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Ninja Meerkats #1
The Clan of the Scorpion
Hidden in the remotest reaches of the Red Desert, in a place called Mystic Rock, legend tells of an elite fighting force of meerkats - The Clan of the Scorpion. Under the guidance of their mentor, the wise (and cryptic) Grandmaster One-Eye, and armed with ninja-know-how, these four warriors are sworn to protect the world from the evil plans of their age-old enemy, the Ringmaster...When the world's rarest tiger is stolen from a locked cage, the meerkats set about tracing the thief. Their search takes them to China, where a circus is about to unveil its latest performing animal, which apparently has special powers - could this be the latest venture of the evil Ringmaster?
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Gareth P. Jones
78 books153 followersGareth first started writing when he was very young but it wasn’t until he was in his early twenties that he completed his first novel. Having had it universally rejected he wrote a novel for children called Who Killed Charlie Twig, which received an equally unimpressed reception and remains rightly unpublished to this day.
Some years passed during which Gareth met his future wife, Lisa and began a career in TV, working on shows such as The Big Breakfast and Richard & Judy. Then one day he found himself having lunch at the offices of Bloomsbury. He mentioned the unpublished book to a nice lady called Sarah, who politely suggested that he should send in the first three chapters for her to look at (and most likely dismiss, she thought to herself). Gareth returned home and excitedly told his wife this news, who gently explained that the book he had written actually wasn’t very good, but reminded him that he had recently begun work on a much better idea. This turned out to be good advice. In 2007 Bloomsbury published the first of four books in the series The Dragon Detective Agency and have since published The Thornthwaite Inheritance, Space Crime Conspiracy and The Considine Curse. He has also written a shorter story, Perry’s 5, published by Barrington Stoke and a series of books called Ninja Meerkats, published by Stripes.
Gareth now divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and son, Herbie and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize.
The Thornthwaite Inheritance was shortlisted for eleven local book awards and won seven of them.
The Considine Curse was voted Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012.
Some years passed during which Gareth met his future wife, Lisa and began a career in TV, working on shows such as The Big Breakfast and Richard & Judy. Then one day he found himself having lunch at the offices of Bloomsbury. He mentioned the unpublished book to a nice lady called Sarah, who politely suggested that he should send in the first three chapters for her to look at (and most likely dismiss, she thought to herself). Gareth returned home and excitedly told his wife this news, who gently explained that the book he had written actually wasn’t very good, but reminded him that he had recently begun work on a much better idea. This turned out to be good advice. In 2007 Bloomsbury published the first of four books in the series The Dragon Detective Agency and have since published The Thornthwaite Inheritance, Space Crime Conspiracy and The Considine Curse. He has also written a shorter story, Perry’s 5, published by Barrington Stoke and a series of books called Ninja Meerkats, published by Stripes.
Gareth now divides his time between writing books, producing TV programmes, spending time with his wife and son, Herbie and playing the slightly ludicrous number of stringed instruments in his front room.
NOMINATIONS & AWARDS
The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Book Prize.
The Thornthwaite Inheritance was shortlisted for eleven local book awards and won seven of them.
The Considine Curse was voted Blue Peter Book of the Year 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 16, 2018
Ninjamangustit: Skorpionin klaani
Ihan viihdyttävää luettavaa. Ja hei, ninjamangusteja! Uskon uppoavan alle kymmenvuotiaille pojille (ja miksei tytöillekin).
Ihan viihdyttävää luettavaa. Ja hei, ninjamangusteja! Uskon uppoavan alle kymmenvuotiaille pojille (ja miksei tytöillekin).
October 25, 2013
You might recognize the formula: A group of four, young, unexpected animal ninjas, each with defining character traits and a role in the group, directed by a wise, old master. They must constantly--and secretly--protect the world from an evil human who schemes of world domination, the Ringmaster, who leads a circus and commands henchmen like the two clowns that will have you literally dying from laughter, Sheffield and Grimsby, Doris the Dancing Dog (trained in the ways of the tango, the foxtrot, the quickstep, and lethal combat), and seven high-flying siblings from Austria, the Family Von Trapeze.
I was worried going into this read that the series would be derivative, trend-grabbing junk, and, while that's perhaps true on the most superficial level, Jones takes the ideas and turns them into fun while making them his own. I was highly entertained and consistently tickled by his brand of silliness that's right up my alley--and, I'm sure, right up the alley of a great many young readers. I love the fact that I get to cram in lots of jokes and puns, fast action, and crazy outlandish plots, says Jones of writing the series in his interview at the back of the book, and he is quite successful in my eyes.
I'll be recommending these widely from now on and grabbing the other volumes the next time I want a little escapist fun.
I was hooked by the opening paragraphs, enjoyed the constant wordplay and puns, and confirmed my liking for Jones in his interview answers:
From the outside, the Clan of the Scorpion's secret base looked like one of a number of meerkat burrows in the Red Desert. But while some of the neighboring meerkats had welcomed wildlife documentary makers into their homes, the Clan had to be more careful about who they let in.
