Thunder Cave

by Roland Smith

Overview

Determined, after his mother's accidental death, to foil his stepfather's plans for his future, fourteen-year-old Jacob travels alone to Africa in search of his father, a biologist studying elephants in a remote area of Kenya.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786811595
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/01/1997
Series:	Thunder Cave , #1
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Roland Smith is the author of Zach's Lie, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Cryptid HuntersThunderCave JaguarThe Last Lobo and Sasquatch. He lives outside of Portland, Oregon, with his wife Marie, who also writes children's books.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6-9-A maddening mix of adventure imbued with Hopi and Masai mysticism. Fourteen-year-old Jake Lansa, a half-Italian, half-Hopi boy who lives in New York City with his mother and stepfather, both anthropology professors, corresponds with his father, an idealistic field biologist studying elephants in Kenya. After his mother is run over by a car while jogging, Jake decides Kenya is a better bet than being shipped off to his relatives in Nebraska. One hitch is that his father is unreachable somewhere out in the bush. After surviving a mugging in Nairobi, Jake bicycles his way west, right past lions and warthogs. He befriends a well-educated Masai and together, their mission somehow linked by Jake's grandfather's kachina, they bring rain to the drought-stricken country, drive out ruthless poachers, and, of course, find Dr. Lansa. Survival tips, like learning how to stalk animals by seeing through their eyes, are engrossing, and the butchery of the elephants by the poachers is sobering. The conservation message isn't too ponderous, but other aspects of the story are preachy, and the ``voice-overs''-prophetic words uttered by Jake's father and grandfather-are repetitive and soon grate. The ``you're here for a reason'' theme is disappointing in the otherwise real and appealing My Side of the Mountain-like teenage-survival story.-John Sigwald, Unger Memorial Library, Plainview, TX

School Library Journal

Johnny Heller succeeds again; this time he introduces listeners to Kenyans, Native Americans, and a 14-year-old American boy. Jacob lives in NYC. When his mother dies, he decides to go to the African bush to find his scientist father. Jacob overcomes many trials, illustrating to kids what a real hero of their own age can be like. Heller is splendid as he portrays a range of ages and cultures while bringing life to an exciting story. Along with learning varied facts about Africa, children will be introduced to some Masai and Swahili words, which are peppered throughout this believable adventure. Older children, young adults, and those interested in action stories or Africa will be entranced. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

APR/MAY 01 - AudioFile