The Zoo at the Edge of the World: A Middle Grade Fantasy About a Boy Who Stutters and the Animal That Helps Him Find His Voice (Ages 8-12)
Product ID: 37683446
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From the author of The Bully Book comes a timeless story about a young boy, his father, and the world that comes between them, which New York Times –bestselling author Peter Lerangis called "magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart." Marlin is not slow, or mute; what he is is a stutterer, and that makes it impossible for him to convince people otherwise. What he is also is a Rackham: the younger son of the world-famous explorer Ronan Rackham, the owner and proprietor of the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort where the well-to-do from all over the globe can come to experience the last bit of the wild left at the end of the nineteenth century. In order to impress a powerful duke who comes to visit the zoo, Marlin's father ventures into the jungle and brings back a mysterious black jaguar, the only one in captivity. Everyone is terrified of it, including Marlin—until one night, when the jaguar confers upon him a powerful gift. Soon, Marlin finds himself with a difficult choice to make and, finally, something to say. If only he can figure out how to say it. A Magical Gift of Talking to Animals: When a mysterious jaguar grants Marlin the ability to speak to animals, he can finally express himself—but this new voice comes with a dangerous secret. A Complicated Father-Son Story: Marlin longs for the approval of his larger-than-life father, the famous explorer Ronan Rackham, but discovering his father’s dark side will force him to choose between family and what’s right. An Unforgettable Historical Adventure: Step back to the late nineteenth century in a richly imagined zoo deep in the wilds of British Guiana, where wonder and danger lurk behind every corner. A Coming-of-Age Mystery: As Marlin uncovers the truth about the jaguar, the zoo, and his own family, he must find the courage to speak up and become the hero he never thought he could be. Review: Love it! - I listened to this audiobook and it is a fun listen! A very enjoyable book and a unique story. Review: I loved it! Please publish a sequel! - I really enjoyed this book. It was captivating and suitable for teens and adults, which is hard to accomplish! I could see this becoming a series - I really want to know what happens after the end of this book! I know that Eric Kahn Gale has more of this story to tell, and I hope that HarperCollins gives him a chance to publish it.
| Best Sellers Rank | #835,308 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #537 in Children's Zoo Books (Books) #704 in Children's Books on Bullying #916 in Children's Books on Disabilities |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 84 Reviews |
B**B
Love it!
I listened to this audiobook and it is a fun listen! A very enjoyable book and a unique story.
K**E
I loved it! Please publish a sequel!
I really enjoyed this book. It was captivating and suitable for teens and adults, which is hard to accomplish! I could see this becoming a series - I really want to know what happens after the end of this book! I know that Eric Kahn Gale has more of this story to tell, and I hope that HarperCollins gives him a chance to publish it.
M**A
My son loved the book and he hates reading!
My son loved the book and he hates reading!
O**R
The Zoo at the Edge of the World
This was the first book I have read by this author and it was good enough to keep my attention to the end...but not what I was expecting from the title and the description. I would most likely pick up something else by this author and see if it would be more to my likes.
E**I
Five Stars
One of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommend for boys.
L**E
we know the author
will be giving as a gift
B**S
💕💕💕💕💕💕
It was very touching story. I gave this rating because it was full of Adventure and Trust. I would definitely read this book again. And I would definitely recommend this book!!!!📚📚📚
C**D
Classic Re-telling......
This little story had me rapidly flipping the pages, and I really didn’t want to put it down when I had to! Marlin stutters. He has an extraordinarily hard time moving words from his mouth when he is around humans. He lives in the jungle with his father, Ronan Rackham, and his brother, Tim, where they own and run a zoo/resort, with the help of the natives of the land. When Marlin talks to the animals, words come freely from his mouth. The moment a human comes in the picture, the words freeze. Tim is a bully. He especially gives Marlin a hard time, and with their father’s encouragement, compete with each other for a monkey paw. The one with the honor of holding the paw is the one who has gained favor in their father’s eyes at that given time. Thankfully, Marlin does have animal friends, especially his pet monkey, Kenji. He also meets a new girl, named Olivia, who gives much support through the story. At the ending, a little light bulb of recognition went off in my mind, and I had to smile. It made me love the book so much more. If this light bulb doesn’t go off for you, I imagine you’ll hate the ending. The Zoo at the Edge of the World, to me, seems to be a prequel, of sorts, to a classic in the children’s realm. (Honestly, I don't know if that's what the story is suppose to be, but it came off that way to me.) I adore re-tellings, and if I’d known, I’d have picked it up even sooner than I did. I won't give details, because that would ruin things for you, but this story IS a fantasy! From a parent’s viewpoint, there is plenty within this book to open discussion and thinking. From a child’s standpoint, there is plenty of action, adventure, and courage to keep them(and me) flipping the pages. I won’t hesitate to put this book on my boys’ bookshelf for a few years down the road! (perfect for girls, too, should you have any of those!) ;) In case you couldn't tell, I highly recommend The Zoo at the Edge of the World! I loved it. *Thanks to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for providing me with an e-ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
A**R
Love it!
I love this book! Couldn't put it down. It really makes you think about zoo's from the animals perspective.
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