Rama

by Jamake Highwater Narrated by George Guidall

Overview

In the classic style of the great epic storytellers, Newbery Honor-winning author Jamake Highwater breathes new life into the ancient literary traditions of India. With non-stop action, powerful superheroes, and evil monsters, Rama is an exciting introduction to the richness of The Ramayana.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Highwater (Anpao) sticks close to the source in this novel-length story from the epic Ramayana. Through the machinations of the demon king Ravana, the noble Rama and his holy wife Sita, an earth goddess, are cast into exile. Then Sita is abducted, and Rama and his loyal brother Laksmana enlist the help of the monkey king Sugriva to rescue her from Ravana's evil kingdom. In a final battle, Ravana's foul troops are routed, and Rama slays Ravana himself, much to the surprise of the demon: "`What a world!' Ravana groaned in astonishment and pain. `Who would have thought that a mere mortal could destroy my beautiful wickedness!'" These figures are simply good or evil; Highwater does not attempt to examine motivations. As an authentic adaptation and abridgment of the original for an American audience, this work can be enjoyed for its drama and suspense, if not for subtle characterizations. Ages 11-14. (Nov.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-The Sanskrit epic Ramayana is one of the masterpieces of world literature. Rama is not a retelling, but is closely based on its source. At the heart of both are love (the exemplary devotion of Prince Rama and the quasi-divine Sita) and war (recurrent violent battles between good and evil). Demons plot against the heroic Rama and his loyal brother, Laksmana, exiling them from their kingdom and kidnapping Sita. Aided by the monkey folk and their noble king, Rama regains both wife and kingdom, but at a terrible price. (Highwater omits a later tragic testing of Rama and Sita's love, as well as other plot complications.) Sita is a powerful, if strange, figure, and the story is free of the original's misogynism (although women are still valued most when young and beautiful). Despite the appeal of romance and conflict, Rama challenges readers with its unfamiliar characters, difficult vocabulary, and a style heavily given to sentence fragments. Its strongest points may be the vivid descriptions of scenery and of pageantry complete with gorgeous ritual and ceremony, splendid temples, and exotic jungle.-Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170835096
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	08/16/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged

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