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Mood: In Love ]
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Currently: Reading Coronation Street ]
Isabelle Allende is better known for her adult books, the House of Spirits and Daughter of Fortune. City of Beast is her first entry into the Youth market. She should do more.
This think, meaty tome tells the story Alex. His mother is sick with cancer. So sick, that his father has to break-up the family. Alex’s sisters get to go visit his maternal grandmother. Alex is not so lucky, he ends up with his paternal grandmother, Kate, who is a bit like Katherine Hepburn in the Lion in Winter. Not exactly the maternal type.
Kate is a writer and she takes Alex along with her to the Amazon as she tries to find the mysterious Beast. There Alex meets Nadia, a girl who can speak to the native tribes. Alex and Nadia embark on an adventure that involves plots to exterminate the native tribes, meeting prehistoric creatures, finding the city of El Dorado and the fountain of youth.
Pick this one up. It is very well written. I think I may pick-up her other books.