I am a special education teacher and LOVE to read this book with my 4th grade students. It is written as a high interest, low level chapter book. The chapter titles are detailed enough to have students make predictions about each chapter. They characters are developed nicely and the plot had plenty of rising action and climax. This book also lends itself to fiction story structure and plot mapping. The setting is described well so that students can visualize the mountains. My kids loved the actual bear encounter. I've used this for many years in a row now and it's always a motivating favorite. I highly suggest it if you have an unmotivated reader, or a students who loves the outdoors and camping.