Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Paperback: 336 Pages
Publication: February 26th, 2013 by Fantastic Press
Imagine you’re totally lost in a strange city with no idea where you are and no way home.
Now imagine that elephants and snake charmers start telling you that you’ve been chosen to save the world.
Would you even believe them?
What would you do?
Zoe Guire isn’t sure. Having that elephant talk to her was really weird, and, as a rule, Zoe doesn’t do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom’s business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.
And those are the least of Zoe’s troubles. Because if she’s to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen — chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.
Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they’re going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don’t, the world will never be the same again.
Join Zoe and Zak as they journey high into the Himalayas to a place few have been and even fewer have returned to tell about it.
Live life beyond the edge.
While I enjoy reading a good book, I just love listening to an audiobook that has been narrated well, and that’s just what I found with the audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard. Bailey Carlson does a wonderful job expressing the characters’ personalities and making the words come to life. I felt like I was right there with the Zoe and Zak, sharing their adventures with them.
Zoe is a pragmatic, intelligent girl. Because of this, she can get judgmental, especially when it comes to Zak. He’s a troublemaker and often gets carried away with his mischief. When the two of them and magic come together in an adventure… let’s just say that isn’t Zoe’s ideal way to spend her time abroad in India. Nevertheless, it does make for some great humor. When I first listened to Zoe and Zak argue after he first pulls a prank on her, I laughed so much. I just can’t express enough how much I love how Carlson portrays their voices.
Set in India, Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard is a fun, enjoyable middle-grade fantasy read. I love how the most unrealistic, fantastical, outrageous things can come across as perfectly normal and acceptable in middle-grade fiction. It’s even better to hear it aurally as opposed to reading it on the page. I recommend listening to the audiobook of this book. It’s fantastic!!
This post is a part of the Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard blog tour
Author: Crystal
A story girl at heart, Crystal is a bibliophile who can easily spend the day immersed in a good read. She writes under the name Kristy Wang. You can follow her writing adventures on X and Instagram @_kristywang.
rose.ann.castro says
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this one. I've had my eyes on it for a while now! Thanks for the review! đ
Ann@Blogging E-books
rohit says
Thanks for your review Kris. I loved Bailey's voices and how she brought the book to life. I'm glad the book made you laugh! Cheers, Lars
Candace says
I'm glad you enjoyed this one too! I just loved 'visiting' India! I thought the narrator did amazing with the voices, especially the Indian accents.
Thanks so much for hosting a tour stop!