the Gail Carson Levine fairy tale books - though this predates them by 20 years of course. A young girl with a very set dream, the will to make it happen and fearlessness to see it through. This would have been one of my favorites as a child if I had read it then.

I like that for Dakin it wasn't her being stubborn or arrogant, she had QUESTIONS and NOTIONS and didn't see why she shouldn't have the answers. Ok well only wanting to marry a prince was a bit arrogant, but plenty of folk want to marry royalty and princes do seem dashing from far away and in stories. ( )

How often does a book stand up to your childhood reading of it? Almost never. This one does. ( )

I just picked this up for a quick re-read. This was a book from elementary school that I read once and loved so much, the name stuck in my head and I was able to look it up years later. I loved fantasy as a child, and I think this book may be one of the reasons why.

Re-reading it, I can see why I loved it. Dakin is independent and adventurous, and the story has really vivid imagery. And I really like that the ending (view spoiler).

Definitely a keeper to read to my future hypothetical children. ( )

Fairy-tale with charm and not too much predictability. I read this with my 14 year old daughter and we both found it gentle yet engaging for us. ( )