Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.
10/06/2014
In this fantasy-tinged historical novel from Gale (The Bully Book), young Marlin's legendary father, the adventurer Ronan Rackham, is also famous for his resort in British Guiana—a lavish zoo built on an ancient pyramid. The zoo boasts 87 species, feeding demonstrations, and grand gatherings (excerpts from the guest brochure appear throughout). Marlin, constantly bullied by his older brother and the resort workers, fears he'll always suffer pity and ridicule because of his stutter, which disappears when he speaks to animals. After a jaguar, which purportedly killed one of the natives employed by Marlin's father, is captured and brought to the zoo, the jaguar takes to Marlin, teaching him the gifts of healing and the language of the animals. These gifts help Marlin protect the animals as the zoo's precarious financial situation drives Ronan to commit desperate and cruel acts. Augmented by Nielson's gentle full-page illustrations, Gale's touching story addresses the importance of empathy for all living things as it examines the delicate relationship between humans and animals. Ages 8–12. Author's agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Aug.)
Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.” — Peter Lerangis, New York Times-bestselling author of The Seven Wonders and The 39 Clues series
“Being able to talk to animals would be my favorite superpower ever, and the Zoo at the Edge of the World would be my favorite place to use it.” — Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan
“As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and heart. Beautiful and fully absorbing.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Well-paced action, a complex-but not too complicated-plot, healthy doses of suspense, and a wild, well-developed cast of characters (human and animal) make this an enjoyable page-turner.” — School Library Journal
Being able to talk to animals would be my favorite superpower ever, and the Zoo at the Edge of the World would be my favorite place to use it.
07/01/2014
Gr 3–6—Marlin, the second son of the owner of the exotic Zoo at the Edge of the World in Guiana, struggles with stuttering. But communication isn't Marlin's biggest hurdle. Following the capture of a black jaguar that has been blamed for the recent death of a zoo employee, Marlin receives a lick from the jaguar that not only heals a flesh wound but also gives him the power to understand and speak to animals. When Marlin's father announces that guests of the zoo will have the chance to watch the jaguar battle three apes to the death, the boy makes a bold move to stop the fight, putting himself, his family, the zoo's guests, and the animals in danger. The aftermath reveals that Marlin's father had been keeping important facts secret about the zoo and the jaguar, and Marlin again finds himeself facing a high-stakes choice. Well-paced action, a complex—but not too complicated—plot, healthy doses of suspense, and a wild, well-developed cast of characters (human and animal) make this an enjoyable page-turner.—Amanda Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, Madison, WI
2014-07-29
The stuttering son of a famous explorer discovers a new ability that will change his life and his world forever. Marlin Rackham doesn't have an ordinary childhood. He works alongside his brother, Tim, and father, Ronan, in the family's exotic South American zoo, a zoo so renowned that rich and famous people from all over the world travel to visit the resort. But Marlin has a problem: He stutters. His stutter is so bad he can barely communicate with people. Many think he's mute. However, there is one group Marlin can talk to with no problem: the animals. And when his father brings a jaguar back from an expedition, the beast's mystical ways make it possible for the animals to talk back. As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale (The Bully Book, 2011) explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and heart. The book is firmly pro-animal, but the stance isn't overt or preachy. A secondary plot concerning Marlin's relationships with his father and brother is equally nuanced and powerful, making the book a formidable read on two fronts. The romantic setting and striking prose are icing on the cake, creating an intoxicatingly charming book. Beautiful and fully absorbing. (Fantasy . 8-12)