The small town of Strawberry Flats sits on a remote Alaska coast, peacefully left to itself—until controversial plans for a road and a bridge threaten to upend everything. Former trapper Salt d’Alene never thought he’d find himself in the midst of such a dispute, but he’ll do anything to provide the best care for his son Solomon, recently diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Eleven-year-old Kes Nash just wants her father—back from war in Afghanistan—to be normal again. And circling the perimeter of the town is a wolf, Silver, and his pack, quietly watching. Told from three alternating perspectives, On Heaven’s Hill is a vividly powerful story about rediscovering hope and finding new life in the aftermath of trauma. Filled with humor and compassion, it depicts the best of America, a place composed of wildness and kindness.

Having lived in Alaska as a child, I was intrigued by a book that explores the vast beauty of the region. It did not disappoint. Getting the perspective of Silver, the wolf was a new twist that I found interesting and fascinating . Very emotional story and the imagery was written in a beautiful way. The substance of the novel felt a little lost among these three different perspectives at times. I think this has "classics" vibe to it that moves slowly but determinedly. This book may not have been the right book at this time for me but it actually is a beautiful story that I would love to revisit in the cold of winter when a cozy book is called for.

This novel, set deep in rural Alaska, was both thought provoking and a compelling call to action. This book should be able to appeal to so many audiences, from high school students (ecology classes, etc.) to book clubs.

It has some beautiful community and found family themes. The beginning of the book has very little establishment of time passing or place (especially in Kes's viewpoint), and I believe that this was completely intentional. Kes's whole world has been upended after her father was sent to Afghanistan and shortly thereafter injured in an IED explosion. All she is trying to do is make it through until her dad "comes back". I would imagine also being disoriented in her situation. After their move to Alaska, Kes's father begins to make much stronger progress. Heacox is able to provide us beautiful and detailed visions of Alaska and the home that the community of veterans (envisioned and pioneered by Kes's Uncle Ty) have created. The author clearly has great respect for this last frontier and its people.

I will admit that this was not the novel I expected to read based on the title and cover, but in the best way. Some may be uncomfortable with the amount of religious references in the book, but they don't feel preachy. Salt is simply religious and trying to raise his family to be good people. They are not a family of Christian Nationalists, until the oldest, Abe, begins spending a little too much time with extreme right wing media, but we see Salt trying to fight this, to figure out how to help his son reject the close-mindedness that he has found. We also get very clear views into the author's political beliefs, which again some may be uncomfortable with, but this is a book about shady government deals and trying to destroy every little piece of nature left in the country.

I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed reading from Silver's (our wolf MC) perspective.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review which will be shared on my Goodreads closer to the publication date.

Hello. I was not able to finish this.

The story holds great promise, but ithere were so many character introduced in the first 10% of the book that it did not allow for the development of any of them and so I felt little affinity as a reader. - Papa, Uncle Ty, Salt, Kes, Uncle Charles, Rita, Kathy, Celia, Allison - the list goes on. In these first chapters, we jumped back and forth between characters, scenes and traumas so quickly that the 'story' did not progress.

I got 20% into the book at which point the story began to pick up, but the first chapters were hard work. I had no sense of progression story or characters, there was very little 'world building' or establishment of 'place''. I liked Salt as a character. Kes adds nothing so far to the story and the juxtaposition of an old wizened "Salt" with a young niece woman is hard to take work.

The story would be more engaging of the Kes and Salt stories were told as separate parts of the novel and then find away to bring them together.

Thanks,

MJ

I enjoyed this ambitious novel set in Alaska. The author tackled many controversial topics in her novel, climate change, treatment of veterans, cost of health care system, conservation of resources, yet was able to craft a realistic story without a preachy tone. The use of a beleaguered wolf as one of her narrators was a clever choice. This novel should appeal to a wide audience from young adults on. I could see a high school ecology class reading and discussing this novel. I could also see my adult book club, who are not young adults enjoying and discussing the many themes of this novel.

What an interesting book. Although it is fictional, I see a lot of what is written about actually happening in the world today. Heacox's writing makes me want to investigate living off the grid and embracing nature.

This author is clearly passionate about the environment and the state of America. Although a few times, I felt like I was being preached to, a lot of what he wrote resonated with me. The three POVs work really well, especially the one with Silver the wolf. The range of characters, the kindness and wisdom of many of them and their courage made this book especially enjoyable. The community of veterans that is created is beautiful to read about. Not knowing a lot about Alaska, it was great to read a book set there ( and I still have fond memories of Call of the Wild that I read as a kid). and to delve into the problems it faces. The young people in this book were also inspiring, especially Kew and ultimately Abe. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the state of the world. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy to read and give an honest review of.

