Chasing Courage: Coming of Age in the Mongolian Steppe

by Karin Jensen

Overview

Take your family on a trip to Mongolia! Global nomad author Karin Jensen's third tale dives deeply into the rich traditions of Mongolian nomadic culture in this poignant coming-of-age story, where the danger is real and the stakes are high.

Experience the richness and depth of Mongolian herder culture through the eyes of 12 year old Nergui. Ride with him through the unforgiving Mongolian steppe on a perilous quest to find medical help for his father. With nothing but his horse and his wits, and drawing deeply from his nomadic roots, timid Nergui confronts treacherous terrain, mischievous sky spirits, predatory animals, and his own fears. As he races against time to save his father, Nergui discovers reserves of courage he never knew he had.

His individual rite of passage highlights the universal themes of family, responsibility, loyalty and growth. Will you join Nergui's heart-pounding race against time across the Mongolian plains?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781737483939
Publisher:	Readtodiscover
Publication date:	03/21/2024
Series:	Discover Remote Places
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.31(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

From the Arctic to the Amazon, I have circled the globe by ship, train, camel, and tuk-tuk, seeking stories that connect us. As a lifelong teacher and youth leader turned author (past member of the Geneva Writers' Group and the Kauai Writers' Conference, and currently Iowa's IWP), I immerse myself in diverse cultures, befriending locals and dramatizing their inspiring tales. I have slept in Mongolian gers, celebrated Holi in India, and traded English lessons for salsa dancing in Brazil.Conversant in 6 languages, I find a universal human spirit beneath surface differences. My middle grade series brings to life Indonesian Funeral Rites, the tribal culture of Vanuatu, and now a herder's life in Mongolia. I gifted the Vanuatu manuscript along with the NatGeo photographs to the local friend whose life I dramatized. He had the book printed in Port Vila and sold enough copies to finance two 1000 liter tanks for primary schools. I also sold several hundred copies through Amazon, where it held bestseller status for a time.

Editorial Reviews

This is lovely, truly special. It is a touching story that not only informs young readers about a different culture but connects them to universal concerns: safety of family and loved ones, desire to please parents, fear of a challenge and disappointment/tragedy and how to deal with all of these. Well done. Linda Moore, Author of Attribution: A Novel

I enjoyed this so much. The details are wonderful. I feel as if I've participated in the life of this child. Introducing the superstitions is so respectful. Each adventure is related to what children really experience, whatever the world they live in - adventure, challenge, disappointment, finding courage, the fear of losing a parent, loss of a sibling - so tenderly introduced and so wisely understated. You don't ask the reader to carry Nergui's grief, so young readers are safe. What's more, you show how he carries it bravely himself. You give the model without ever preaching, and that's an art. Joy Manne, Ph.D, Author of Family Constellations, A Practical Guide

Nergui's character is beautifully drawn and feels very real. The story kept my attention from start to finish. I very much liked the unhurried rhythm of the piece. At times I felt like I was riding along the steppe with Nergui and his granddad. This is a beautiful text, written with a lot of respect and thought. I love the concept of a book series like that- as a 10 year old child I would have devoured this sort of thing.

Anita Lehman, author of The Geneva Chronicles: An Illustrated History

From the Publisher