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Gorinjas: The Beginning
When you’re a young gorilla who has an unusual patch of white fur, fitting in can be tough. But when you meet a jungle legend of martial arts, things get very interesting. Follow gorillas Gonga and Jemma through a fast-paced action adventure full of danger, secret tunnels, underground surfing and valuable life lessons. But will their secret training be enough? Are they really prepared for anything?
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Published November 21, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 1, 2017
Remember the Karate Kid and Mr Miyagi? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sensei Splinter? Or, more recently, Kung Fu Panda and Master Shifu? They all have a classic underdog narrative in common and enough scope and appeal to become popular action-adventure series for young audiences.
Mark Lancaster's debut novel for middle-grade readers follows in this tradition and 'Gorinjas: The Beginning' has the makings of an engaging cult series for aspiring martial artists and young thrill seekers alike.
The story tells of humanoid gorillas Gonga and Jemma, the most loyal of friends, whose victimisation at the hands of school bullies spurs them on to overcome adversity. When the brave pair track down the legendary old-grey gorilla, Shintu, a martial arts master, events take an interesting turn, leading to a dramatic battle between the gorilla ninjas, a gang of bullies... and a smelly old crocodile!
Like the first instalment in any series, this debut takes time to build both in character and plot development but with a particularly strong opening and an exciting climax, the core ingredients of courage, perseverance, legend, and triumph over bullying, are all there in spades.
Gorinjas is an entertaining read and by its end I was already anticipating the next book in the series. If you know a reluctant middle-grade reader, this could be just the new adventure they've been waiting for. Why not give it a try?
Mark Lancaster's debut novel for middle-grade readers follows in this tradition and 'Gorinjas: The Beginning' has the makings of an engaging cult series for aspiring martial artists and young thrill seekers alike.
The story tells of humanoid gorillas Gonga and Jemma, the most loyal of friends, whose victimisation at the hands of school bullies spurs them on to overcome adversity. When the brave pair track down the legendary old-grey gorilla, Shintu, a martial arts master, events take an interesting turn, leading to a dramatic battle between the gorilla ninjas, a gang of bullies... and a smelly old crocodile!
Like the first instalment in any series, this debut takes time to build both in character and plot development but with a particularly strong opening and an exciting climax, the core ingredients of courage, perseverance, legend, and triumph over bullying, are all there in spades.
Gorinjas is an entertaining read and by its end I was already anticipating the next book in the series. If you know a reluctant middle-grade reader, this could be just the new adventure they've been waiting for. Why not give it a try?
December 25, 2016
Gonga is a little different from the rest of the gorillas and a gang insists on tormenting him. He and his friend Jemma, run into Shintu, an old gorilla, who gives them lessons in martial arts. The rest of the story revolves around lessons, dealing with the gang, and life threatening activities. Lessons on dealing with conflicts are scattered throughout. This would be a good book for middle grade children.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews