Reviews

This book centers mostly around fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold whose mother has become ill so he must stay with his grandmother, Kate. His grandmother, though, is a writer, and she is traveling to the jungles of the Amazon to track a legendary Beast that presumably makes its home there. Alex travels with his grandmother and her team that includes her guide, Cesar Santos, and his twelve-year-old daughter, Nadia. Interestingly, Nadia has a pet monkey named Boroba. Alex and Nadia become great friends and, eventually, become friends with a native Indian tribe named the "People Of The Mist." When the kids unveil a plan to exterminate the tribe, they spring into action to save their new friends. Ultimately, the book is a tale of growing up and discovering that, when they put their minds to it, they can do anything, even save humanity.

I gave this book four stars, because although it was very well-written, it did seem to drag and become a bit boring in parts. The ending, however, was outstanding and well worth the wait. Isabel Allende used her beloved magic realism to weave a tale of forgotten lands and glorious destinations. I must say, this book will definitely not be forgotten.

sophrolijkbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Ik wilde meteen meer van Isabel Allende lezen. De spanning, de fantasie, de beschrijving van de jungle. Geweldig!

236girls's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

i think i would have liked this more if i read it as a teenager unfortunately there's too many nuances in this book that .. will not fly in today's world. also the translation was clunky at times that I didn't understand why things were happening... yeah anyway very hard 2.25

chasen's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

book_concierge's review against another edition

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3.0

From the book jacket: Fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold has the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. Parting from his family and ill mother, Alexander joins his fearless grandmother, a magazine reporter for International Geographic, on an expedition to the Amazon. Their mission, along with the others on their team – including a celebrated anthropologist, a local guide and his young daughter, Nadia, and a doctor – is to document the legendary Yeti of the Amazon known as the Beast.

My reactions
Allende has crafted a very engaging, fantastical adventure story, with a fair amount of information provided regarding environmental conservation. I did think that Kate (Alexander’s grandmother) was pretty over-the-top, and the anthropologist was little more than a cartoon character. Still, I liked the young people and loved the way that the native indigenous tribes were portrayed. Alexander was just mature enough to be open to new experiences, and young enough to welcome guidance from whomever offered it.

Nadia was a marvelous character, wise beyond her years, brave, resourceful, tenacious, and attuned to the jungle in ways that American Alexander could not possibly be. Their partnership was helpful to both characters, and they complemented one another.

I also really enjoyed the way that Allende reimagined El Dorado and explained the “reality” of that myth.

millaaaarrrr04's review

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

robinheat's review

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

This wasn't my cup of tea, but I still want to read more from Allende because this was her first time writing for younger readers. Maybe I shouldn't expect a ton of nuance from a middle grade novel, but this one seemed especially clunky. I was enjoying the first part, the relationship with his grandmother, and some of the humor, but about halfway through it started to get repetitive and obvious. I also think the depictions of the local indigenous people include a lot of stereotypes along the lines of the "noble savage". It's patronizing and ultimately leads to a lot of white savior moments. On the other hand, it does have a good cautionary message about treating the Amazon (and other ecological areas) with respect. Oh, and the English translation is just clunky, awkward, and kinda annoying.

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