I thought this book was well written and had great potential, however it’s religious undertones were too much for me and i ended up dnf-ing around 40% through.

I want to start with the positives: the characters and the setting. I am a sucker for nature stories which is why I picked this book up in the first place. There is something both romantic and daunting about the “deep wild”. The author painted a beautiful picture of Alaska and I often felt like I was there alongside the characters. If you’re looking for a nature story, this one is for you.

Additionally, I thought the POVs were very well done especially the POV of the wolves. Such a creative and well executed decision. There were moments where I honestly wished that the entire story was from Silver’s POV.

Now, for the reason I am dnf-ing; false advertising. I was expecting this story to be a survival thriller and it was….sort of. I was not dragged into this story the way I needed to be. I was also discombobulated by the religious messages and undertones. Now, I have nothing against religious books (I’m religious myself) but nowhere in the description of this book was there any mention of religion. I am so serious when I say it was a jump scare. I wish this element was mentioned in the bio because I likely would’ve saved some of my time. This is a personal preference and if you like random biblical references tossed in your face—more power to ya.

This book was beautifully written but did not hook me and its misleading categorization led me to anticipate a story did not exist.

2.5

On Heaven's Hill was a story about a young girl trying to save the world, a father trying to save his family and a wolf just trying to survive. These three characters are fighting against all the odds, desperately trying to make their way through this life. I do not want to give away too much but it was an interesting look into how, without knowing it, we affect everything and everyone we come into contact with, whether intentionally or not. It is about the responsibility we have, to ourselves, others, our world. This story focuses on tradition vs progress, conservation vs capitalism and how beliefs can be so blinding that we can no long connect with those around us.
So much happened within this novel that it was slightly overstimulating at times but the story connective tissue really solidified at the end. It was an eloquent and stratifying read. Very polarizing and combative at points that made the tone and themes uncomfortable, but this all had a purpose. Certain aspects seemed forced so that the desired ending would be achieved which skewed that believability of some of the characters, but that may have been just my take on the characters behaviours.
I really enjoyed this novel. 3.25 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC read of this novel. All of my opinions and thoughts are my own.

I received a free eBook of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kim Heacox's "On Heaven's Hill" is a captivating tale set in rural southeast Alaska, where three families, including a pack of wolves, intertwine in unexpected ways. The story revolves around Kes, a smart and environmentally conscious young girl; Salt, a former trapper grappling with his past actions; and Silver, a wolf who matures into a pack leader. Through skillful storytelling, Heacox seamlessly integrates themes of religion, politics, science, and environmental awareness. Amidst the backdrop of a controversial development project, Heacox's vivid descriptions transport readers to the Alaskan wilderness, immersing them in the sights and sounds of nature. The book's descriptive style and compelling narrative make it a compelling read, leaving readers eager to uncover the fate of these intertwined families.

Some books are page turners and some books are thought provoking. This book was both. Often after reading the storyline about the wolves, I would just close the book and relish the words. The human characters are well developed and I found myself caring about all of them. I wanted the best for all of them (except the politicians) and that was the page turning part. If I were younger I might want to move to Alaska.

Excellent tale x 3 as the story, which needs to be told comes to us from three different, and worthy perspectives. Educational, heart-warming, and frustrating at times, I enjoyed my time in Alaska.

This was at its core a heart warming story about community and found family. I loved the story told from the different perspectives and the setting in Alaska. I also liked it showier real estate developers as they are in that the will stop at nothing to get rich sacrificing people and the environment along the way ,

Told from three different perspectives, this book will take you through the struggles, heartache, and tenacity for the underdog. Follow the journey of Kes as she fights for those without a voice, for Salt as he journeys to find truth and for Silver as he bravely leads his family. This was a heart warming story about survival and the depths people will go to for their family.

"On Heavens Hill" is stunning and so relevant

Based in a small town in Alaska, it tells of how the area is threatened by unscrupulous developers and this results in the most unlikely people working together against the commomn enemy. A young girl who is passionate about protecting the eco-system as well as her father who has PTSD. A trapper who is desperate to provide medical treatment for one of his children, and is a risk of giving into the temptation of money from the developers, and more.

