On Mountaintop Rock

by John McLay

$22.95

Once upon a time…the glee club’s summer ending musical was South Pacific, the name in lights at the Chaba Theatre was Randolph Scott and a certain blonde celebrity decorated the town of Jasper with her Hollywood flair.

On Mountaintop Rock is the tale of the two young adventurers, who spend the summer of 1954 reading Sherlock Holmes and trying to solve a local mystery of their own.  Edward is new to Jasper and becomes instant friends with the fiery young Jenny.  She’s the girl who will try anything.  She wants to spend everyday looking for an adventure and Edward is happy to tag along.  

The two adventurers’ summer fun includes frequent visits to the Chaba Theatre, a high flying adventure on top of Old Fort Point, and a banana split at the newly rebuilt Jasper Park Lodge that they will never forget. As the tale of the new friends blossoms, McLay introduces another unknown for the two adventurers to ponder.  

The addition of Jean, a friend of Jenny’s next door neighbours, generates suspense and mystery, especially in the minds of Jenny and Edward.  They are curious about Jean’s visit and do some detective work of their own.  Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, I presume.  

The tale is not solely a mystery and the comic relief given by the addition of minor characters and witty anecdotes is impressive.  

Keep an eye out for a hungry bear, a gum machine and a large trout that finds itself in an unusual body of water to name a few. Laughing out loud is encouraged!  

McLay’s narrative is beautifully written.  It creates stunning mountain imagery and mentions many famous Jasper landmarks, as well as some places you might have to go searching for. It provides the basics regarding our surrounding ‘stone giants’ for those not fortunate to see them everyday and for those who forget how privileged they are to live amongst them.

McLay’s story is for the adventurer in everyone. It is a brilliant addition to any teenager’s summer reading list and for any adult, a reminder of the good old days.  This is the first adventure for Jenny and Edward but not the last.  Stay tuned for McLay’s new tale of adventure in the Rockies, available in the upcoming year. But first, take a ride on this reading adventure, where your imagination soars through the pages anxiously awaiting the next tale of the young detectives.

The author, John McLay, is a former Jasper resident himself and this year he brought his storytelling (and the Grade 5 class at Jasper Elementary School) to the top of Old Fort Point, where he read to the class and the entire group flew kites in the spring sunshine.