Himalayan Hideout
This book, not like many others, it starts by plunging you into an adventure, where you are instantly gripped. I really loved this book and read it in an afternoon. It is not the children being kidnapped, but the adults. The children set off on a long fun, challenging adventure encountering lots of different animals with beautiful descriptions and illustrations. You feel as if you could walk up to them and greet them with their full name. The different personalities of the children really bring the story alive. There are two boys, the younger one thinks mainly of food and the older one tries to be clever but fails desperately over time because the girl out-smarts his thinking with her knowledge of Nepali culture. I think everyone would enjoy this book, even if you don’t have a particular interest in different animals. By the end, you will have a knowledge of more than just foxes and badgers.
Toma, aged 12
Himalayan Heist
This book transported me to Nepal, with great excitement and a window into the world of Nepali wildlife! I recommend it to anyone looking to be inspired, or taken on a cross-cultural journey from the comfort of your home. I especially recommend the audiobook, as the voices and background sounds add so wonderfully to the context of the story. Thank you, Jane, for such a fun and inviting read and listen.
Grace
Madagascar Misadventure
Alex and James continue having adventures without their parents. It was fun to see the brothers continue to scrap between themselves. Jane obviously has a huge knowledge of this part of Madagascar and it shows with her wonderful descriptions of the fauna and flora. I can't help but wonder if she had been hit by deposits from animals and birds overhead from listening to her story. Great read, would highly recommend.
Frog
Himalayan Kidnap
The perfect blend of nature's beauty and also it's brutality. Fascinating adventure story interspersed with lots of fart and poo jokes which keeps the tenser moments lighter, Gorgeous jungle sound effects accompany the voice of the narrator/author, who does a great job of putting one in the mind of a teenage lad. I learned a lot about animals and fauna of the jungle which was a pleasant bonus. As for the storyline, even before you get to the pinnacle threat of humans, it's one hazard to the next along the way; from leopards to near-drowning, to ghosts and cave rescues. And even sunbathing with crocodiles!
Make-shift jungle medicine, Friends and foes. This book has it all! Really enjoyed going on the journey with the boys. Need to read the next one now...
Alys Bunce