Himalayan Hideout
In this second of the Alex and James adventures the story begins with the boys and their parents imprisoned by Maoists in Nepal, in filthy conditions. As they are being moved to a remote hideout, the boys escape and, with their friend Bim, they try to follow their parents, hoping to free them. This is a journey fraught with danger not only from the angry Maoists but also from wild animals and hostile conditions. Wonderfully accurate black and while illustrations by Betty Levene bring the story (and the animals) to life for the reader.
Himalayan Heist
This book took me to a land I’ve never visited and brought it to life with exotic place names, animal names and descriptions, fabulous bird calls, and I was on the edge of my seat as they tackled challenge after challenge
Harville
Snowfed Waters
Running away from the failures of her marriage and career in England, and the constant criticism of her unsympathetic mother, Sonia flees to Nepal and finds herself in a country of breathtaking natural beauty, populated by crocodiles and snakes and a people who, from a European perspective, seem somehow to be, at the same time, both courteous and callous.
Told from the points of view of Sonia and people she encounters on her pilgrimage, the story rattles along through a landscape of delight and cultural misunderstandings to an earth shattering climax which leads Sonia to realise that she is not, after all, a failure.
Helen Culnane of Cambridge Writers
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