Strength of the Mountains by Gregory O. Smith
Strength of the Mountains by Gregory O. Smith is book one in a three book series full of adventure and the need to survive. The story opens as Matt is sharing with his aunt and uncle an exciting desire and opportunity to go balloon camping - the type of camping in which a hot air balloon is used to get to a remote location for camping and at a set time, the balloonist will return to pick up the campers and their gear.
As fate would have it, the balloon suddenly takes off when only Matt and much of the gear in tow while the balloonist and Matt’s aunt, uncle, and cousins look on in dismay. Due to tempestuous weather, Matt ends up far from home in the mountains. It isn’t too long in his exploits before Matt realizes that civilization is further away than he thought.
The majority of the story centers around Matt’s need and struggle to survive and his happy findings of a home carved into a cliff that provides him shelter and some comforts. In preparations to begin a hike out of the mountains, Matt is delayed when a small airplane crashes into the nearby forest with two girls - Erica and Natalie. Erica the older has an injured ankle and requires much care before being able to leave the woods. In addition to her physical struggles, Erica is grumpy and often unsatisfied.
After various trials and set-backs, the three manage to utilize the old hot air balloon to get back to civilization, crash landing in a local town’s pool. The girls and Matt go their separate ways for a time, but Matt ultimately takes up the opportunity to work for Erica and Natalie’s father which leads to the development of a budding romance and marriage proposal between Matt and Erica.
Noteworthy quotes/mentions:
Matt is 22 years old at the start of the story and is graduating from junior college (1).
“Life in the city has changed us. We’re not programmed for a place like this, all alone without phones and cars and other people” (15).
Matt’s parents were killed in a car accident where he was the lone survivor.
At various points, Matt prays for health and safety. He also finds a Bible in the Cliff House that travels back to civilization with Erica. In addition, when Matt gets lost in a dark cave, he prays for God’s guidance.
On Sundays, Matt rests from work and reads the Bible he found in the Cliff House (53).
“I think… this is the most beautiful star-filled sky I’ve ever seen. It’s almost as if we could reach out and touch the throne of God” (102).
Matt uncovers gold bars, but nothing more is mentioned of it after he finds them. I’m curious if the gold bars will reappear in subsequent books (107).
On page 111, Erica is struggling with forgiving “Turkey Tom” for abandoning her and Natalie in the airplane.
Erica and Matt get engaged at the end of the novel with plans to return to the wilderness. Oddly, however, Erica does not know Matt’s last name.
Reminiscent of Hatchet, Strength of the Mountains is a good read for those who enjoy adventure and would greatly appeal to those who are struggling readers. Gregory O. Smith does a great job of keeping the action and the storyline moving without getting bogged down by additional details and musing that can often be a hindrance to readers who struggle to read and maintain their attention on their reading. Additionally, the influence of prayer and scripture on the attitudes of the characters is an important element to demonstrate the power of truth and God to renew and transform difficult circumstances.