You see, film crews do not expect to find a central chamber filled with fighting staffs, swords, throwing stars, nunchucks, and a whole range of other gadgets at the heart of a meerkat burrow.
So the Clan kept nosy filmmakers at arm's length for fear of their true identity being revealed. . . . Actually, further than that, as a meerkat's arm is hardly very long at all.
---
"So we just sit around and do nothing?" grumbled Jet.
"Jet, like a pop singer considering a new career, you need to learn that sometimes it is better not to act," said Chuck. "No more impetuous behavior." . . .
"Jet is a talented ninja, but he is too much like a trainee doctor," said Chuck, as they took cover behind the car.
"In what way?" asked Donnie.
"He has much to learn about patience," replied Chuck, with a wry smile.
---
As a young person, who did you look up to most?
My mom and dad, Prince, Michael Jackson, all of Monty Python, and Stephen Fry.
I was worried going into this read that the series would be derivative, trend-grabbing junk, and, while that's perhaps true on the most superficial level, Jones takes the ideas and turns them into fun while making them his own. I was highly entertained and consistently tickled by his brand of silliness that's right up my alley--and, I'm sure, right up the alley of a great many young readers. I love the fact that I get to cram in lots of jokes and puns, fast action, and crazy outlandish plots, says Jones of writing the series in his interview at the back of the book, and he is quite successful in my eyes.
I'll be recommending these widely from now on and grabbing the other volumes the next time I want a little escapist fun.
I was hooked by the opening paragraphs, enjoyed the constant wordplay and puns, and confirmed my liking for Jones in his interview answers:
From the outside, the Clan of the Scorpion's secret base looked like one of a number of meerkat burrows in the Red Desert. But while some of the neighboring meerkats had welcomed wildlife documentary makers into their homes, the Clan had to be more careful about who they let in.
You see, film crews do not expect to find a central chamber filled with fighting staffs, swords, throwing stars, nunchucks, and a whole range of other gadgets at the heart of a meerkat burrow.
So the Clan kept nosy filmmakers at arm's length for fear of their true identity being revealed. . . . Actually, further than that, as a meerkat's arm is hardly very long at all.
---
"So we just sit around and do nothing?" grumbled Jet.
"Jet, like a pop singer considering a new career, you need to learn that sometimes it is better not to act," said Chuck. "No more impetuous behavior." . . .
"Jet is a talented ninja, but he is too much like a trainee doctor," said Chuck, as they took cover behind the car.
"In what way?" asked Donnie.
"He has much to learn about patience," replied Chuck, with a wry smile.
---
As a young person, who did you look up to most?
My mom and dad, Prince, Michael Jackson, all of Monty Python, and Stephen Fry.
Read
July 8, 2013The 4 Ninja Meerkats hear that a white tiger has gone missing from the Hong Kong zoo. This is noteworthy because this tiger has been trained in the "Roar of Victory", which can hypnotize people who hear it. The Meerkats believe the Ringmaster and his evil circus are going to use the tiger in their nefarious plans.
Silly but blessedly short. The story tries to combine real life with the fantastical world of ninja meerkats. Reading about how the meerkats need to disguise themselves so they can go on their missions is a nice idea, but is not wholly believable.
Silly but blessedly short. The story tries to combine real life with the fantastical world of ninja meerkats. Reading about how the meerkats need to disguise themselves so they can go on their missions is a nice idea, but is not wholly believable.
September 18, 2013
A special tiger has been stolen from the Hong Kong Zoo, one who knows the Roar of Victory, and the Ninja Meerkats are pretty sure that their arch nemisis, The Ringmaster, is behind her disappearance. Can they get to Hong Kong and free her in time or will The Ringmaster finally have the world at his feet?
Yep, another book my 7yr old insisted I read because he loved it. It was kinda cute and good for the 6-9yr old set. I'm going to try desperately to get out of reading the rest of the series tho. Just not engaging for me.
Yep, another book my 7yr old insisted I read because he loved it. It was kinda cute and good for the 6-9yr old set. I'm going to try desperately to get out of reading the rest of the series tho. Just not engaging for me.
Read
April 20, 2016The book IS FOUR NINJA MEERKATS AND THEY HAVE TO SAVE A TIGER FROM THE HORRBLE RING MASTER
March 14, 2019
!!!!!!!!!!!
September 28, 2019
Best book ever
October 14, 2021
it jest blow my mind. ninja meerkats like wow
October 10, 2013
Ninjamangustit: Skorpionin klaani
Ninjamangustit seikkailevat ensimmäisessä seikkailussaan, jossa heidän pitää pelastaa tiikeri, jolla on ihmeellinen kyky. Suurin osa kirjasta on kuitenkin Skorpionin klaanin esittelyä.
