Lea Leads the Way

American Girl: Lea #2

by Lisa Yee

Lea is all set for an animal-discovery adventure! She's never been to a rainforest before, and her mind is filled with exciting thoughts about the animals she'll get to see - and the pictures she'll get to take deep in the jungle. During a hike with her brother through the Amazon rainforest, they discover a baby sloth that is badly injured. Lea quickly decides she must do all she can to help the little sloth survive. But as she learns more, she "Is that the right thing to do?"

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Contemporary, Brazil, Animals, Chapter Books

Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Lisa Yee has written over 20 novels. Her most recent book, Maizy Chen's Last Chance, is about a fifth-generation Chinese American girl, and is a National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor, and the Asian Pacific American Children's Literature Award winner.

Lisa's debut novel, Millicent Min, Girl Genius, won the prestigious Sid Fleischman Humor Award. Other books include Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, Absolutely Maybe, and a series about a 4th grader, Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) and Bobby the Brave (Sometimes), illustrated by Dan Santat.

Lisa is also the author of several American Girl books and the DC Super Hero Girls series. A Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence, Lisa's books have been named a NPR Best Summer Read, Sports Illustrated Kids Hot Summer Read, and USA Today Critics’ Top Pick.

Lisa lives In Western Massachusetts, but spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, especially when it's cold. Her next book, an awkward and hilarious mystery, is called The Misfits: A Royal Conundrum, and is illustrated by Dan Santat.

You can visit Lisa at www.lisayee.com.

Reviews

[Emma Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was so lovely. Lea goes back to Brazil but this time to explore the Amazon rainforest along with her brother's host family. There are several scenes that depict in detail the kind of animals one can find there and I loved all of those. There's also a very touching subplot with Lea meeting a new brother and adopting a baby sloth. I loved this book very much, it's a classic American Girl adventure.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book better than the first because we learned a lot about how Amazon rainforest and its wildlife. I also learned a lot of Portuguese and about pronunciation! I know Spanish well so it was easy to figure out what each word or phrase meant the pronunciation ain't quite the same. Now I'm considering choosing Portuguese as the language to play next on the duolingo language app.

[Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was very educational about the Rainforest.

[Xyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult reader of a younger reader chapter book I was amazed at how Lisa Yee was able to whisk me away into the Amazon rainforest. Not in the same way as a National Geographic special would, but as a stepping tone to learning more.

Lea learned some really good lessons about disturbing natural habitats on her trip to meet her brother's host family. Her lessons are specific to her story, but can be expanded to a more global respect for the environment and natural habitats of living things.

I really enjoyed reading about her adventures and the lessons she learned and how her blog inspired her class to learn about and do more to try and help the rainforest.

If I were a younger reader, I think I would have liked a few illustrations to show Lea's surroundings. I suppose, with a parents help, they could search the city names used and find images that way. But if those resources are not available illustrations would be helpful.

[Shani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally. Finished.

What took so long with such a short boom you ask? Well, besides having a millions thing happening around me that took my time...until about halfway through, I was having trouble with Lea's character. I don't know just how to describe it right, but she was getting to me. Perhaps it was because I could see where some of her bad ideas were bad before they happened. That happens a lot for me with stories, be it book or screen (or whatever.) I was also having trouble with some of the story itself, just the way thing were told.

So, not being able to deal with it at the time, and having other things to do, I put it aside. But then, I finally sat myself down to finish reading. I pushed through and halfway through the halfway point (yes I know how odd that sounds), it improved to me. And I really enjoyed the ending. I see where it leaves in for the next book, but said ending actually ends, and doesn't leave you feeling like you "have to" read the next one. I really appreciate that.

[Emma Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first one in the series. Lea's excursions on the Amazon River and into the forest itself were informative and fun. I also thought that her journey learning more about the relationship between humans and animals was very thought-provoking. Overall, it felt suprisingly realistic, which I really appreciated. However, I still didn't feel especially connected to the characters.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book with the protagonist showing really great growth. The book was obviously written do draw attention to environmental issues facing the Amazon rainforest (the year of the Rio Olympics), but I appreciated how the author dealt with it. The character was very real; sweet, yet a little annoying.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lea Leads the Way continues in the style of the first Lea book. Good, if simple, lessons about protecting wild animals. Lea still has a tendency to seem kind of inconsiderate/thoughtless, though she does feel believable as a character. The conflict in this installment takes a while to get going, but the rainforest details are likely to engage young readers nonetheless.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning her way around a new place while also learning about the life that her older brother, a foreign exchange student, has created with a different family that he has been living with while he was at college.

[Karrie Draxler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but not merely as much as the fist book because I feel that this book lacks more adventure but all in all it's a good book.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my kids and they all enjoyed it—ages 3-14!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun one! Girl of the Year from 2016 Lea goes to the rain forest has adventures and teaches us about conserving the Amazon.

