The Great Timbers - by James A Kane (Hardcover)

About the Book

When poachers invade an idyllic Wyoming meadow to scout the perfect location to build a lucrative hunting lodge, the animals' lives are forever changed. WINNER: Best Fantasy Adventure - Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Pencraft Book Award for Book of the Year - Best Fantasy Adventure

Winner of the Winter 2024 Pencraft Book Award for Best Fantasy Adventure

When poachers invade an idyllic Wyoming meadow to scout the perfect location to build a lucrative hunting lodge, the animals' lives are forever changed. Marred by the harrowing intrusion, the grieving society of woodland creatures must summon the courage to unite, predators and prey alike, to protect their majestic utopia from the rifle-toting men. Set in the scenic Rocky Mountains, The Great Timbers is a spellbinding story about friendship, loss, dignity, loyalty and war. It is an award-winning poignant piece of literary animal fiction in the spirit of the Richard Adams' classic Watership Down, George Orwell's The Animal Farm, or Johnathan Durham's Winterset Hollow. Full of heart, The Great Timbers is a captivating and timeless animal adventure in which the hunters have just become the hunted.

This is a clean-language fantasy containing no profanity, suitable for readers of most ages, beloved by middle grade readers and adults alike. This novel explores themes of found family, poaching, animal death, love, magical realism, and friendship. Note: Contains animal and human death.

Review Quotes

"The story offers a great cast of characters, wonderful dialogue, and detailed scenery. The author wastes no time forming an attachment between the reader and the characters. They all have such personality, and you can't help but share in their happiness and their sadness. Kane really created an atmospheric read. Everything about this book is stunning right down to the cover. The layout of this book is beautiful. Very impressive for a debut! I would definitely read more from Kane. If you love animal fiction and enjoy being absorbed in a wonderful read add this to your list." - Amazon reviewer

"Absolutely loved this book! I'm a big fan of books that are telling simple stories with much deeper themes, like Animal Farm and Watership Down and this book hits the bullseye.

Its an easy read (read it in one leisurely day) with fantastic characters and a palpable sense of tension and foreboding throughout. I will be revisiting sooner than later. Buying a copy for my 13 year old niece! Highly recommended!" - Amazon reviewer

"The Great Timbers is a beautiful read. It entertains and is an enlightening story that would be a great read in junior high or high school. Beyond the tree line emerges a beacon of such exceptional storytelling, a narrative that seamlessly intertwines adventure, environment, and the power of friendship. The characters are unique, each with a personality that will have you falling in love with wildlife and its inhabitants. Kudos to this author for leading the reader on an emotional roller coaster that resonates to the end and after the last page. Highly recommend." - Amazon reviewer

"Man what a story! From start to finish, this fictional tale of what could happen to poachers who don't follow the rules of compassion for animals. The author did a great job in creating a fictional story where wildlife and hunters clash when wildlife has had enough of humans desecrating them. It makes you wonder if wildlife can really talk and think to band together and fight back against the humans who have desecrated deer, elk, bears and other creatures of the forest for their own pleasure and trophy winnings. My hats off to you, Kane, for bringing out the voices of God's creatures to all the poachers everywhere. Great book!" - Amazon reviewer

"Any book involving animals will always be attractive to me. The premise of the book is very different than almost any book out there. Just in chapter one I could picture myself right in the scene. The dialogue was so realistic and the tone of the dialogue I could actually hear the voices speaking in my head. THATS good writing! I could imagine being among all the animals in the description of the Timbers. It was an amazing visual the author painted with the detailed scenery and actions of the animals. The fact that there is a little bit of animal cruelty in this book I think will make any animal lover want to read this... they would want to see the human get payback. The writer did a good job of luring me in from page one." - Amazon reviewer