Born for Adventure

by Kathleen Karr

When young Tom Ormsby cons his way onto the great explorer Henry Morton Stanley’s “Relief of Emin Pasha Expedition” in 1887, he’s looking for adventure. But he has no idea what lies ahead of him. From the exotic bazaars of Zanzibar to the mouth of the Congo River and beyond, Tom soon learns he’s signed on for more than the rescue of the mysterious Pasha. He’s on a journey through the ravishing beauty and brutality of a jungle world peopled by slavers, warring tribes, cannibals, and colonial masters—all jockeying for survival in 19th-century Africa.

As Karr follows Tom’s remarkable three-year trek, she raises some provocative questions about slavery, the right of one country to impose its cultural imperatives on another, and the arrogance that can prevent a man from achieving his ultimate goal. Startling, scary, and surprising, this true story takes the reader deep into the heart of the African past.

Genres: Adventure

200 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2007

About the author

Kathleen Karr was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and grew up on a chicken farm in Dorothy, New Jersey. After escaping to college, she worked in the film industry, and also taught in high school and college. She seriously began writing fiction on a dare from her husband. After honing her skills in women’s fiction, her children asked her to write a book for them, (It Ain’t Always Easy, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990), and she discovered she loved writing for young readers.

Reviews

[leta ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was shown to be derogatory towards people of islam. i discourage anyone to read this book

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, very descriptive. Made you feel like you were walking through the jungle, suffocated by the oppression of the overgrown canopy. Loved the tone and the subject. Good for middle-school students or anyone wanting to discover Africa at the turn of the century, or perhaps someone who wants to know a little more about Stanley.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Engaging storytelling. Good characterization of period persons and events with thoughtful humor and observations. plot is compelling and is an enjoyable tale set in the late 1800s as Africa is being colonized.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade adventure for boys

[Roxanne Cullen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. Boring and repetitive.