[Nicole Mikolajewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much it is awesome

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice!
:)

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sloths are now my second favorite animal!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my daughter and she wouldn’t let me stop. It is an interesting plot even if it’s a kids book! Can’t wait to read the next one to her!

[Leah Delbaugh]

It was really good and cute=)

[Gabrielle Chevez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a adventures book that will give you fun opinions! and perspectives.

[Ca1t!Y# · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. It was an easy read.

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

pure nostalgia i love this book w everything in me 😭😭

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this one. Lea was a bit annoying, but the adventure was cool. I'm not a super big fan of the "get attached to rescued animal" trope in AG books.

[Antonela LoRusso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really sweet. Again, I loved the relationship with Zac and Lea. I also loved Tomás and his family too. Amanda was very cute too. 🩷

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lea Leads The Way by Lisa Yee its a book about a girl that goes to the rainforest.The book is about a girl named Lea and she goes to the rainforest to spend some time with her brother and to see animals but when she was walking she found an animal that was hurt but she didn´t know what to do.I did like the book because its interesting and excited.I would recommend this book to all of the people that like American girls.

[asiya | アセヤ (free palestine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book, I only read the sequel though, so hopefully I'll get time to read the first book soon so that way I can just finish off the trilogy.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lea and her brother Zac are heading to the rainforest in Brazil. Zac takes her to stay with his host family where she meets their son, Tomas. During her stay with them, Lea has even more adventures. She finds a baby sloth that has been badly hurt. She knows she should leave animals in the wild, but she decides she cannot do that and takes the baby back to the host family's house.

This is the type of series where you watch the main character grow up a little each installment. In the first book Lea behaved very childish, and in this one she still has her moments, but she also has taken on a more mature look to life. When she finds the baby sloth, she thinks about her actions but feels that saving the baby is the right choice. She has a slip up when she wants to destroy and ant home for a video to post on her blog.

Family and friendship plays a strong role in this book as well. Her parents were not able to come along on this part of the journey, leaving Lea to travel with her older brother. Lea also develops a nice relationship with Tomas. Her love of her grandmother once again guides her through.

I have enjoyed the setting in Brazil with these two books. The final installment takes place back home in St. Louis.

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of American Girl dolls and books. I loved the first book in Lea's series and couldn't wait to pick up this one. In Lea Leads the Way Lea is traveling with her brother Zac to the Amazon Rainforest. Lea's biggest desire is to see some animals and take pictures for a blog she is writing for school. She wants to show her classmates the fun she's having and at one point in the story she has a disagreement with Zac when she tries to make a video of ants she found. Despite the fact that she got upset over not having an ant video to show off to her classmates. Lea has grown a lot since the last book. She is braver and more confident. My favorite part is when Lea finds and cares for a baby three toed sloth, I wish the book included illustrations like they used to. Lea Leads the way has a great message of rainforest conservation and shows kids and adults that even if the can't physically be in an area to help with a cause they can still contribute by getting the word out and fundraising

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the first book had a sea turtle sanctuary and this book had a rain forest animal sanctuary. Lea continues her trip to the Amazon forest to visit with her brother and his host family. She sees some pretty cool things in the rain forest and finds an orphaned baby sloth. With her brother's help she takes it to the animal sanctuary where they give it antibiotics for the cuts and will rehabilitate it until it's ready to back into the wild on it's own. They think it's mother was eaten by a harpy eagle and the baby fell off when the mother was taken. Lea learns a lot about preserving the rainforest and how important it is and everything. It wasn't too bad, but this book did get a bit preachy about preservation. Lea planned to talk her classmates back home into "adopting" the baby sloth by donating money to pay for it's care until it can go back into the wild.

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first book in Lea's series.
Lea Leads the Way is a wonderful start to learning about the rainforest and its inhabitants.
Lea shares her experiences with her classmates through her camera and her blog. It's most touching to see her connection to new people in her life and feeling her connection in spirit to her grandmother. Her compassion for animals and desire to do what she can to help shows great personal strength.
I would like to enjoy more adventures with Lea. Beijing?

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lea gets to visit Zac's host family and excited to be in the jungle so she can get true action pictures. Lea also realizes that Zac has changed a lot. One day when Lea takes a hike with Zac she spots a baby sloth! But this sloth is hurt and orphaned so Lea has to do something she ends up taking to the host family so they can care for it. Will the sloth be ok?

[AurorainBookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why doesn't Lea's parents tell her not to take pictures of people without their permission? This book series loses one start because of that.
This book loses an additional star because Lea and Zac run on a hiking trail which is not a safe thing to do and their dad did nothing to tell them how unsafe this was or stop them.