Genre: Historical Fiction148p
A story of a search, of courage, survival and growing up.
"Then, at the moment the attack finally was sounded--when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears--the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point in the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted toward Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!”
A rite of passage, the first hunt for the young Zan who bravely kills the lion and will thereafter be known as Zan-Gah , begins the story . Zan-Gah has proved himself and is now determined to leave his home and search for his lost brother, Dael, who he has never believed to be dead. His journey , the dangers that test his courage and ability to survive , make exciting reading.
Allan Richard Shickman has a gift with words that makes the prehistoric setting, the people and places, not only believable but very real. I have a love of descriptive prose and the vivid imagery was a pleasure to read.
How refreshing it is to find a book for young people that will appeal to and encourage boys to read. Read the first chapters to an 8-year-old and he is captivated by a hero who kills lions and makes slingshots and it's well within the range of 9+ readers depending , of course, on their reading ability. It's a book that I wouldn't categorise as suitable for any particular age group as I think both children and adults will enjoy it.
An exciting and entertaining reading adventure which I'm happy to recommend.
I received a copy of Zan-gah, A Prehistoric Adventure from Earthshaker Books - thank you.
Sounds like one my son would have really enjoyed when he was a bit younger.
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