Amazon Books for Kids and Teens Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Hard Shell Word FActory ISBN-10:  075994489X Pages: 100 Copyright: May, 2006 Can a girl from New York survive her trip to the Oregon wilderness and her encounters with bears, soap-opera stars, and the mysterious Bigfoot? When Gwynne is forced to leave New York City and all her summer plans for a personal makeover in order 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.       Excerpt I SLAMMED MY SPOON into my cereal bowl. "Why on earth do I have to go 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.

District Librarian
"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


YA Books Central
"…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....


Writers Unlimited
…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."