FIRST FEUD: Between the Mountain and the Sea
written by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Jim Sollers
Down East Books, 2003

Long ago, before people
lived in the North Land and
began their own fighting,
there was the first feud . . .

between the mountain and the sea.

Katahdin claimed,
“I am the greatest mountain,
the most beautiful place in the North Land.”
And, indeed, it was beautiful,
with its majestic icy-white peak
like diamonds stacked to the sky.

The Atlantic Ocean claimed,
“I am the most beautiful place in the North.”
And indeed, it was beautiful,
with its shimmery swells
like an endless sea of emeralds.

About the Book

In this original fable, Maine’s mighty mountain, Katahdin, and powerful ocean, the Atlantic, have the first feud in the North Land. Since they are miles apart and cannot see each other, they each try to prove their beauty to the other by using a bald eagle, a moose, and the wind as messengers. But each time, their attempts fail. For example, when the mountain breaks off a dazzling icicle from atop its peak for the eagle to carry and showcase to the Atlantic, the icicle melts along the journey, leaving only droplets of plain, ordinary water. Likewise, when the Atlantic gathers its brightest, boldest seashells and fashions it into a necklace for a moose to wear and show to the mountain, the moose steps on the necklace, leaving only crushed shells. As the two natural entities fight back and forth, their disagreement grows and grows into a war during which they unleash avalanches and hurricanes toward each other. Although they do not manage to reach each other with their fury, they destroy all the North Land between them. Then they both gasp as they are able to view each other across the barren lands for the first time. They stare in awe of the other’s beauty and realize their feud was a mistake, a misunderstanding. From that day on, the great mountain and the great ocean agree to work together for the good of the North Land.

Reviews

A Winter 2003/2004 Children's Book Sense 76 Pick! ". . . A great story with an even greater lesson -- that beauty is not a treasure to be hoarded, but a blessing to be shared." --Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME

Publisher's Weekly . . . From the team behind Moose, of Course! comes a fable explaining how the Pine Tree State came to be. The snowcapped mountain Katahdin and the Atlantic Ocean each claim to be the most beautiful place in the North Land, and each sets out to prove its supremacy, e.g., "the mountain broke off a dazzling icicle from atop its peak and sent it in the eagle's talons back to the sea." Mishaps (the icicle melts en route, a necklace of shells gets crushed under a moose's hooves) result in misunderstandings, and so begins an all-out war. Maine author Plourde's (Snow Day) tale has the confident overtones of a Native American legend as Sollers's vibrant paintings personify the two rivals. Large, sweeping brushstrokes create the angular rocks that form the mountain's harsh facial features, while the ocean's emerald, foamy swells curl into menacing jaws and hands. At their angriest, each assumes an action-figure, cartoon-like countenance. When unleashing their separate furies destroys the land between them (Maine), mountain and sea finally can see each other's grandeur and vow to work together to heal the devastation. While this tale is likeliest to have regional appeal, the message that miscommunication can breed conflict, and that communication can restore harmony, has universal application.

Bangor Daily News . . . With the publication of "The First Feud: Between the Mountain and the Sea," Lynn Plourde joins the ranks of Maine's prolific children's authors . . . "The First Feud," by the author for whom "words are like toys," indeed has a high lyrical tone driven by playful alliterations, and will make for pleasurable reading aloud at bedtime, or at book time in the classes, or on a drive where you see the mountains and sea for yourself . . Not only does the book "sound ancient," but the blocky, dynamic, green-and-blue-dominated pictures of storms and waves are striking.

Honors

American Bookseller's Association Winter 2003/2004 Children's Booksense List

2004/05 Kennebec Valley Book Award List

Learning Activities

· Katahdin means “greatest mountain” in the Penobscot language. It is Maine’s tallest mountain at 5200+ feet, and it is the location where the Appalachian Trail ends. Learn more facts about Katahdin and create a trivia game with the information you learn—feel free to make it a Maine nature trivia game and add information about other natural sites in Maine too. One great place to learn more about Katahdin is the 2002 film by Huey called Wilderness and Spirit: A Mountain Called Katahdin. Visit www.filmsbyhuey.com to learn more about this wonderful film which captures the beauty, magic, and mystique of Katahdin.

· First Feud tells of a fight/war between a mountain and an ocean. Imagine an interaction between two other natural entities. Think of things in nature that are near you—in your backyard, in your town square or park, in your county or region of your state, etc. You might have an interaction between an old tree and a new sapling, between a river and a waterfall, between a beach and a lake, between a wildflower and a field, etc. Think of a problem that the two natural things could have (e.g. being jealous of the other, wanting to share, fighting pollution). Then write a story and/or draw illustrations about the interaction between the two natural entities.

· First Feud refers to the North Land and its beauty. Author Lynn Plourde wrote this story in part to honor her home state of Maine and its natural beauty. Write a love letter to your favorite place (your town, state, favorite vacation spot, whatever), and tell your chosen place why it is so special to you.

· First Feud tells about a war between a mountain and an ocean. Discuss war in relation to his book and the world. Do you think that Katahdin and the Atlantic meant to start a war? Were they justified in taking violent actions? The book says that the war started over a misunderstanding. What was the misunderstanding and how could it have been avoided? Do you think most conflicts/arguments/wars start over misunderstandings? Why or why not? Do you think it is possible to avoid war? Do you think that war is necessary in some circumstances? Why or why not?

Story Behind the Story

The First Feud: Between the Mountain and the Sea was a VERY different book for me to write; it’s the first time I’ve written a fable. I’m not quite sure where the idea came from nor why the story seemed to “demand” to be written as a fable, but I’m so pleased that it turned out the way it did. Having always lived in the “in-between lands” of the North Land (Maine), I feel truly blessed to live in a state where I can travel an hour or two in one direction to visit Maine’s coast or an hour or two in the other direction to visit the mountains of Maine. Both places are truly beautiful and magical in their own way—I would NOT want to be a judge in a beauty pageant between the two!

As the world seems to deal with more and more disagreements, conflicts, and wars, I was also pleased to write a story that could be used with children as a springboard to discussing conflict and war. Such discussions could start with the book’s feud; then to fights between siblings, friends, and schoolmates; and end with discussions about larger conflicts between groups and countries. I don’t presume for a second that this book can provide answers to these difficult issues, but hopefully it can provide a beginning point for discussions and asking questions.

My own personal experiences with Katahdin and the Atlantic have been varied. I have visited Maine beaches—swimming and wading in the chilly, salty water; collecting shells and driftwood; walking along the rocks; picnicking on the sand; moving in and out to chase or hide from the ever-changing tide. I have gone deep sea fishing and sailed on a schooner (without getting seasick). The Atlantic is mesmerizing to me—as if it is truly alive with its own moods and powerful personality. I have stared at Mt. Katahdin many times from a distance—in awe of the way it bursts from the surrounding landscape like a king regally watching over its subjects (the forests and fields) below. I climbed Katahdin once—in the early 1980’s with a school mate, Steve Kahl. The climb was very difficult with huge boulders to climb over, but it was also exhilarating and gave me a proud feeling of accomplishment. I dream of enjoying the beauty of both mountain and ocean more in the future—with another hike up Katahdin (using an easier trail the next time—but I still probably won’t dare to cross the “Knife’s Edge”) and a whale-watching trip on the Atlantic.

When I wrote First Feud, I had my doubts as to whether or not it would ever be published because it would be such a difficult book to illustrate. After all, how would one personify a mountain and an ocean (without making them seem too cartoony, corny)? Even though they were interested in the possibility of publishing First Feud, Down East Books’ staff also wondered whether they would or could find an illustrator who could create the right look for the book. They succeeded wonderfully with the selection of Jim Sollers. Jim had illustrated my 1999 book Moose, of Course! and had done a terrific job. But the style for the moose book and the feud book could not have been more different. I knew Jim was versatile since I’d seen many different styles he has used in creating book covers for adult and YA books, along with illustrating reference books and another picture book. Still I was “blown away” when I saw his illustrations for First Feud—they were perfect! He used acrylic paints and managed to capture a prehistoric, primitive, and Native American feel all rolled into one. I don’t know how he did it, but I’m glad he did because it works! Jim also had an active role in designing the book, including setting up the text in a non-block format and integrating it with the illustrations (such as the traveling moose page where moose prints wander across the page and so do the words).