Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - ADVISABLE

Kidder, Tracy  Mountains Beyond Mountains, 272 pgs.  Adapted by Michael French Delacorte Press, 2013.  $16.99  Content: Language: PG (2 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

Dr. Farmer specializes in infectious diseases and has a soft spot for Haiti.  The author follows Dr. Farmer’s quest to bring the poverty stricken Haitians medical care.  As Farmer finds a good system for Haiti, he begins help further charity’s throughout the world.  This book covers some of Farmer’s childhood and school years, but focuses mainly on his work as a doctor.  

The glimpses of history in Haiti were fascinating and the dedication of one man to love and care for a part of the world that at times feels forgotten was moving.  I really loved the first 2/3 of the book and then felt like the last 1/3 got bogged down in all of the charity work and politics of charity work.  Although they were interesting aspects to what Dr. Farmer accomplished, I think young readers would get bored and lose interest.  Also, this book was adapted for young readers in 2013, but originally written in 2003 so there is a small update in the back of the book, but I felt like I wanted to know more of what happened recently.  There isn’t anything inappropriate for a middle school library, but I think it would hold high school kids’ interest better.  

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.