"He put the rest of the berries on a large leaf, handed them to Mark, and moved back toward the bushes."
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Our Bigfoot Family by Richard S. Berlanga Trafford Publishing
book review by Cynthia Collins
Mark, a 12-year-old Boy Scout, is camping in the woods with his parents. He has always had an interest in nature and animals, and particularly in the stories he's heard about Bigfoot. He follows a butterfly deeper into the forest and realizes that he can't find his way back to camp. He is jumped by a wolf and blacks out. When he opens his eyes, he discovers that he's been carried to safety by Bigfoot who gives him berries to eat. Shortly after his disappearance, the sheriff finds a cloth that has blood stains on it. Tests confirm it was Mark's so the sheriff and the boy's parents think he's been the victim of foul play. They can never find him and eventually call off the search.
Soon, Mark meets other members of the Bigfoot family. He ends up living away from civilization with Mom and Dad Bigfoot for eight years. When a small plane crashes, he helps Rita, a young female passenger, to safety and discovers she is the daughter of the state governor. The two fall in love and combine their love of nature to protect the environment and reconnect with their families.
This is a middle-grade book written for boys who love to explore the outdoors. It focuses on the Mark's experience living among a bigfoot family as he learns about surviving off of berries, plants and wild animals. The story is a plea for saving the environment and preventing the construction of a big recreation area. The author portrays Mark and Rita as calmly accepting that they are living in the woods. There isn't much of an adjustment period. When they return to civilization, they don't have to get used to the newer technology and don't question what's been going on in the world or at home. The overall theme of the book, though, is about protecting the environment and appreciating nature. As a result, modern technology takes a step back.