 |
 Lion Boy(Dial Books) By Zizou Corder Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Ever wanted to be able to really talk to animals? Or run off and join the circus? Charlie Ashanti does both in this rollicking adventure tale, the first in a trilogy. Charlie and his scientist parents, African father and English mother, live in a futuristic London, and the Ashantis have raised their son with a sensible combination of good values and an appreciation for quick thinking. When Charlie arrives home one afternoon to find the house deserted, he begins to fear the worst - his parents have been kidnapped. In short order, Charlie himself is taken prisoner by Rafi, a teenage hoodlum working his way up the ranks of the criminal hierarchy. Our quick-witted young hero is not a prisoner long, however, and with the help of the stray cats of London, sets off on a journey to find his parents. He finds himself aboard Major Thibaudet's Royal Floating Circus , a fantastic ship that has its own big top, along with a colorful and imaginative cast of characters. Charlie is assigned the role of Lionboy, assistant to the liontamer, and his secret ability to speak Cat serves him well. This, however, is just the beginning of his quest, and the adventures that follow. The drawings, maps, and even music that are included in the book are a wonderful addition to the narrative, and allow the reader to follow Charlie's travels and become familiar with the places he goes. "Zizou Corder" is the whimsical name chosen by a mother-daughter writing team, (Zizou being the name of the daughter's pet lizard), and Lionboy reflects this interesting combination of thought in its plot - from the everyday world of a London neighborhood to a regally appointed car on the Orient Express, and with characters that range from evil scientists to benign kings. But it is Charlie and his cats that we love most and cheer for throughout the tale. In true cliff-hanger fashion, the book ends with the words "To be continued," and the next word that will come into every reader's mind is "When?" Hurry and write quickly, please, Zizou Corder. We can't wait to be back in Charlie Ashanti's world.— Kay Morris
|