The use of a wolf is absolutely genius, the POV had me gripped

Kim Heacox is clearly very knowledgable about Alaska and its people. This is reflected in his outstanding ability to describe how very different characters feel about and are connected to the area. As a reader, I was captivated by Heacox's illustrative writing style, there is an exceptional empathy there

Thank you to Netgalley and the Turner Publishing Company for this incredible book of our times. My review is left voluntarily

Something I find really interesting about this book is the way is written so we have the tree perspectives in a very accesible way. The most enjoyable thing for me was the character development and that got me hooked in the book. I like to the ambiance around the Alaska comunity, is a solid 3.5 book for me

A lovely Tale from three very different and important perspectives. Very well written, characters are fun and memorable, I would love to see this become a television series.

This is a tale of change, a wonderfully written story about acceptance of others, passion for our natural environment, and it all ties together with remarkable viewpoints provided by a young, intelligent girl, a very conservative man, and an extremely intelligent wolf, with lots of amazing characters in between.

This is one I went into skeptical, but I came through it feeling like I gained a whole new family, a rekindled passion for Mother nature, and Brother wolf.

Starting off, not being familiar with wolves knowledge, I didn’t know where this book was taking me. The author did great in hooking me in with the characters and their stories. All species we have some sort of battle we must face and sometimes our stories intertwine for the good or bad. Really enjoyed this book and would recommend to other readers.

I thought it was an interesting approach to tell the story from 3 perspectives, particularly with one of them being a wolf. I think this worked well because it was able to tie in some interesting information from different viewpoints.
The story being focussed around the development of a road and bridge in a small Alaskan community is something that is very relatable to many since this is happening everywhere right now. The characters were well developed and each brought something to the story. I enjoyed this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and West Margin Press for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review.
“On Heaven’s Hill” is scheduled for publication in November 2024.
In Plato’s The Republic, circa 375 BC, the Greek philosopher first noted that art imitates life. More recently, Kim Heacox has followed that philosophy in his soon-to-be-released novel “On Heaven’s Hill.” Think environmental and nature issues, protests, people vs. government, and wounded war veterans, and you get the picture.
One of the problems, however, is that the picture gets a little too preachy in spots. But more on that later.
The narrative flows from three different perspectives. Salt D’Alene is a former wolf trapper now working in an auto repair shop in Strawberry Flats, Alaska, and struggling to support his wife and four sons – one of whom, Solomon, has been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. Medical bills are a huge concern.
The second voice belongs to 12-year-old Kes (short for Kestrel) Nash. Her father, Danny, was a successful singer/songwriter in a Texas-based band called Whoa Nellie until Grandpa (we never learn his actual name) convinced him to join the Texas National Guard for some extra money. He winds up getting sent to Afghanistan where he’s almost blown to bits and has both legs amputated below the knee. His older brother, Ty Nash, convinces the family to move to Alaska as part of Danny’s rehabilitation.
Lastly, Heacox offers us a unique perspective – that of Silver, a young wolf living in the wilds of Alaska, traversing the landscape with his family.
As you may have guessed, these three perspectives, or storylines, begin to intersect about midway through the book. Salt is secretly offered a lot of money by some government folks to track wolf movement as part of the state’s coalbed methane project. Kes and her friends get wind of the project and somehow mobilize hundreds of local residents and veterans from all over to form a resistance. Silver and his family begin to live in fear over the changing landscape.
And of course, everything comes to a head when the National Guard is brought in to quell the resistance.
The three narrative perspectives alternate nicely, and offer a pretty in-depth understanding of the main characters and related family members. Salt wants desperately to provide for his family. Kes wants to preserve the wildlife.
Heacox’s bias comes through periodically with references to the current Washington, D.C. administration, such as this president “watches a lot of television” and “thinks windmills (wind turbines) cause cancer.” And that’s okay. But toward the end there are lengthy diatribes characters launch into that sound more like candidate speeches than normal dialogue. The point of the story comes through naturally; the sermons are too over the top.
There are also some inconsistencies. I was left wondering how someone signing up with the Texas National Guard, which requires one weekend per month and one month per year of service, winds up in Afghanistan. And how a group of 12-year olds is able to marshal the forces of an entire community, and then some.
Still, “On Heaven’s Hill” is an interesting read that throws light on some of the polarizing and potentially explosive issues facing our country today. I would give it 3.5 out of 5 stars, but will round down to 3 rather than up due to too many inconsistencies that left me scratching my head.

This review will also be posted to my person book blog, Raised on Reading (raisedonreading.com) on Feb. 5, 2024.

Brilliantly written. Full of passion, love of wilderness, and love. I loved how the wolves were woven into the human story, and in this story the environment won.