The Leopard Behind the Moon

by Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev

No one knows what lies beyond the magical village door, but Ezomo is determined to find out.

There are three important laws in Ezomo’s village: Do not go to The Valley, do not go out at night, and never, ever, ever open the magical door that protects them all. But when Ezomo encounters the leopard believed to have killed his father, he and his two best friends embark on a journey that leads them past the boundaries set by their elders.

With his friends by his side, Ezomo chases after the leopard, certain that it has the power to cure all, and in the process he discovers the true history of his village, and that cautionary tales exist for a reason.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Africa, Young Adult, Adventure, Childrens, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Stefan Bachmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was lovely. The setting - an imaginary village in Africa, tinged with magical realism and folklore - was so lushly described, from the the food, to the fever trees and butter pear trees and honeysuckle, to the vividly-written inhabitants. Also, there's a mysterious door out in the jungle, behind which evil spirits are rumored to live, that was such a cool, creepy hook for the plot.

I especially liked how the book deals with its themes in unexpected ways. The main characters are outcasts in their village and go on a quest to change that, but nothing turns out the way they expected and there are no easy answers. The book deals with loss and tradition and finding one's place and self worth within a rather unkind community. Portions of it are touching, and portions of it are thrilling, and the ending was perfect. Recommended.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But you can't cast your hurt on other people. Your heart will never heal that way. It will only grow darker."

------------------------

The Leopard Behind the Moon is a beautifully written parable about children in a small village learning about acceptance. Each child has suffered and is looking for a way to right the wrongs they have experienced. Ezomo is a "useless" boy in the village who has been rocked by the death of his father. Chiamama's family is shunned within the village because her mother can't cook. Muja's father has lost his voice and has become irrelevant within the village. They band together to help Ezomo find the leopard who killed his father. This quest takes them out of the village putting them in danger and angering the elders. The adventures they encounter provide them opportunities for tough choices that teach them lesson after lesson.

I really enjoyed the magic threaded throughout their very normal existence. These children had big hearts, a strong sense of justice and everlasting hope. This is a beautiful middle grade story told in the African tradition of oral storytelling. I highly recommend this short, beautiful story.

Thanks to Greenwillow Books for a copy. All opinions above are my own.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a privilege it was to receive this advance reader!
This beautiful tale revolves around three kids whose families are shunned in the village, and by birth, so are the children. The children form a solid friendship in their attempt to capture the leopard that killed Ezomo’s father and brought curses on his mother, who has become sick and is dying, Muja’s dad, whose voice has gone away, and Chimama’s mother, who is unable to cook. Their adventures take them in forbidden land and danger.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Leopard Behind The Moon

Author: Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev

Book Series: Standalone

Diversity: African MC and characters

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy

Genre: MG Fantasy

Publication Date: September 21, 2021

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 288

Recommended Age: 10+ (some slight violence)

Explanation of CWs: some slight animal violence

Synopsis: There are three important laws in Ezomo’s village: Do not go to The Valley, do not go out at night, and never, ever, ever open the magical door that protects them all. But when Ezomo encounters the leopard believed to have killed his father, he and his two best friends embark on a journey that leads them past the boundaries set by their elders.

With his friends by his side, Ezomo chases after the leopard, certain that it has the power to cure all, and in the process he discovers the true history of his village, and that cautionary tales exist for a reason.

Review: I absolutely loved this read. It was beautiful in world building and the author did amazing to create the atmosphere. I loved the writing and I also loved the characters and how well developed they were for this being a middle grade novel.

The only thing I had some issue with is that the beginning was a bit slow.

Verdict: It was amazing. Highly recommend.

[Rilla Jaggia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a tiny village where everyone knows their place, or lack thereof, a boy is so engrossed in mourning the loss of his father, the villagers deem him useless—a problem that needs to be solved. But Ezomo has two friends who understand, and are willing to accompany him in his search for redemption, even if it means opening the forbidden door in the jungle.

Paasewe -Valchev relates this heartwarming, memorable tale with lyrical language, and details a magical setting where children dare to find answers for themselves and leopards can hide behind the moon. I absolutely loved this book and found it held just as much meaning for me as an adult, as it will for younger readers.

[Robert Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can definitely see the influence of the authors childhood growing up in Liberia and hearing stories told In the Oral tradition before the civil war forged your family to flee it is definitely different than most of the young girl books I’ve read this is definitely for a younger audience even though I don’t think you’ll become an instant children’s classic I do think it’s important to read for young children just so they can get some diversity and see things from different perspectives and get some culture.

[Christyne Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LEOPARD BEHIND THE MOON is one of my recent favorite middle grade novels - an engrossing tale steeped in African tradition, full of interesting characters, fascinating magic, and brilliant revelations. This is the story of three friends - all of them outcasts - who journey beyond a mysterious door in the middle of the jungle to help save their parents (also outcasts). It’s a book about friendship, acceptance, and the unintended consequences our actions can have on others, told with striking language and humor. I highly recommend!

[Elysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. Woven like a tapestry. I love how everything, down to the very last mosquito and tree leaf, has its own spirit and personality. This is one of those stories that feels like the author is the only one who could tell it. Tight, personal, colorful, soulful.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Three friends share a magical adventure, each one for a different purpose. This would be a good book club or book group choice because the story (and its ending!) provides the perfect opportunity for rich discussion.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to really concentrate while reading this book. I would recommend it for an older MS reader, or older. I also think a lot of adults would enjoy it.

[Paige V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review from my little sister (11yo):

In the village of Sesa, there was a boy named Ezomo who was considered useless by the other villagers. They laughed at him and looked at him in disgust, except for his friends Chimama and Muja. Three years ago, Ezomo's father died because of a leopard attack. On the anniversary of his father's death, Ezomo, Chimama, and Muja found the leopard that killed his dad. They believed the leopard was responsible for all the problems in the village, including why Chimama's mother couldn't cook and Muja's father couldn't speak. So, they decided to embark on a daring journey to hunt the leopard and save the village, even if it meant breaking a few rules.

I chose to read this book primarily because of the leopard on the cover and the title. I'm a huge fan of cats and anything feline-related, so I was immediately drawn in. As I started reading, I was pleasantly surprised by the setting and how the story was set far into the past. The language used was also intriguing, with a unique dialect that added to the story's authenticity.

One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the setting of a secret village far in the wilderness. It was fascinating to see how the characters lived and interacted with each other in such a remote location. The main character, Ezomo, was well-developed, but I wanted him to open up more. His emotional journey throughout the story was engaging and relatable.

The supporting characters, Chimama and Muja, were also interesting, although I didn't find them as compelling as Ezomo. However, they did add depth and complexity to the story.

Overall, this was a great book, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a touch of adventure and mystery.

[Vanessa Kelman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story was interesting, and I was ok with the engagement, but I find myself wondering what the point of it was? The prose is lyrical, the imagery vivid, but a lot of it just didn't make sense to me, and the parts that did just seem ridiculous. The village they lived in was full of judgmental, rude people who don't seem very intelligent, the village they found was full of holier-than-thou people who are also quick to judge, and the kids just wanted things back the way they were, which wasn't all that great anyway. And even if it had been magic, why on earth would the leopard have been out to get them? What would make them jump to that conclusion in the first place? It was almost like the kids were playing a game of pretend, but they took it too far. And what was the deal with the door? Why was it there? No one apparently knows, but of course the other side must have evil lurking. And anyone who is brave enough to actually try and get an answer is accused of trying to harm the village.

If you're able to suspend disbelief with a folklore-ish tale and just roll with it, you may enjoy this book. But it just didn't do anything for me.

[Sandra Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

MS, African folk lore
This book is highly rated, so don't let my review stop you from reading it. This synopsis is from Amazon: There are three important laws in Ezomo’s village: Do not go to The Valley, do not go out at night, and never, ever, ever open the magical door that protects them all. But when Ezomo encounters the leopard believed to have killed his father, he and his two best friends embark on a journey that leads them past the boundaries set by their elders. With his friends by his side, Ezomo chases after the leopard, certain that it has the power to cure all, and in the process he discovers the true history of his village, and that cautionary tales exist for a reason."
“A beautifully rendered coming-of-age story.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This author was born in Liberia and eventually her family made their way to the United States. This tale strongly evokes the African storytelling tradition.
Sorry, Dear Author, I just couldn't get "into" the story, it seemed disjointed, and all over the place.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story about 3 courageous children who set out on a journey to save their parents. Each child has to adapt to life with their own grief and sorrows. This story really touched my heart!

[Vellanorah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was quite long with not much action. It was a folktale of sorts but it wasn’t super interesting and really dragged without much redemption. I don’t feel more value having read it. I wish it would have been better for as long as we invested.

[Megan Navarro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to my 8 year old daughter at bed time and it was just not very interesting or engaging. She said she liked it but I personally felt like the language in it was over her head a lot and the ending didn’t really wrap things up. It just felt very underwhelming and kind of pointless.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jill CD · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will appeal to kids who like folktales and magical realism. Although it wasn’t for me, I know I can put it in the hands of certain students. Grades 3 and up

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with the kids. We lived the characters and the storyline. I think they will remember this one.

[Words, Images, & Worlds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful title from the author. Recommended for young readers and classroom libraries.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a tale of Ezomo and two of his friends running in circles and arguing. I was hoping it’d get better, but that’s about all that happened.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these type of books 🥰

[Nancy FAUTH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of forgiveness and kindness on the part of 3 children. It was a pleasure to read.

[Thistle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in a world in an African myth. I thought it would be interesting, but the "world logic" was just too unrealistic for me.

DNF

[Wendi (Alex) Werner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The audiobook has such a somnolent effect. I feel I would like the story with a less dull narrator.