Madagascar Misadventure
This was a great story. Malagasy culture, customs and beliefs. Wildlife. Adventure. Humour throughout in the witty chit-chat among the children: Alex, his brother James and the daughter of a colleague of their parents, Claude. Issues of illegal exports of animals and illegal logging. Danger and threat from either people or the environment rear their heads and the children are involved in a great conspiracy and a fight for survival. The writing is wonderful, rich with description, and I can't recommend it enough for readers who enjoy a good adventure in a far-flung place and care about the environment and the protection of animals.
Mari Law
Lemurs of the Lost World
"Jane weaves a wonderful sense of place and people into this book."
Deanne Urmy, HMCO, Boston, Mass
Himalayan Hostages
This is a great read for pre-teens (or anyone young at heart) interested in Nepal, wildlife, or simply adventure! From run-ins with poachers and bears in the jungles of Bardiya, to struggling to survive in a mountain cave, to canoeing down the Karnali River, James and Alex (the protagonists) seem to find adventures wherever they go.
As an American journalist who grew up in Nepal myself, I loved the details in this book about wildlife, Nepali cultures, and politics / social problems. The book deals with a terrible time in Nepal's history - the Maoist civil war, when many ordinary people were stuck in the crossfire between rebels and the state security forces - without simplifying complex issues too much. The book's protagonists view the world from a unique vantage point as "Third Culture Kids." Wilson-Howarth, the author, shows her fondness for Nepal and Nepali people, and also demonstrates her lively imagination and story-telling ability!
Peter Gill