Vauhtia ja vaarallisia tilanteita on, samoin seikkailua. Jos ei tällä saa pikkupoikia lukemaan edes jotain, niin on ihme. Aikuisen silmään ja lukumieleen tämä voi olla täysin käsittämätön ja naurettava, mutta mielestäni jostain lastenkin on se lukuharrastus on aloitettava, että mekaaninen lukutaito kehittyy. Jos se on Ninjamangustit, niin silloin kirja täyttää tehtävänsä.
Kakkosille vinkkaukseen.
Ninjamangustit seikkailevat ensimmäisessä seikkailussaan, jossa heidän pitää pelastaa tiikeri, jolla on ihmeellinen kyky. Suurin osa kirjasta on kuitenkin Skorpionin klaanin esittelyä.
Vauhtia ja vaarallisia tilanteita on, samoin seikkailua. Jos ei tällä saa pikkupoikia lukemaan edes jotain, niin on ihme. Aikuisen silmään ja lukumieleen tämä voi olla täysin käsittämätön ja naurettava, mutta mielestäni jostain lastenkin on se lukuharrastus on aloitettava, että mekaaninen lukutaito kehittyy. Jos se on Ninjamangustit, niin silloin kirja täyttää tehtävänsä.
Kakkosille vinkkaukseen.
January 17, 2022
I am sure little boys in the lower elementary grades will enjoy this new humorous series. However, as an adult, I just couldn't do it. I tried, I really tried. Parts were funny and parts were dumb, but that is okay as I realize I am not the intended audience. Basically if you think of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Kung Fu Panda or Lego Ninjago and substitute meerkats for the main characters you will know what this series is about.
August 27, 2013
A team of four highly trained, Ninja Meerkats try to rescue a mystical tiger stolen from the Hong Kong Zoo.
I picked this book up on a lark, but was sorely disappointed by it. It is clearly the blending of two fads. Meerkats and ninjas. The book is full of puns and lines that fly over the heads of the intended reader.
Just not good. Go read Redwall if you want animal action story. Much better written.
I picked this book up on a lark, but was sorely disappointed by it. It is clearly the blending of two fads. Meerkats and ninjas. The book is full of puns and lines that fly over the heads of the intended reader.
Just not good. Go read Redwall if you want animal action story. Much better written.
November 1, 2013
I really like this book because it is an adventurous book and crime type of book.Reading this book makes me want to read more and more and more of it.The book is about about 4 ninjas named Jet,Chuck,Donnie and Bruce who was told that their arch-enemy,''the ring master'',has taken their tiger from Hong Kong Zoo.So the four mighty ninjas had to travel there to get their tiger back!What do you think is gonna happen next?
July 19, 2013
I read this book with my 5 year old nephew. He is a Ninja Turtle fan and takes Karate, which is why I thought this book would appeal to him.
This book is both funny and action packed. This book will most likely appeal to boys than girls.
My nephew really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to others.
This book is both funny and action packed. This book will most likely appeal to boys than girls.
My nephew really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to others.
March 14, 2013
I think young readers (1st - 3rd grade) are going to love this. It’s a series about meerkats with ninja skills…how could a kid resist? The story is fast-paced and there are a lot of drawings to break up the text, perfect for readers just getting into chapter books.
April 16, 2013
This is a very cute and funny series. Ninja meerkats, what's not to love? Great for young readers who have outgrown Captain Underpants and Stink, but may not be quite ready for longer books yet. Definitely will recommend to my young Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans as a fun alternative, as well.
October 23, 2013
The only thing better than meerkats that are ninjas are the horribly corny jokes & puns included in this book. A great quick & fun read that is absolute silliness with some fantastic action packed scenes. This is definitely a series I will start recommending to boys 7-10.
February 2, 2022
First book in a series which is seemingly to cash in on the modern day popularity of the meerkat, by making them into ninja's and giving a brief action based tale around it.
Fairly ordinary.
Re-Read - for some reason I felt the need to read this again and well it hasn't aged well.
Fairly ordinary.
Re-Read - for some reason I felt the need to read this again and well it hasn't aged well.
August 7, 2011
Enjoyed reading it! Loved da ninjas
February 15, 2012
This is like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a new generation. Meerkats are all the rage right now in the UK. Why not explore stories with Ninja Meerkats? A delightful treat for kids.
Read
July 26, 2012Una primera novela de una saga infantil que realmente gustará a los jóvenes y primeros lectores. ¡Ninja-bum!
March 21, 2013
Start of a First Chapter series that is perfect for fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lego Ninjago.
January 2, 2014
Action packed Ninja story.
Read
August 8, 20138/8/13
30 pages
30 pages
December 29, 2013
My boys enjoy this series.
May 23, 2015
good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2014
The kid gave it five stars. I give it a three. Pretty cute.
April 23, 2017
Using fake Chinese-sounding words to make pun is not funny. Also, there were zero speaking female characters. Other than those aspects, the banter of the ninja friends was smart and funny and the situations they manage to get themselves out of were enjoyable and engaging.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews