Alan and the Animal Kingdom

by Isabelle Holland

When the aunt who is his guardian dies, an orphaned boy decides to tell no one and so make sure that his collection of pet animals won't be destroyed when he is sent to a new home.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

187 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1977

About the author

Isabelle Christian Holland (born June 16, 1920 in Basel, Switzerland — died February 9, 2002) was an author of children and adult fiction. Her father was the American Consul in Liverpool, England during WWII. She moved to America in 1940 due to the war. She wrote Gothic novels, adult mysteries, romantic thrillers, and many books for children and young adults. She wrote over 50 books in her lifetime, and was still working at the time of her death at age 81 in New York City.

Two of her novels have been made into movies:

Bump in the Night, 1991,
The Man Without a Face, 1993

Both of these novels deal with issues or allegations of pedophilia.

Reviews

[Bonnie Morse · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book did not hold up at all. I remember really liking it as a kid. Although it was right on the edge with the main plot where the protagonist's aunt's body is left in the hospital with no ID, to be buried in an unmarked grave in potter's field. In middle school that kind of thing really worried me. But as an adult I was more upset by the constant, endless, repetitive animal trauma. This kid goes through every possible form of fear and loss that haunts pet owners and doesn't even really get a happy ending. The lesson seems to be everything you love will be taken away, abandon you, or die, so why bother. It's almost the worst part that he ends up with a puppy. That someone else chose, of a breed he doesn't like, that he is then ordered to love or get rid of because, and I quote, "It's not fair to the dog."

I got news for you, author. None of this was fair.

[Meagan Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid and remember liking it, though of course the ending was disappointing, if not truly tragic. I do have a question if anyone can answer, because I don't currently have a copy: what was the rat's name in this book? I recently got pet rats and am looking for literary rats to name them after.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more aimed at young teens, but Holland is an excellent writer who I greatly admire.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the aunt taking care of him dies, Alan decides to hide this so his pets won't be taken away.

This is a re-read of a book from around forty years ago that still managed to wring my heart a bit. Alan has been shuffled from relative to relative after his mother and father died, and he had his pets he had then put to sleep. So it's a reasonable fear that this would repeat when his last relative passes away. The trauma that Alan goes through to hide this is pretty brutal. I felt for him, but I also felt for his animals, who weren't getting the best care they could. Throw in a roaming gang, and a disappointment in a new friend who is an alcoholic, and there's really no happy ever after possible here.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just one of those books that's fun to read. It has everything from romance to action packed scenes in it and is a really good choice for those who are trying to find what they like in a book.
Alan is a young boy who is taken care of by his grandmother. When she dies however, Alan is faced with a question. Does he want to go to the adoption agency, and further more can he fool everyone into thinking that his grandmother isn't dead?

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly weird book I read as a kid. It took me years to track it down later because I couldn't remember the title.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

read as a child, very very vague memory