Friday, February 7, 2014

Review - Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard @Lars_Gu




Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard
Zoe & Zak Adventures #1
by Lars Guignard

Goodreads blurb:  Imagine you're totally lost in a strange city with no idea where you are and no way home.
Now imagine that elephants and snake charmers start telling you that you've been chosen to save the world.
Would you even believe them?
What would you do?

Zoe Guire isn't sure. Having that elephant talk to her was really weird, and, as a rule, Zoe doesn't do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.

And those are the least of Zoe's troubles. Because if she's to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen -- chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.

Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they're going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don't, the world will never be the same again.

Join Zoe and Zak as they journey high into the Himalayas to a place few have been and even fewer have returned to tell about it.

Live life beyond the edge.

Now available as an AUDIOBOOK.


About the Author:  Lars Guignard is a former film and television writer and graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His work can be seen on television screens across the globe in such cult classics as Beastmaster and Big Wolf on Campus. Lars's bestselling novel, Lethal Circuit, has been a TOP 100 Amazon Spy Thriller since its release. In addition to the Circuit series, Lars is the author of the children's adventure series, Ghost Leopard, and the paranormal mystery series, Brood. Ever since attending high school in the Indian Himalayas, Lars has been an avid backpacker and traveler. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest where he is busy completing the third Michael Chase thriller for release in 2013.

Connect with Lars:

My Thoughts - 4 out of 5 Unicorns - I really liked it!!


The cover is awesome and looks like Indian Jones kid style :)  It totally attracts people to the book :)

Okay, I picked this book up back in December, but I didn’t put it in my read soon pile until I signed up for the blog tour for book 3.  At the time, I didn’t even realize that I already owned book 1 & 2, I just hadn’t read them yet. 

This book is a great kid adventure in India.  I love that it puts tidbits about India mixed into the entire book, so kids won’t even realize they are learning a little along the way.  It is full of action, and kids getting into trouble both planned and unplanned. 

Zoe is a girl who isn’t real girly, and she is smart, strong, and loyal, but she has some issues with trying to figure out who she is because she is adopted and picked on by bullies a lot.  I love how the author puts these real life issues and comparisons into his book.  It will help kids think about others and things they have to deal with :)  She sort of gets thrown together with Zak because their parents work together.  Zoe starts out thinking he is annoying, but her mom told her to be nice because his family is going through a divorce.  Another great topic built into the story.  Zak sort of attracts trouble and drags Zoe along for the ride.  Along the way, they become really good friends, and she sees past his annoying behaviors that are due to his own insecurities.

There are parts that are drawn out like a kid telling a story where they want your attention, and you just aren’t into listening or busy at the moment.  Where you are thinking just get on with it, but I also like fast-paced stories :)  This is also the first book in the series, and it is told from Zoe’s point of view which is very believable like a diary or blog entry from a 6th grader and all the rambling that goes with it. 

I think adventurous middle-schoolers who love to read will eat this book up.  If you have a reluctant reader, I suggest reading it with them or getting the audiobook.

Interested in reading???

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