Knee-Knock Rise facts for kids

Knee-Knock Rise is a cool children's book written by Natalie Babbitt. It came out in 1970 and was even given a special award called the Newbery Honor in 1971. This book tells a fun story, but it also makes you think about why people sometimes believe in things that aren't real.

What's the Story About?

The story takes place in a small, quiet village called Instep. A young boy named Egan visits his relatives there and plans to go to a fair. But the people of Instep are really scared of strange noises coming from a nearby mountain. They think a scary creature called the "Megrimum" lives up there. To keep it away, they use special charms and offerings. Nobody has ever dared to go up the mountain to find out what's really making the noise.

Egan's Big Adventure

Egan's cousin teases him about the mountain, which makes Egan curious. He decides to be brave and climb up the mountain to investigate the mysterious sounds himself.

When Egan finally reaches the top, he discovers the truth! There is no scary Megrimum. The noise actually comes from a boiling spring inside a cave. This spring makes echoing sounds, especially when it rains.

Telling the Truth

After his discovery, Egan faces a tough choice. Should he tell the villagers the truth, or let them keep believing in the Megrimum?

While Egan is still on the mountain, something goes wrong. His cousin Ada tells everyone in Instep that Egan went up the rise. Soon, the whole town starts looking for Egan.

Egan tries to explain to everyone in Instep that the Megrimum is not real. He tells them about the boiling spring. But the villagers don't believe him. They think he is lying.

Images for kids

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  First edition (published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux)