Knee-Knock Rise

I'm beginning to wonder if there exists a Natalie Babbitt book that I won't like. I picked up Kneeknock Rise at Goodwill for a nice little price after reading The Search for the Delicious and Tuck Everlasting (both linked to my review). I find Babbitt to be a deep thinker with a great deal of wit and have enjoyed the previous titles I've read. As she writes more towards middle grader readers, her books are extremely easy for adults to breeze through. It took me all of an hour to read Kneeknock Rise and the ending left a smile on my face just like her other stories have.

In this particular story we meet Egan, who is sent by his mother to visit his aunt and uncle in Instep. Instep is a small mountainous village which boasts being the home of a legendary monster, referred to as the Megrimum.

The people of Instep are very afraid of the Megrimum who lives at the top of the mountain. This creature comes down during storms and threatens the villagers who protect themselves with charms. Egan becomes determined to see if he can find and kill this Megrimum and upon reaching the top of the mountain he discovers there is a reasonable and natural explanation for what the villages hear and attribute to the monster.

Kneeknock Rise was published in 1970 and won the Newberry Honor Award in 1971. Just like in Babbitt's other books, it offers a philosophical discussion couched in a whimsical story. In this particular one, Babbitt is examining humanity's desire or need to believe in something supernatural. She poses the question of whether or not we humans want to hear and believe truth or if we feel an inheritant need to believe in something outside of ourselves. She ponders the power that myths and legends have over us and, as a Christian, it cannot be ignored that she is asking us whether we have developed an idea of a god just to satisfy an inner urger to believe in magic. (Also, for a deeper theological argument, this book dabbles in the idea of general verses specific revelation.)

Although this is a grade school book, it asks some deep questions. The story is not neatly resolved at the end either! The question about what truth is remains when the covers close. Like her other stories, this isn't one that easily fades into the background of life, quickly forgotten. It lingers a bit.

I find her books make curious book club choices because they are easy reads which ask tough questions, making them fun to discuss and think about. This title is no exception.

Of course, I can only speak to a few of her titles, but I recommend Kneeknock Rise along with the other I have read. Intriguing writing and story telling! I'll be looking forward to another of works when an opportunity presents itself!