Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys : $b or, The Birch Bark Lodge

"Phil Bradley's Mountain Boys: or The Birch Bark Lodge" by Silas K. Boone is an early 20th-century adventure highlighting the bonds of friendship as four boys named Phil, Lub, Raymond, and Ethan set off on a camping expedition to Phil's mountain estate and the enigmatic Lake Surprise in the Adirondacks. Rich with excitement and the wonders of nature, the book opens with the friends struggling through a demanding trek with all of their gear. Their playful jokes, especially Lub's humorous complaining, makes the tone of the book light-hearted. As they near Lake Surprise, the encounter with a mother bobcat leads to some tension, and their escape displays their individual personalities. Finding old signs of people at their destination only adds to the excitement of their new outdoor adventures.