The Zoo at the Edge of the World

by Eric Kahn Gale Narrated by Julian Elfer

Overview

Marlin is not slow, or mute; what he is is a stutterer, and that makes it impossible for him to convince people otherwise. What he is also is a Rackham: the youngest son of the world-famous explorer Roland Rackham, who is the owner and proprietor of the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort where the well-to-do from all over the world can come to experience the last bit of the wild left in the world at the end of the nineteenth century. In order to impress a powerful duke who comes to visit the zoo, Marlin's father ventures into the jungle and brings back a mysterious black jaguar, now the only one in captivity. Everyone is terrified of the jaguar, including Marlin-until one night, when the jaguar confers upon him a powerful gift. Soon Marlin finds himself with a difficult choice to make and, finally, something to say. If only he can figure out how to say it.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.” — Peter Lerangis, New York Times-bestselling author of The Seven Wonders and The 39 Clues series

“Being able to talk to animals would be my favorite superpower ever, and the Zoo at the Edge of the World would be my favorite place to use it.” — Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and heart. Beautiful and fully absorbing.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Well-paced action, a complex-but not too complicated-plot, healthy doses of suspense, and a wild, well-developed cast of characters (human and animal) make this an enjoyable page-turner.” — School Library Journal

Peter Lerangis

Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Katherine Applegate

Being able to talk to animals would be my favorite superpower ever, and the Zoo at the Edge of the World would be my favorite place to use it.

Kirkus Reviews

2014-07-29
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)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170965168
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	03/20/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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