The Last Leopard

by Lauren St. John

Overview

The fourth exciting book in the dramatic Legend of the Animal Healer series!

Martine, her grandmother, and her best friend, Ben, are off to Zimbabwe to help her grandmother's friend, Sadie, run a hotel in the Matobo Hills. But when they arrive, Martine realizes that Sadie's got serious trouble. Someone wants to run Sadie off of her land and is willing to stoop to any means necessary. Not only that, but hunters and treasure seekers are overrunning Sadie's property in hopes of capturing Khan - a legendary giant leopard. Can Martine and Ben help Sadie and save Khan before it's too late?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781101014899
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/05/2009
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
File size:	275 KB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Lauren St. John lives in London, England. A well-respected biographer and sports journalist, she grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa, where she had a pet giraffe, as well as numerous dogs, horses, and warthogs. This setting inspired The White Giraffe as well as her recent memoir, Rainbow’s End.

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Table of Contents

 

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

 

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4-7

In this third book about Martine and her amazing gift for healing animals, the 11-year-old, her grandmother, and her friend Ben leave their South African home for Zimbabwe. They are going to help her grandmother's friend, who has had an accident, but the trip turns into much more. A giant leopard said to be in hiding in the hills near the ranch where they are staying desperately needs Martine's help. Many legends surround the creature, and the place of his death is ostensibly where a long-hidden treasure will be found. Because of this, many are determined to hunt the animal down. Through Martine's eyes, readers discover many issues plaguing modern Zimbabwe, from police corruption to animal poaching and the opportunism and tourism that threaten the traditional way of life. This fast-paced adventure story, inspired by an actual leopard now in a game preserve in Zimbabwe, includes elements that will appeal to a broad audience. Although having read The White Giraffe (2007) and Dolphin Song (2008, both Dial) gives fuller insight into Martine's story, St. John does a good job of catching readers up on the past without retelling those plots. Considering that the movie version of The White Giraffe is due out this year, there is sure to be particular interest in this series.-Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA

School Library Journal

Jambo! to the third of Martine's magical-realism-laced South African adventures. When a friend of her grandmother's who runs a tourist lodge in Zimbabwe calls for help because she's broken her leg, Martine, her friend Ben and her grandmother immediately trek to the remote location and find themselves in the center of a plot to trap and kill the last leopard and find an age-old, hidden treasure belonging to the indigenous Ndebele people. It's Martine's ability to communicate with animals that both endangers and rescues the leopard, as the compelling action-driven plot romps through the jungle setting. This skillful twining of exotic flora and fauna with Martine's innate affinity for animals will gratify fans of the first two (The White Giraffe, 2007; Dolphin Song, 2008) and ready them for number four. An author's note provides the background plus a conservation plea. (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews