Review by Booklist Review
Marlin's father, the conqueror and protector of the jungle, built a spectacular zoo on an ancient ruin in Guyana where wealthy people from all over the world come to visit. Marlin is happy to live there, but his stutter keeps him from feeling loved, particularly by his cruel and vindictive older brother. That all changes when his father brings back a man-eating jaguar, who magically gives Marlin the ability to speak with animals. Suddenly, Marlin is solving problems all over the zoo, but he also begins to uncover uncomfortable truths about animals in captivity and the troubling way his father maintains his reputation. When Marlin learns of his father's greedy plans, he takes it upon himself to become the jungle's true protector. Gale's story seems to take place at the turn of the twentieth century, though Marlin's vocabulary more often sounds contemporary. That's a quibble, though, since the appeal is clearly not historical accuracy but rather the exotic setting, the playful banter of the animals, and Marlin's stalwart bravery in the face of sometimes-scary danger.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this fantasy-tinged historical novel from Gale (The Bully Book), young Marlin's legendary father, the adventurer Ronan Rackham, is also famous for his resort in British Guiana-a lavish zoo built on an ancient pyramid. The zoo boasts 87 species, feeding demonstrations, and grand gatherings (excerpts from the guest brochure appear throughout). Marlin, constantly bullied by his older brother and the resort workers, fears he'll always suffer pity and ridicule because of his stutter, which disappears when he speaks to animals. After a jaguar, which purportedly killed one of the natives employed by Marlin's father, is captured and brought to the zoo, the jaguar takes to Marlin, teaching him the gifts of healing and the language of the animals. These gifts help Marlin protect the animals as the zoo's precarious financial situation drives Ronan to commit desperate and cruel acts. Augmented by Nielson's gentle full-page illustrations, Gale's touching story addresses the importance of empathy for all living things as it examines the delicate relationship between humans and animals. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Marlin Rackham is the son of a world-renowned adventurer and explorer who leads expeditions into the wild South American jungle, bringing back exotic animals for his zoo. Marlin's profound stutter makes communicating with people difficult, but he's always been able to speak smoothly to the zoo animals. However, he never comprehends their chatter until a mysterious black jaguar bestows upon Marlin the ability to understand animal speech. Marlin's newfound power enables him to see the caged animals' side of things, and he begins to question the ethics of and motives behind his father's exploits. Narrator Julian Elfer does a phenomenal job bringing this fast-paced adventurous tale to life. He imbues each character and animal with different personalities and voices, and his pacing is perfect. VERDICT This title will complement science units focusing on people's relationship to the ecosystems around them, and it will also prompt discussions about the ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity.-Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The stuttering son of a famous explorer discovers a new ability that will change his life and his world forever. Marlin Rackham doesn't have an ordinary childhood. He works alongside his brother, Tim, and father, Ronan, in the family's exotic South American zoo, a zoo so renowned that rich and famous people from all over the world travel to visit the resort. But Marlin has a problem: He stutters. His stutter is so bad he can barely communicate with people. Many think he's mute. However, there is one group Marlin can talk to with no problem: the animals. And when his father brings a jaguar back from an expedition, the beast's mystical ways make it possible for the animals to talk back. As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale (The Bully Book, 2011) explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and heart. The book is firmly pro-animal, but the stance isn't overt or preachy. A secondary plot concerning Marlin's relationships with his father and brother is equally nuanced and powerful, making the book a formidable read on two fronts. The romantic setting and striking prose are icing on the cake, creating an intoxicatingly charming book. Beautiful and fully absorbing. (Fantasy . 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
