What do you think?
Rate this book
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World
Alex is expecting a pretty boring summer. But when Mum takes her to visither mysterious grandfather on his farm in Tasmania, weird things start tohappen ... Weirdest of all? Her grandfather's pet alpacas ... who can talk!When things go from strange to scary, Alex must use all her brains, brawnand bravery in order to survive the sinister forces threatening life as sheknows it.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2019
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 26, 2021
Loved this! Such a vivid, amazingly told story! Plus, talking alpacas! Alex & her mom are going to Tasmania to spend the summer w/her grandpa. He hurt his foot, & needs help around the house & farm. He is not happy to seem them. He hasn’t talked to Alex’s mom in a bout 10 years, & it was supposed to be Alex’s uncle & cousin going to help him. They couldn’t though, so her uncle asked Alex’s mom to. Then to her horror, the alpacas start talking to her-she can understand them! Then things start to get scary, & very dangerous. I’m not going to spoil the things that happen. But she has to dig deep & find all the bravery & smarts she has-b/c her family, & life itself depends on it. Every detail of this was perfect-from the family legend, to the symbol, the olive trees, the tigers..& the whole backstory of the alpacas & the villain-genius! Loved that all so much. The neighbor kid from the next farm over that helps along this adventure was so great-Leeuie. He was so cute, & just wanted to be needed & helpful..& to make a friend. Plus, have a great adventure. He definitely got that lol I think Moraika was my favorite alpaca, but Ollin has a big piece of my heart too. I even loved grouchy Grandpa Jacob. Alex showed a lot of bravery, & smarts. She thought she had to do everything herself, & by herself. She had to realize that accepting help from others, & trusting them, made her stronger as a result-& happier. This is full of love, family, danger, adventure, destiny, & friendship. A lot of great underlying lessons to take away as well. So atmospheric, & suspenseful too. So hard to put down. I read the last almost 75% in one sitting lol highly recommend! Love this beautiful cover by Rebecca Mills too.💜
February 3, 2021
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is an adventurous little middle-grade story that had me wanting to not sleep to see what happens next. It follows the story of Alex, a young girl from Melbourne who goes to Tasmania in the summer to help her mum care for her grandpa. However, Alex and her mum do not have the best relationship with Grandpa Jacob. But family is family, and they gotta take care of each other. It turns out Grandpa Jacob has a family secret — they descended from a great hero who stopped the world from destruction eons ago.
When the one behind the world's destruction wakes up again, it is up to Alex to team up with some comical alpacas and the apple delivery boy next door.
As a frequent middle-grade reader, I am always enthralled by the importance of family or friendship in these stories. Alex is our chosen one, but she doesn't want to be to the point that she tries to flee. It is a bit refreshing to see a chosen one not immodestly be okay with suddenly given the task to save the world. Alex is sassy and insecure, which made her such a great character (I am not a big fan of overly confident characters). All Alex wanted to do was save her mum — the world be damn— and reading through her journey of accomplishing just that (and growing as a character) made my heart so happy. Even though Alex is much younger than me, I could still related to her in every way. Some of the best characters that exist in literature are those that are relatable to a person no matter the age.
The story was fast-paced and full of action. Even though the book was less than 300 pages, Kathryn Lefroy built a fascinating world and lore by slowly weaving it into the story as we learn with Alex instead of giving us a massive lore dump. I truly appreciated that.
While the story was enjoyable, I felt that all the side characters were just there, only useful when Alex needed help. Their personalities fell a bit flat and all the same at some point— only one of the alpacas is memorable, and it was because he complained about being hungry all the time. This lack of the characterization doesn't hurt the story, but as a reader who loves and lives for good character arcs, I desperately wanted more.
Overall it was a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read an adventurous middle-grade story. If you are looking to make you TBR less America-centred, this is a perfect read to add to your pile.
When the one behind the world's destruction wakes up again, it is up to Alex to team up with some comical alpacas and the apple delivery boy next door.
As a frequent middle-grade reader, I am always enthralled by the importance of family or friendship in these stories. Alex is our chosen one, but she doesn't want to be to the point that she tries to flee. It is a bit refreshing to see a chosen one not immodestly be okay with suddenly given the task to save the world. Alex is sassy and insecure, which made her such a great character (I am not a big fan of overly confident characters). All Alex wanted to do was save her mum — the world be damn— and reading through her journey of accomplishing just that (and growing as a character) made my heart so happy. Even though Alex is much younger than me, I could still related to her in every way. Some of the best characters that exist in literature are those that are relatable to a person no matter the age.
The story was fast-paced and full of action. Even though the book was less than 300 pages, Kathryn Lefroy built a fascinating world and lore by slowly weaving it into the story as we learn with Alex instead of giving us a massive lore dump. I truly appreciated that.
While the story was enjoyable, I felt that all the side characters were just there, only useful when Alex needed help. Their personalities fell a bit flat and all the same at some point— only one of the alpacas is memorable, and it was because he complained about being hungry all the time. This lack of the characterization doesn't hurt the story, but as a reader who loves and lives for good character arcs, I desperately wanted more.
Overall it was a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read an adventurous middle-grade story. If you are looking to make you TBR less America-centred, this is a perfect read to add to your pile.
March 8, 2021
RTC - thank you Kathryn Lefroy and Fremantle Press for my review copy.
Read
August 14, 2019This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World, by Kathryn Lefroy, follows Alex who is visiting her grandfather’s farm in Tasmania for the summer. Lefroy quickly throws her heroine into shenanigans when Alex realises she can understand the alpacas. The madness does not end here for poor Alex. Instead, like many heroines before her, Alex’s destiny as a saviour is thrust upon her and she is tasked to defeat a sinister-being who is a threat to the entire universe.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is a fantastic stepping-stone for kids transitioning into large books; larger not only in size but in complexity of plot and development of characters. As the novel progresses, Lefroy looks beyond the divisive line of good and evil to reveal the grey area where many characters lurk. Lefroy tackled this complex issue subtly throughout the book by first introducing the characters as either good or evil but then allows her reader to discover that these characters are not either one or the other by the narrative’s conclusion.
I must confess, I still have whiplash from the ending, and it is definitely not one I have seen in many children’s books. It is an ending that invokes a sense of longing for a definitive closure for a character (who this character is, I will not spoil!)
I loved fantasy books as a child and I wish I was a child when I read Lefroy’s book for the first time; mainly because a large number of fantasy books that I read were from Britain or America and so a lot of culture or scenery references were lost on me. In contrast, Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is not steeped in Australian colloquialisms but rather celebrates the world building aspects of fantasy (but with perhaps a little bit of Australian cheek).
A fantastic book for children looking to read a story with an intense plot and complex characters, but also a great book for adults and parents alike who can read ahead once the kids are fast asleep!
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World, by Kathryn Lefroy, follows Alex who is visiting her grandfather’s farm in Tasmania for the summer. Lefroy quickly throws her heroine into shenanigans when Alex realises she can understand the alpacas. The madness does not end here for poor Alex. Instead, like many heroines before her, Alex’s destiny as a saviour is thrust upon her and she is tasked to defeat a sinister-being who is a threat to the entire universe.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is a fantastic stepping-stone for kids transitioning into large books; larger not only in size but in complexity of plot and development of characters. As the novel progresses, Lefroy looks beyond the divisive line of good and evil to reveal the grey area where many characters lurk. Lefroy tackled this complex issue subtly throughout the book by first introducing the characters as either good or evil but then allows her reader to discover that these characters are not either one or the other by the narrative’s conclusion.
I must confess, I still have whiplash from the ending, and it is definitely not one I have seen in many children’s books. It is an ending that invokes a sense of longing for a definitive closure for a character (who this character is, I will not spoil!)
I loved fantasy books as a child and I wish I was a child when I read Lefroy’s book for the first time; mainly because a large number of fantasy books that I read were from Britain or America and so a lot of culture or scenery references were lost on me. In contrast, Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is not steeped in Australian colloquialisms but rather celebrates the world building aspects of fantasy (but with perhaps a little bit of Australian cheek).
A fantastic book for children looking to read a story with an intense plot and complex characters, but also a great book for adults and parents alike who can read ahead once the kids are fast asleep!
November 19, 2019
A witty, whirlwind middle-grade quest filled with family bonds, hidden secrets, and heroic action, big and small. Alex and the Alpacas do save the world but the deeper story is one of family. With wonderful writing and cheeky humor, Lefroy brings to life not only plucky Alex and a grumpy grandpa but also four slightly forgetful alpacas all the while ratcheting-up what's at stake. A great adventure told with heart! For fans of The Books of Elsewhere and Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer.
November 8, 2019
Gorgeous middle grade fantasy reflecting all the quirkiness of Tasmania, Lefroy’s chosen setting. Aussie paddocks, vegemite sandwiches and realistic contemporary family life blend with an original global myth fantasy backstory (How else do you explain the alpacas, olive trees, ancient symbols and a vengeful spirit who controls Tasmanian Tigers?)
Alex is an engaging hero in this fun little adventure.
Alex is an engaging hero in this fun little adventure.
February 17, 2019
Loved this fantasy adventure story, set in Tasmania. Wonderful fantasy elements, good and evil, treasure hunt, feisty girl hero, talking alpacas, interwoven South American history, Tasmanian tigers so much more.
Super fast-paced, this draws you in quickly and you won't stop until you finish. One of my favourites for early 2019. Read aloud to middle primary students.
Love, power, destiny all powerful themes.
Lefroy's imagery and her elemental sensory narrative is beautifully crafted.
Super fast-paced, this draws you in quickly and you won't stop until you finish. One of my favourites for early 2019. Read aloud to middle primary students.
Love, power, destiny all powerful themes.
Lefroy's imagery and her elemental sensory narrative is beautifully crafted.
September 29, 2020
Wow…what a read. This book has brought out every emotion I ever associate with family and friends in my life.
The story follows a young girl called Alex, who, after her Dad cancelled summer plans with her, decided to follow her mum to her Granddad’s farm to help out. While there, she starts to hear voices in the wind, and from the Alpacas. And suddenly, she had a destiny and had to go through dangerous trials to save the world.
*SPOILERS ALERT*
While the story had a typical storyline, the writing style only made the story so much more fascinating. The character building for the main characters are rather complete considering this is a pretty short book. Alex is so obviously a young girl, with the temper and willfulness that comes with it. She’s stubborn and proud, but also kind. Her reactions to situations are very believable and natural. Lefroy did a good job creating a minor similarity between Alex and the villain, Kiala. She wouldn’t have understood the ritual she needed to do if she didn’t have a sister.
The mystery element in the story was a huge part in the story, but it didn’t add much value in the plot. The journey, or process, however, offered situations in which Alex grew and changed in a short amount of time. Enough to become a better leader, to learn to accept help, and to become stronger.
I absolutely loved the part where Alex could understand the alpacas. Their characters were not as well built as Alex or Kiala, but the main traits were pretty well demonstrated. I also just love any book where the animals become friends with the main character.
Predictions I made along the way:
- Moraika was compromised when she decided to stay back and stall the tigers.
o She wasn’t hahahaha!
- Alex got the last sentence wrong, or the purpose of the ritual wrong. I thought that maybe she was supposed to show Kiala love, and set her free.
o The ritual bound Kiala to another olive sapling, it worked in the end.
- The tigers might come to her aid instead of staying bound to Kiala’s command because Kiala was getting weaker.
o Nope, they were bound until the ritual was done.
Favourite Quotes:
“Is the blood of one worth more than the blood of an empire?”
I feel that people tend to react much stronger in times of war, where remorse weren’t considered cause for leniency. Kiala did accidentally hurt her sister, but to bind her and leave her for a thousand years seemed extreme. Her backstory wasn’t complete, and I might not feel the sympathy I currently feel if she had cruelly slaughtered many people. But all that was revealed was her childhood and her gradual estrangement from her sister. I also didn’t like how her sister was kind and represented regeneration…so to speak…yet was able to imprison her sister and leave her with such a fate.
Alex’s sudden understanding of this sentence while she had to make a choice between her friends and letting Kiala win moved me. Unlike Resila – Kiala’s sister – she chose her friends instead of the world.
The story follows a young girl called Alex, who, after her Dad cancelled summer plans with her, decided to follow her mum to her Granddad’s farm to help out. While there, she starts to hear voices in the wind, and from the Alpacas. And suddenly, she had a destiny and had to go through dangerous trials to save the world.
*SPOILERS ALERT*
While the story had a typical storyline, the writing style only made the story so much more fascinating. The character building for the main characters are rather complete considering this is a pretty short book. Alex is so obviously a young girl, with the temper and willfulness that comes with it. She’s stubborn and proud, but also kind. Her reactions to situations are very believable and natural. Lefroy did a good job creating a minor similarity between Alex and the villain, Kiala. She wouldn’t have understood the ritual she needed to do if she didn’t have a sister.
The mystery element in the story was a huge part in the story, but it didn’t add much value in the plot. The journey, or process, however, offered situations in which Alex grew and changed in a short amount of time. Enough to become a better leader, to learn to accept help, and to become stronger.
I absolutely loved the part where Alex could understand the alpacas. Their characters were not as well built as Alex or Kiala, but the main traits were pretty well demonstrated. I also just love any book where the animals become friends with the main character.
Predictions I made along the way:
- Moraika was compromised when she decided to stay back and stall the tigers.
o She wasn’t hahahaha!
- Alex got the last sentence wrong, or the purpose of the ritual wrong. I thought that maybe she was supposed to show Kiala love, and set her free.
o The ritual bound Kiala to another olive sapling, it worked in the end.
- The tigers might come to her aid instead of staying bound to Kiala’s command because Kiala was getting weaker.
o Nope, they were bound until the ritual was done.
Favourite Quotes:
“Is the blood of one worth more than the blood of an empire?”
I feel that people tend to react much stronger in times of war, where remorse weren’t considered cause for leniency. Kiala did accidentally hurt her sister, but to bind her and leave her for a thousand years seemed extreme. Her backstory wasn’t complete, and I might not feel the sympathy I currently feel if she had cruelly slaughtered many people. But all that was revealed was her childhood and her gradual estrangement from her sister. I also didn’t like how her sister was kind and represented regeneration…so to speak…yet was able to imprison her sister and leave her with such a fate.
Alex’s sudden understanding of this sentence while she had to make a choice between her friends and letting Kiala win moved me. Unlike Resila – Kiala’s sister – she chose her friends instead of the world.
April 8, 2020
A well paced adventure for mid Primary and up.
A teacher at my school was reading this to his class...and they were enjoying it...until all the children stayed away due to the current Covid situation.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the Tasmanian setting...except for the use of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger (a particularly shameful event in Australia)....and the book didn’t even feel especially Australian to me (yes, I know she mentioned Vegemite)..... but that could help the book be more international....who knows.
But, I was disappointed that more of Tassie wasn’t exposed.
The book is shortlisted for the West Australian Young Readers Book Awards 2020, so it should be a popular read. ( These awards are very special as the books are nominated for kids BY KIDS).
A teacher at my school was reading this to his class...and they were enjoying it...until all the children stayed away due to the current Covid situation.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the Tasmanian setting...except for the use of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger (a particularly shameful event in Australia)....and the book didn’t even feel especially Australian to me (yes, I know she mentioned Vegemite)..... but that could help the book be more international....who knows.
But, I was disappointed that more of Tassie wasn’t exposed.
The book is shortlisted for the West Australian Young Readers Book Awards 2020, so it should be a popular read. ( These awards are very special as the books are nominated for kids BY KIDS).
