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A review by kris_mccracken
The Explorer by Katherine Rundell
3.0
I started reading "The Explorer" without realising it was aimed at younger readers, but by the time that became clear, I was already ensnared. Rundell's lush and vibrant prose pulls you right into the heart of the Amazon, its dense green world almost palpable on the page. She conjures a rainforest in rich, humid life.
The story combines a youthful sense of adventure with reflections on what it means to be fully human. For young Fred and his companions, survival in the jungle is a thrilling ordeal, yes, but it's also an invitation to reflect on resilience, self-discovery, and the value of the natural world. Rundell infuses the story with an environmental urgency that resonates, speaking to the ways humanity's casual intrusions have devastated precious habitats like the Amazon.
Rundell advocates for risk and exploration, suggesting that young people can only find their footing by occasionally misstepping and learning through calculated encounters with the unknown. It's a refreshing departure from the bubble-wrapped world often portrayed in modern children's literature.
That said, I found one partial misstep in the story's design. In Fred, our young, English protagonist, the rainforest is wholly presented within the spirit of colonial exploration. The jungle is both uninhabited and hostile, with sharp echoes of a "terra nullius" mindset. I assume that this is unintentional, but it feels oddly archaic when the one human they encounter in this "wild" place is an Englishman, who has styled himself as both guardian and lone inhabitant of the Amazon. The did distract from an otherwise enchanting narrative.
Despite this, "The Explorer" should be a daring, captivating read for young readers. There's a trove of knowledge embedded within the story, with nods to species diversity, historical exploration, and more, giving it a depth that lingers beyond the last page.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The story combines a youthful sense of adventure with reflections on what it means to be fully human. For young Fred and his companions, survival in the jungle is a thrilling ordeal, yes, but it's also an invitation to reflect on resilience, self-discovery, and the value of the natural world. Rundell infuses the story with an environmental urgency that resonates, speaking to the ways humanity's casual intrusions have devastated precious habitats like the Amazon.
Rundell advocates for risk and exploration, suggesting that young people can only find their footing by occasionally misstepping and learning through calculated encounters with the unknown. It's a refreshing departure from the bubble-wrapped world often portrayed in modern children's literature.
That said, I found one partial misstep in the story's design. In Fred, our young, English protagonist, the rainforest is wholly presented within the spirit of colonial exploration. The jungle is both uninhabited and hostile, with sharp echoes of a "terra nullius" mindset. I assume that this is unintentional, but it feels oddly archaic when the one human they encounter in this "wild" place is an Englishman, who has styled himself as both guardian and lone inhabitant of the Amazon. The did distract from an otherwise enchanting narrative.
Despite this, "The Explorer" should be a daring, captivating read for young readers. There's a trove of knowledge embedded within the story, with nods to species diversity, historical exploration, and more, giving it a depth that lingers beyond the last page.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