April 11, 2021
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World by Kathryn Lefroy is a fast-paced middle-grade adventure story of mistaken identity, an evil twin, and talking alpacas.
The story opens with Alex and her mum on their way to Alex’s grandfather’s farm. Grandfather Jacob doesn’t want them there. But Alex unwittingly unleashes a malevolent force bent on destruction and the biggest adventure of her life waits.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is perfect for readers who enjoy lots of action and a mystery. The story has themes of family relationships, tradition, and facing your fears. It was shortlisted for the 2020 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and published by Fremantle Press in 2019.
Many thanks to the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
The story opens with Alex and her mum on their way to Alex’s grandfather’s farm. Grandfather Jacob doesn’t want them there. But Alex unwittingly unleashes a malevolent force bent on destruction and the biggest adventure of her life waits.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is perfect for readers who enjoy lots of action and a mystery. The story has themes of family relationships, tradition, and facing your fears. It was shortlisted for the 2020 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards and published by Fremantle Press in 2019.
Many thanks to the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
April 8, 2022
I rated 5 stars. It is such an amazing book with the most relatable characters. And talking alpacas! I thought it couldn’t get any better after that but it did. I would more recomend to a younger audience though.
May 29, 2019
Fast paced, wild and upredictable... A quick and easy read for upper primary/lower secondary, with fantastical situations, brave characters & action/adventure on almost every page.
May 7, 2021
The synopsis for Alex and the Alpacas Save the World is pretty exciting!
Alex is expecting a boring summer. But when her Mum takes her to visit her grandfather on his farm in Tasmania, weird things start to happen. Weirdest of all? Her grandfather’s pet alpacas … who can talk! When things go from strange to scary, Alex must use all her brains, brawn and bravery in order to survive the sinister forces threatening life as she knows it.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World was kindly sent to me by the author @kathrynlefroy. It was shortlisted for the 2019 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards so I had very high hopes which were definitely met.
What a classic adventure story! A 12 year old girl discovers she is the key to saving the world, she rises to the challenge with a trusty sidekick and four alpacas by her side. This was a pacy read, hitting all the classic adventure and mystery story notes but it was set in a unique Tasmanian setting which was such a great surprise.
This is a perfect book for younger readers with puzzles and mysteries to work out. I would have loved reading this in primary school because it was full of magic and quests but also laughs.
A favourite quote was: “Not for the first time today, she wondered whether coming into the forest with a half-baked plan, four alpacas and an overzealous farm boy was the worst idea she’d ever had.”
I had thought this book was definitely a standalone until the last page – is a sequel in store? I hope so!
Thanks again for the #gifted copy @kathrynlefroy and @fremantlepress.
Alex is expecting a boring summer. But when her Mum takes her to visit her grandfather on his farm in Tasmania, weird things start to happen. Weirdest of all? Her grandfather’s pet alpacas … who can talk! When things go from strange to scary, Alex must use all her brains, brawn and bravery in order to survive the sinister forces threatening life as she knows it.
Alex and the Alpacas Save the World was kindly sent to me by the author @kathrynlefroy. It was shortlisted for the 2019 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards so I had very high hopes which were definitely met.
What a classic adventure story! A 12 year old girl discovers she is the key to saving the world, she rises to the challenge with a trusty sidekick and four alpacas by her side. This was a pacy read, hitting all the classic adventure and mystery story notes but it was set in a unique Tasmanian setting which was such a great surprise.
This is a perfect book for younger readers with puzzles and mysteries to work out. I would have loved reading this in primary school because it was full of magic and quests but also laughs.
A favourite quote was: “Not for the first time today, she wondered whether coming into the forest with a half-baked plan, four alpacas and an overzealous farm boy was the worst idea she’d ever had.”
I had thought this book was definitely a standalone until the last page – is a sequel in store? I hope so!
Thanks again for the #gifted copy @kathrynlefroy and @fremantlepress.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews