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Lionboy Trilogy #1
Lionboy
When his parents are kidnapped, what's ten-year-old Charlie Ashanti to do? Rescue them, that's what! He doesn't know who has taken his parents, or why. But he does know that one special talent will aid him on his journey - his amazing ability to speak Cat. Charlie calls on his clever feline friends-from stray city cats to magnificent caged lions-for help. With them by his side, Charlie uses wit and courage to try to find his parents before it's too late.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
85 people are currently reading
1256 people want to read
About the author
Zizou Corder
34 books88 followersZizou Corder is Louisa Young and Isabel Adomakoh Young, whose names are too long to fit on the front of a book.
Louisa is a grown-up and has written five grown-up books; Isabel is a kid and has written mostly schoolwork.
The original Zizou is Isabel's lizard, only he spells it Zizu. They Have written five books together: the highly acclaimed Lionboy trilogy, Lee Raven Boy Thief and Halo.
They live in London. Only one goes to school.
Louisa is a grown-up and has written five grown-up books; Isabel is a kid and has written mostly schoolwork.
The original Zizou is Isabel's lizard, only he spells it Zizu. They Have written five books together: the highly acclaimed Lionboy trilogy, Lee Raven Boy Thief and Halo.
They live in London. Only one goes to school.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
October 4, 2017
Well! I finished it! I'd really describe this as fantasy adventure. Though if I'm honest it doesn't really feature many of the ingredients I personally consider are required for the fantasy adventure recipe. I write fantasy adventure (The Last Dragon Slayer is currently Free on most Ebook Retailers!), to me the genre is about dragons, dwarves, elves, dungeons and battles, with a sprinkling of magic.
So what makes this fantasy adventure?
Well, it's clearly set in some sort of post-fossil-fuel future. The implications of this aren't really explored in complete depth. The world is our world in the future, but I get the feeling that some technology has moved forwards and some has moved backwards. It's a very familiar setting, with a few twists and quirks in to surprise you.
Now the focus of the plot is Charlie Ashanti. Near the beginning of the book, his parents are whisked away leaving him alone. He has no idea of who has taken them or why. This sets up the quest of finding out why they were taken and finding them. A big clue to the circumstances comes when a suspicious local criminal appears to try and abduct Charlie. A tactic Charlie often uses to resolve conflicts and to further his goals is to play the naive child and to feign compliance. He's clever in how he uses this tactic, but it isn't the strength that makes him special.
Charlie's real specialty is talking to cats.
Now that might not seem like so much of a big deal, I know many of my female bookie friends talk to cats ALL the time. The difference in Charlie's case is that the cats talk back and Charlie is able to understand them.
The characterization of cats seems realistic in this book to me. I'm not really a 'cat person' per se, but my perception is that the author portrays the cats' feelings and emotions plausibly. It adds an interesting dimension to the book and gives it a specific identity. The ability often comes into the plot too. I enjoyed the cat interactions and the tale of how he came to talk to cats. I liked the revelations regarding lion tamers that pertain to this ability too.
The coded messages, between Charlie and his parents were satisfying and I really liked the characters of Charlie's parents, Aneeba and.. Erm, his mum. The Circus section, which made up a good portion of the middle of the book was enjoyable, but for me the character I really liked was King Boris.
The book ends on something of a cliffhanger. Everything is tidied up and a definite story has taken place. It's a book with a satisfying ending, but one which definitely urges you to read on. I can't complain too much about this strategy because it's precisely what I aim for in my fantasy series! This author finishes the tale in a trilogy however, whereas I expect my series will run to seven or eight books.
The writing was good, and engaging, but a little quirky at times. I'll be honest I think my daughter (Who I read this to [she's 9]) enjoyed this more than me. She's very keen on animals and I think appreciates the concept of Charlie being able to communicate with cats. There was some peril, but nothing unsuitable for 7+ year old children. I'd say it's probably an 8+ or 9+ book in terms of them reading it to themselves. My daughter COULD have read this, but she likes me sitting and reading to her, and I enjoy it too.
The subject matter was interesting to me, but not as gripping as a traditional fantasy world. I'd say I enjoyed Harry Potter more, even though I hated the book ending of 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and thought the film ending (With the book, the sock and Lucius Malfoy) was much better.
What this book DOES have is an air of a mystery and a subtle criticism global pharmaceutical companies. Which I appreciate.
All in all, it's a very good book. The thing that hindered my enjoyment more than anything was simply the fact I didn't gel with subject matter as much I do with Potter. However some children will probably prefer this. Overall a great book.
Paperback:- http://amzn.to/2ynmvIO
Kindle Edition:- http://amzn.to/2fRcT1f
Martyn Stanley
Author of:-
The Last Dragon Slayer (Free to download)
So what makes this fantasy adventure?
Well, it's clearly set in some sort of post-fossil-fuel future. The implications of this aren't really explored in complete depth. The world is our world in the future, but I get the feeling that some technology has moved forwards and some has moved backwards. It's a very familiar setting, with a few twists and quirks in to surprise you.
Now the focus of the plot is Charlie Ashanti. Near the beginning of the book, his parents are whisked away leaving him alone. He has no idea of who has taken them or why. This sets up the quest of finding out why they were taken and finding them. A big clue to the circumstances comes when a suspicious local criminal appears to try and abduct Charlie. A tactic Charlie often uses to resolve conflicts and to further his goals is to play the naive child and to feign compliance. He's clever in how he uses this tactic, but it isn't the strength that makes him special.
Charlie's real specialty is talking to cats.
Now that might not seem like so much of a big deal, I know many of my female bookie friends talk to cats ALL the time. The difference in Charlie's case is that the cats talk back and Charlie is able to understand them.
The characterization of cats seems realistic in this book to me. I'm not really a 'cat person' per se, but my perception is that the author portrays the cats' feelings and emotions plausibly. It adds an interesting dimension to the book and gives it a specific identity. The ability often comes into the plot too. I enjoyed the cat interactions and the tale of how he came to talk to cats. I liked the revelations regarding lion tamers that pertain to this ability too.
The coded messages, between Charlie and his parents were satisfying and I really liked the characters of Charlie's parents, Aneeba and.. Erm, his mum. The Circus section, which made up a good portion of the middle of the book was enjoyable, but for me the character I really liked was King Boris.
The book ends on something of a cliffhanger. Everything is tidied up and a definite story has taken place. It's a book with a satisfying ending, but one which definitely urges you to read on. I can't complain too much about this strategy because it's precisely what I aim for in my fantasy series! This author finishes the tale in a trilogy however, whereas I expect my series will run to seven or eight books.
The writing was good, and engaging, but a little quirky at times. I'll be honest I think my daughter (Who I read this to [she's 9]) enjoyed this more than me. She's very keen on animals and I think appreciates the concept of Charlie being able to communicate with cats. There was some peril, but nothing unsuitable for 7+ year old children. I'd say it's probably an 8+ or 9+ book in terms of them reading it to themselves. My daughter COULD have read this, but she likes me sitting and reading to her, and I enjoy it too.
The subject matter was interesting to me, but not as gripping as a traditional fantasy world. I'd say I enjoyed Harry Potter more, even though I hated the book ending of 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and thought the film ending (With the book, the sock and Lucius Malfoy) was much better.
What this book DOES have is an air of a mystery and a subtle criticism global pharmaceutical companies. Which I appreciate.
All in all, it's a very good book. The thing that hindered my enjoyment more than anything was simply the fact I didn't gel with subject matter as much I do with Potter. However some children will probably prefer this. Overall a great book.
Paperback:- http://amzn.to/2ynmvIO
Kindle Edition:- http://amzn.to/2fRcT1f
Martyn Stanley
Author of:-
The Last Dragon Slayer (Free to download)
November 29, 2014
This book has been sitting on my shelf since middle school and honestly I wish I read it back then because I think I would have enjoyed it more. I mean, it's great. It has a POC as the main character and that's something I always love because we need more diversity in books. Plus he can talk to cats. I'm thinking that was the reason I picked this book up all those years ago. That or the shiny cover.
I finished it pretty quickly, so I mean it didn't take up a lot of my time, but I just don't think I read this at the right time. It was certainly aimed at a younger audience (which is why I gave it to my younger cousin when I finished it). The writing was very direct and spelled things out for the reader and personally I would rather try to figure things out for myself. It was very imaginative, especially when it came to the circus scenes, but I'm just not a fan of the circus so those scenes kind of bored me. I don't like the man Charlie met towards the end who just seemed to accept everything Charlie threw at him and took Charlie under his wing. I mean, a child sneaks into your train car with six lions and you're like "oh yeah, that's cool". I don't think so.
I would have liked to hear more from the cats. They clearly have some sort of gossip system going around because within hours it seemed every cat in the country knew about Charlie's parents.
Honestly, the only reason I even picked up this book now was because I thought my cousin might want to read it and I wanted to read it before I gave it to her. I should have read it when I bought it all those years ago, and I regret not doing so. It's a series (trilogy I believe?) so nothing was really explained this time around and nothing was really solved in the end. It ended more like a chapter would end rather than a book. I never connected with any of the characters, so I don't care to continue the series.
I finished it pretty quickly, so I mean it didn't take up a lot of my time, but I just don't think I read this at the right time. It was certainly aimed at a younger audience (which is why I gave it to my younger cousin when I finished it). The writing was very direct and spelled things out for the reader and personally I would rather try to figure things out for myself. It was very imaginative, especially when it came to the circus scenes, but I'm just not a fan of the circus so those scenes kind of bored me. I don't like the man Charlie met towards the end who just seemed to accept everything Charlie threw at him and took Charlie under his wing. I mean, a child sneaks into your train car with six lions and you're like "oh yeah, that's cool". I don't think so.
I would have liked to hear more from the cats. They clearly have some sort of gossip system going around because within hours it seemed every cat in the country knew about Charlie's parents.
Honestly, the only reason I even picked up this book now was because I thought my cousin might want to read it and I wanted to read it before I gave it to her. I should have read it when I bought it all those years ago, and I regret not doing so. It's a series (trilogy I believe?) so nothing was really explained this time around and nothing was really solved in the end. It ended more like a chapter would end rather than a book. I never connected with any of the characters, so I don't care to continue the series.
October 6, 2017
Charlie's parents are kidnapped, and Charlie goes searching for them, traveling with a circus, and becoming the LionBoy for a lion act. But the lion tamer doesn't know that Charlie can talk to cats! Charlie and his lion friends decide to escape the circus and strike out on their own to find his parents.
What a fun book! Just a romping, rollicking adventure story with lots of layers to it. I read this book all in one day; it's an easy read and really captured my attention. The plot even surprised me a few times!
I love Charlie's character! His emotional ups and downs are perfectly timed to the pace of the plot, and give us a feel for his humanity, making him an interesting and endearing character.
I loved Charlie's parents right away too; such a quirky family with their own little language!
Even the villains are superbly written- creepy and petty and spiteful and sly. Just brilliant!
I was completely fascinated by the lions and all the circus people. I have never never heard a circus described in such an entrancing way. I felt like I was there, watching a real circus act. I actually laughed at the clowns... and I hate clowns! Especially reading about clowns... that's totally different from seeing them. Reading about clowns is not funny; it's just annoying. What kind of enchanting writing could actually make me laugh at clowns?!? I've been bewitched! haha!
I can see why the writing style (not the subject material) is compared to J.K. Rowling. It really sucks you into this other world and makes it real for you.
My only complaint about this book is that some of the plot developments are a bit too fantastical and coincidental to be believable. Granted, it's a book about a boy who speaks cat-language, but still... That made it a 4-star book for me, instead of the 5-stars I might have given it.
Can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy!
Update: Reading it for the second time is just as good! Loved it again!
What a fun book! Just a romping, rollicking adventure story with lots of layers to it. I read this book all in one day; it's an easy read and really captured my attention. The plot even surprised me a few times!
I love Charlie's character! His emotional ups and downs are perfectly timed to the pace of the plot, and give us a feel for his humanity, making him an interesting and endearing character.
I loved Charlie's parents right away too; such a quirky family with their own little language!
Even the villains are superbly written- creepy and petty and spiteful and sly. Just brilliant!
I was completely fascinated by the lions and all the circus people. I have never never heard a circus described in such an entrancing way. I felt like I was there, watching a real circus act. I actually laughed at the clowns... and I hate clowns! Especially reading about clowns... that's totally different from seeing them. Reading about clowns is not funny; it's just annoying. What kind of enchanting writing could actually make me laugh at clowns?!? I've been bewitched! haha!
I can see why the writing style (not the subject material) is compared to J.K. Rowling. It really sucks you into this other world and makes it real for you.
My only complaint about this book is that some of the plot developments are a bit too fantastical and coincidental to be believable. Granted, it's a book about a boy who speaks cat-language, but still... That made it a 4-star book for me, instead of the 5-stars I might have given it.
Can't wait to read the rest of this trilogy!
Update: Reading it for the second time is just as good! Loved it again!
April 7, 2008
Read this one with my daughter. Neither one of us were thrilled with the book. We discussed it and found that we were both fairly bored. On the bright side it did help her meet reading goals at school.
February 28, 2008
I like how the athor make the coverpage with a lion and the title LION BOY. I also liked how the author start talking about how the kid start talking too the animals but only the family of the cats, specially with the lions.The bad part was that the parents of the kid were rapted because they trated to invent a posion that was for the alergickis of the cats. In the book the kid go to a circus and know that he can talk to the lions so he scaped with them to a place and find a king. The book is very emocinat, very sad and very suspicuis.
July 28, 2025
Charlie is a boy who can talk to cats – not just domestic cats, but cats of all species. When his parents are kidnapped, he stows away on a circus ship and befriends the circus lions, ending up agreeing to help them escape and find their way to Africa.
The feline characters come across as too anthropomorphic, thinking like people rather than animals and understanding terms and concepts that wouldn’t mean anything to them. For example, at one point a cat mentions France to Charlie – cats wouldn’t even know what countries are, let alone the human names for them!
The book is also inconsistent with its own rules regarding languages. We’re told initially that Charlie speaks Cat. Since both domestic cats and lions speak to him, it’s assumed that this is the universal language of felids, wherever they come from. But then, all of a sudden, there’s an English cat speaking French to the French cats! If the cats are speaking human languages, why can’t all humans understand them? And if they’re speaking different languages, why can Charlie understand them all? It doesn’t make sense.
There is occasional missing or incorrect punctuation, the word “lions” is always capitalised despite not being a proper noun, and the book is annoyingly inconclusive. Does Charlie find his parents? Do the lions make it to Africa? And where in all Hell did a freaking sabre-tooth suddenly spring from? We don’t get answers to any of these questions. I presume they’re dealt with in the sequels, but personally, I’m just not interested enough to read them.
The feline characters come across as too anthropomorphic, thinking like people rather than animals and understanding terms and concepts that wouldn’t mean anything to them. For example, at one point a cat mentions France to Charlie – cats wouldn’t even know what countries are, let alone the human names for them!
The book is also inconsistent with its own rules regarding languages. We’re told initially that Charlie speaks Cat. Since both domestic cats and lions speak to him, it’s assumed that this is the universal language of felids, wherever they come from. But then, all of a sudden, there’s an English cat speaking French to the French cats! If the cats are speaking human languages, why can’t all humans understand them? And if they’re speaking different languages, why can Charlie understand them all? It doesn’t make sense.
There is occasional missing or incorrect punctuation, the word “lions” is always capitalised despite not being a proper noun, and the book is annoyingly inconclusive. Does Charlie find his parents? Do the lions make it to Africa? And where in all Hell did a freaking sabre-tooth suddenly spring from? We don’t get answers to any of these questions. I presume they’re dealt with in the sequels, but personally, I’m just not interested enough to read them.
October 9, 2020
4.25 stars--highly recommend Audio version as Simon Jones' voice is lovely. Very fun book, perfect for young adults. This is Part 1 of 3 and ends in the middle of the story. I wished I had know that because I was expecting a complete story and not ⅓ of one.
I will have to listen to or read the other two books in the series eventually because I'd like to know what happens.
I liked Charlie and his parents very much, and the cats (big and little) were funny and fabulous. I loved King Boris and the Circe Characters were well done.
This book was so engrossing that I looked forward to going to work so I could hear the next chapter.
The book was less satisfying after The Big Escape--a little too much hand-wringing and annoying pangs of conscience. I like books better that don't have characters ruminate on the outcome of their self-preservation strategies and instead let the characters' actions and motivations speak for themselves. On the other hand, the Narnia books and the Wrinkle In Time books do the "the child must be perfect or be punished" routine quite a bit, as does Harry Potter, so I suppose "The Guilt Factor" is a staple for children's books.
Besides Charlie beating himself up for any perceived harm he did accidentally being tiresome, this was a fine story.
This is a book that I would love to see as a movie--it could be the hit of the year.
I will have to listen to or read the other two books in the series eventually because I'd like to know what happens.
I liked Charlie and his parents very much, and the cats (big and little) were funny and fabulous. I loved King Boris and the Circe Characters were well done.
This book was so engrossing that I looked forward to going to work so I could hear the next chapter.
The book was less satisfying after The Big Escape--a little too much hand-wringing and annoying pangs of conscience. I like books better that don't have characters ruminate on the outcome of their self-preservation strategies and instead let the characters' actions and motivations speak for themselves. On the other hand, the Narnia books and the Wrinkle In Time books do the "the child must be perfect or be punished" routine quite a bit, as does Harry Potter, so I suppose "The Guilt Factor" is a staple for children's books.
Besides Charlie beating himself up for any perceived harm he did accidentally being tiresome, this was a fine story.
This is a book that I would love to see as a movie--it could be the hit of the year.
February 5, 2016
The book "LionBoy" by Zizou Corder was an amazing book. It is about a kid named Charlie who has parents that are scientist. Charlie also has a special trait where he can talk to cats. It all starts when some kid named Rafi who kidnaps his parents because they were working on some cure to asthma. So Charlie goes on a huge journey to try and find them. First, he joins a circus that is going to Paris because a cat told him that two strange men were talking about bringing them to Paris. At the circus he meets the circus lions and becomes the Lion Boy. The lions ask for Charlie to help them escape and if he does they will help find his parents. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that they left you at a cliff hanger at the end.
December 22, 2023
Intrattiene ma le premesse sono cagionevoli e sviluppate solo in superficie. Certi risvolti sono poi poco probabili, risultando forzati, oltre a ricorrere più volte ad espedienti che sfociano nel cliché.
December 14, 2021
I have seen people talking to plants but here is a boy named Charlie ,who talks to cats and rats .Intresting ! Isn't it ?
➡️The book" Lion Boy " is written by Zizou Corder.
This story slightly ahead to future as Charlie's parents are scientists .This story denotes the future conseuences were ,the world is highly polluted and people are affected by asthma .The phenominal factor of pollution were the cars so, they are banned. Charlie's parents were kidnapped by Rafi because they were carrying an important scientific formula . When Charlie entered home , his home were completely messy his mother's lab were open and his only way of finding them is talking to cat #readforward...........
This colourful tale depicts the unusual people , some remarkable animals and the experiences of Charlie travelling in boat from London to Paris.This tale has adventure , mystery suspense and even horror . I really enjoyed the second half of the story (Charlie's circus experience with lion) .
▶️Isin't all unusual? Comment your thoughts on this book .
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5/5
Do follow my instagram page for more book reviews @readwith_krithi
➡️The book" Lion Boy " is written by Zizou Corder.
This story slightly ahead to future as Charlie's parents are scientists .This story denotes the future conseuences were ,the world is highly polluted and people are affected by asthma .The phenominal factor of pollution were the cars so, they are banned. Charlie's parents were kidnapped by Rafi because they were carrying an important scientific formula . When Charlie entered home , his home were completely messy his mother's lab were open and his only way of finding them is talking to cat #readforward...........
This colourful tale depicts the unusual people , some remarkable animals and the experiences of Charlie travelling in boat from London to Paris.This tale has adventure , mystery suspense and even horror . I really enjoyed the second half of the story (Charlie's circus experience with lion) .
▶️Isin't all unusual? Comment your thoughts on this book .
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5/5
Do follow my instagram page for more book reviews @readwith_krithi
November 12, 2017
2.5-3 stars. I think I would have really liked this as a kid. I found the writing a bit simplistic and as if the author(s) viewed the audience as a bit slow. I could really tell that it was aimed for young children by the language alone. Main character Charlie didn't have much depth, nor any of the other characters really.
Other than that, I had two issues with the book:
1) It's never explained how the cat-language sounds. What do other people hear when Charlie speaks to the cats? It really bugged me, because the author made it seem like they were just speaking with normal words but also pointed out that it was nothing like it. Confusing.
2) The way Charlie is in awe with the circus performance, which included a lot of wild animals. I'm so saddened that many countries (even Sweden) allow wild animals in circus shows. I find that so cruel and old-fashioned and I can't believe anyone would want to watch that, not to mention be in awe with it. I think it gives the wrong message to people - circuses with animals are something cool and fantastic, when in reality it's animal cruelty and nothing else.
That being said, the book is filled with action and it had some sweet moments. I liked the ending with the king as well. I wish Charlie hadn't spent so much time on the boat with the circus, because that was a bit boring. The ending made up for it a little bit.
Other than that, I had two issues with the book:
1) It's never explained how the cat-language sounds. What do other people hear when Charlie speaks to the cats? It really bugged me, because the author made it seem like they were just speaking with normal words but also pointed out that it was nothing like it. Confusing.
2) The way Charlie is in awe with the circus performance, which included a lot of wild animals. I'm so saddened that many countries (even Sweden) allow wild animals in circus shows. I find that so cruel and old-fashioned and I can't believe anyone would want to watch that, not to mention be in awe with it. I think it gives the wrong message to people - circuses with animals are something cool and fantastic, when in reality it's animal cruelty and nothing else.
That being said, the book is filled with action and it had some sweet moments. I liked the ending with the king as well. I wish Charlie hadn't spent so much time on the boat with the circus, because that was a bit boring. The ending made up for it a little bit.
August 22, 2019
I really loved this!!
I didn't actually read it, but the narration was so amazingly enjoyable that I probably will get the next audiobook out as well.
Ten-year-old Charlie returns home one day to find that his parents are gone and things don't seem quite right. So thus, he goes on an adventure to find them again and bring them back home. On his journey, he stows away on boats, joins the floating circus, and constantly dodges the bad guy Raffie and his dog. But not only that, he can talk Cat. He can talk to alley cats and pet cats and lions!
I do think that yes, it is a little bit young for me, but the characters are so likable and the narration kept me laughing, that I couldn't just stop listening to it.
Content: Mild language and rude name calling. For ages 11+
I didn't actually read it, but the narration was so amazingly enjoyable that I probably will get the next audiobook out as well.
Ten-year-old Charlie returns home one day to find that his parents are gone and things don't seem quite right. So thus, he goes on an adventure to find them again and bring them back home. On his journey, he stows away on boats, joins the floating circus, and constantly dodges the bad guy Raffie and his dog. But not only that, he can talk Cat. He can talk to alley cats and pet cats and lions!
I do think that yes, it is a little bit young for me, but the characters are so likable and the narration kept me laughing, that I couldn't just stop listening to it.
Content: Mild language and rude name calling. For ages 11+
April 6, 2022
I read Lionboy for school. It took me two days because I was so sucked in. It was 275 pages so it would
be challenging for a 3rd or 4th graders. The book is about this kid who can speak to cats. His parents were kidnapped. So he has been looking for them. And the rest you have to find out by reading it!
be challenging for a 3rd or 4th graders. The book is about this kid who can speak to cats. His parents were kidnapped. So he has been looking for them. And the rest you have to find out by reading it!
September 21, 2019
3.5 stars
Not as good or well written as I remember, but still plenty of fun! The futuristic element has definitely aged poorly already, especially around the climate change themes/worldbuilding - it feels like the early naughties minus aeroplanes, and far too vaguely developed to be convincing.
Not as good or well written as I remember, but still plenty of fun! The futuristic element has definitely aged poorly already, especially around the climate change themes/worldbuilding - it feels like the early naughties minus aeroplanes, and far too vaguely developed to be convincing.
July 15, 2022
I picked this up because it was one of my favourites when I was little thinking it would be an easy reread, but it still took me a while to get through. It's one of those books that's really hard to assign a target audience. I enjoyed it as a kid but reading it now made me realise there's a LOT going on. I also never read the sequels for some reason? So I'd better get on that.
March 12, 2021
A great big roar for part 1 of the Lionboy Trilogy.
I absolutely love Charlie and his lions. His adventure to finding his parents and the world that he lives in. Love the little details with the maps and the songs, and the mystery of what is going on.
I absolutely love Charlie and his lions. His adventure to finding his parents and the world that he lives in. Love the little details with the maps and the songs, and the mystery of what is going on.
June 9, 2024
4.5 stars. 4 for a good story and 0.5 for childhood nostalgia. My mom read this trilogy to us when we were little and I loved it. I still really liked it, but if I'd picked it up for the first time as an adult it probably wouldn't hold my attention quite as much.
February 13, 2018
Dit boek valt in het genre avontuur en spanning maar ook duidelijk fantasie. Het is een echt dierenverhaal. De hoofdpersoon is Charlie. Zijn ouders worden ontvoerd en algauw moet hij zelf vluchten. In zijn zoektocht naar zijn ouders wordt hij geholpen door katten, hij spreekt namelijk Kats. Hij beleeft de grootste avonturen. De schrijver weet de lezer al snel in het verhaal te trekken en de schrijfstijl spreekt tot de verbeelding. Dit is echt een boek voor de emotioneel-fantastische lezer (Coillie, blz 77) omdat het je als lezer doet ontsnappen aan de dagelijkse werkelijkheid. Ik zou dit boek aanraden aan kinderen tot een jaar of 13 -14. Oudere pubers zouden dit te kinderachtig kunnen vinden.
bronvermelding
Coillie, van. J. (2007) Leesbeesten en boekenfeesten, hoe werken (met) kinder- en jeugdboeken. Leuven: Davidsfonds/Infodok.
bronvermelding
Coillie, van. J. (2007) Leesbeesten en boekenfeesten, hoe werken (met) kinder- en jeugdboeken. Leuven: Davidsfonds/Infodok.
January 7, 2009
Kisah ini dimulai di London bertahun-tahun yang akan datang. Adalah Charlie Ashanti, bocah lelaki berayahkan Aneba Ashanti, ilmuwan asal Ghana (Afrika) dan beribukan Magdalen Start, juga seorang ilmuwan, asli Inggris. Maka, Charlie berkulit kecoklatan hasil berpaduan ayah-ibunya.
Seperti anak lainnya, Charlie sekolah, bermain, dan senang bertualang. Ia memiliki keistimewaan yang tidak dipunyai oleh seorang anak – atau bahakan orang dewasa sekalipun – yakni, mampu berbahasa kucing.
Sejarahnya begini : ketika Charlie masih bayi, ayahnya membawanya melakukan penelitian ke hutan. Suatu hari, di tengah hutan mereka berjumpa seekor macan tutul betina dengan anaknya. Anak macan itu meraung-raung kesakitan lantaran gigitan seekor ular berbisa. Saat ayah Charlie berusaha menolong (Charlie ada di dekatnya), si anak macan yang malang itu malah mencakar Charlie keras-keras. Sejak itu, Charlie sekonyong-konyong dapat berbicara dengan kucing dan keluarga besarnya. Rada mirip dengan kisah Spiderman, ya?
Kemampuan istimewa itu kelak akan banyak membantu Charlie menemukan kembali ayah-ibunya yang diculik oleh sekelompok orang serakah. Mereka menuntut agar pasangan suami-istri ilmuwan itu berhenti melakukan penelitian obat penyembuh asma.
Diduga , otak penculikan itu adalah seorang pemilik pabrik obat yang merasa terancam bangkrut apabila kelak obat asma berhasil ditemukan. Obat asma yang selama ini beredar di pasaran hanya penyembuh yang bersifat sementara. Para penderita dibuat tergantung pada obat ini seumur hidup mereka. Lantaran itu, maka kedua Aneba terus berupaya menemukan obat asma yang benar-benar bisa menyembuhkan secara total.
Dalam upaya mencari ayah-ibunya, Charlie mengalami berbagai peristiwa menakjubkan. Dengan bantuan informasi dari para kucing sahabatnya, Charlie akhirnya mengetahui, bahwa ayah-ibunya dibawa ke Paris dengan kapal selam.
Charlie pun nekat menjadi penumpang gelap Circe, sebuah kapal laut besar dan megah yang mengangkut rombongan sirkus terkenal keliling Eropa. Di sana, bocah pemberani itu kemudian dipercaya mengurus enam ekor singa. Bersama keenam sahabat barunya ini, Charlie merencanakan sebuah aksi melarikan diri.
Lion Boy, sebuah dongeng kanak-kanak yang memikat. Unsur-unsur hiburan, petualangan, keberanian, kepahlawanan, persahabatan, dan fantasi sebagai unsur-unsur yang lazim terdapat dalam buku cerita kanak-kanak, terpenuhi dengan baik. Tokoh utama Charlie yang pemberani, baik hati, dan setia kawan merupakan teladan bagi kanak-kanak. Ia melawani kejahatan yang terwakili oleh tokoh Rafi Sadler, seorang remaja pria yang bekerja untuk para penculik orang tuanya. Kehadiran para kucing dan singa menggenapi keasyikan kisah petualangan Charlie.
Binatang, bagi kanak-kanak, memiliki daya tarik khusus. Ayu Utami pernah menulis di majalah mingguan Tempo, bahwa hal tersebut sangat disadari oleh para penulis cerita anak-anak di Barat sana. Perhatikan saja buku-buku cerita anak impor, hampir selalu menyertakan hewan peliharaan sebagai sahabat tokoh-tokohnya.
Sebut saja misalnya, serial Lima Sekawan dengan seekor anjing bernama Timmy; pada serial Tintin ada anjing kecil seputih salju bernama Snowy; di komik Asterix ada Idefix; dalam Anastasia Krupnik ada ikan maskoki bernama Frank; atau untuk menyebut contoh paling mutakhir, Harry Potter dengan burung hantu-burung hantu. Bahkan ditampilkan khusus tokoh Hagrid si penyayang segala macam binatang.
Pada Lion Boy, kucing-kucing dan enam ekor singa yang terlibat, memang bukan hewan peliharaan Charlie. Tetapi mereka bersahabat dan saling menolong.
Zizou Corder, nama yang tercantum sebagai penulis buku ini, merupakan nama dua orang. Mereka adalah ibu, Louisa Young dan putrinya, Isabel Adomakoh Young. Nama Zizou diambil dari nama kadal peliharaan Isabel yang juga adalah nama panggilan Zadine Zidane, pesepakbola asal Prancis. Agaknya, Isabel fans berat Zidane.
Petualangan Dimulai adalah buku pertama dari trilogi Lion Boy. Bagian kedua diberi judul The Chase. Sedangkan yang terakhir adalah The Truth.
Seperti anak lainnya, Charlie sekolah, bermain, dan senang bertualang. Ia memiliki keistimewaan yang tidak dipunyai oleh seorang anak – atau bahakan orang dewasa sekalipun – yakni, mampu berbahasa kucing.
Sejarahnya begini : ketika Charlie masih bayi, ayahnya membawanya melakukan penelitian ke hutan. Suatu hari, di tengah hutan mereka berjumpa seekor macan tutul betina dengan anaknya. Anak macan itu meraung-raung kesakitan lantaran gigitan seekor ular berbisa. Saat ayah Charlie berusaha menolong (Charlie ada di dekatnya), si anak macan yang malang itu malah mencakar Charlie keras-keras. Sejak itu, Charlie sekonyong-konyong dapat berbicara dengan kucing dan keluarga besarnya. Rada mirip dengan kisah Spiderman, ya?
Kemampuan istimewa itu kelak akan banyak membantu Charlie menemukan kembali ayah-ibunya yang diculik oleh sekelompok orang serakah. Mereka menuntut agar pasangan suami-istri ilmuwan itu berhenti melakukan penelitian obat penyembuh asma.
Diduga , otak penculikan itu adalah seorang pemilik pabrik obat yang merasa terancam bangkrut apabila kelak obat asma berhasil ditemukan. Obat asma yang selama ini beredar di pasaran hanya penyembuh yang bersifat sementara. Para penderita dibuat tergantung pada obat ini seumur hidup mereka. Lantaran itu, maka kedua Aneba terus berupaya menemukan obat asma yang benar-benar bisa menyembuhkan secara total.
Dalam upaya mencari ayah-ibunya, Charlie mengalami berbagai peristiwa menakjubkan. Dengan bantuan informasi dari para kucing sahabatnya, Charlie akhirnya mengetahui, bahwa ayah-ibunya dibawa ke Paris dengan kapal selam.
Charlie pun nekat menjadi penumpang gelap Circe, sebuah kapal laut besar dan megah yang mengangkut rombongan sirkus terkenal keliling Eropa. Di sana, bocah pemberani itu kemudian dipercaya mengurus enam ekor singa. Bersama keenam sahabat barunya ini, Charlie merencanakan sebuah aksi melarikan diri.
Lion Boy, sebuah dongeng kanak-kanak yang memikat. Unsur-unsur hiburan, petualangan, keberanian, kepahlawanan, persahabatan, dan fantasi sebagai unsur-unsur yang lazim terdapat dalam buku cerita kanak-kanak, terpenuhi dengan baik. Tokoh utama Charlie yang pemberani, baik hati, dan setia kawan merupakan teladan bagi kanak-kanak. Ia melawani kejahatan yang terwakili oleh tokoh Rafi Sadler, seorang remaja pria yang bekerja untuk para penculik orang tuanya. Kehadiran para kucing dan singa menggenapi keasyikan kisah petualangan Charlie.
Binatang, bagi kanak-kanak, memiliki daya tarik khusus. Ayu Utami pernah menulis di majalah mingguan Tempo, bahwa hal tersebut sangat disadari oleh para penulis cerita anak-anak di Barat sana. Perhatikan saja buku-buku cerita anak impor, hampir selalu menyertakan hewan peliharaan sebagai sahabat tokoh-tokohnya.
Sebut saja misalnya, serial Lima Sekawan dengan seekor anjing bernama Timmy; pada serial Tintin ada anjing kecil seputih salju bernama Snowy; di komik Asterix ada Idefix; dalam Anastasia Krupnik ada ikan maskoki bernama Frank; atau untuk menyebut contoh paling mutakhir, Harry Potter dengan burung hantu-burung hantu. Bahkan ditampilkan khusus tokoh Hagrid si penyayang segala macam binatang.
Pada Lion Boy, kucing-kucing dan enam ekor singa yang terlibat, memang bukan hewan peliharaan Charlie. Tetapi mereka bersahabat dan saling menolong.
Zizou Corder, nama yang tercantum sebagai penulis buku ini, merupakan nama dua orang. Mereka adalah ibu, Louisa Young dan putrinya, Isabel Adomakoh Young. Nama Zizou diambil dari nama kadal peliharaan Isabel yang juga adalah nama panggilan Zadine Zidane, pesepakbola asal Prancis. Agaknya, Isabel fans berat Zidane.
Petualangan Dimulai adalah buku pertama dari trilogi Lion Boy. Bagian kedua diberi judul The Chase. Sedangkan yang terakhir adalah The Truth.
May 14, 2017
Great story telling, I appreciate the diversity, and I love the settings. The characters lack depth and the writing is average at best, but I still appreciate this book for what it is. Will jump into the second book now!
January 22, 2009
Charlie Ashanti's parents are brilliant scientists, and they are on the brink of finding a cure for asthma. The world should be rejoicing, but the people who profit from selling asthma medications are not too thrilled. That may be the reason they've kidnapped his parents and Charlie finds himself in deep danger. Charlie has a special gift, though, he speaks Cat. And, through this special ability, he is able to enlist the aid of cats everywhere to send secret messages to his parents and communicate with them about his attempts to find and rescue them. Along the way, Charlie finds himself aboard a huge liner traveling the seas with a circus that travels from town to town. He is in cahoots with the proud and restless, yet very cruelly trapped, lions. Together they formulate a plan that will help Charlie find his parents and in so doing, help the lions return to their homeland of Africa. They plan to hop a train and travel from Paris, to Venice, and eventually onward to Africa. Evil villians are on their trail, though, and if it weren't for the understanding, kindness, and aid of King Boris (who is traveling on the very same train), Charlie and his pride of lions would be left out in a blizzard without a prayer to find their way home. The Lionboy saga continues in the second book, Lionboy:The Chase.
August 29, 2012
A perfectly charming book! Probably not the best word -- charming -- to lure a young audience, but really, this is a wonderful book for readers who want pluck and teeth and who are not yet ready to abandon courage and hope. I love the way way the author (a duo, I think, with an odd pseudonym) made the fanciful real and the real fanciful. The premise is ridiculous, though the evil corporation angle will appeal in a tangible way to lefties. And Charlie, the brave Lionboy, is full of brain and brawn and small boy bravado. I may have to read the next book! Laughing out loud while reading is pure joy. Hope the next book brings me the same rare pleasure.
(Side note: The narrator is pleasantly anachronistic, leaping out of third person limited into omniscience with abandon, and giving readers the sweet comfort of being in storytime with a wise adult, much as C.S. Lewis and a host of others decades dead once did.)
(Side note: The narrator is pleasantly anachronistic, leaping out of third person limited into omniscience with abandon, and giving readers the sweet comfort of being in storytime with a wise adult, much as C.S. Lewis and a host of others decades dead once did.)
August 17, 2022
it's really strange re reading this as an adult! i loved it as a kid and honestly still do. i love re reading childhood favourites after growing up so much. there are a lot of things that went over my head as a little kid. a truly charming, warm story.
June 19, 2010
This was a pretty good book. It was about a boy (who has a very unique gift) whose parents are kidnapped, and how he has to go after them . . . and the adventures he has along the way.
Maybe it's for people a bit younger than me. I'm not sure; I'm not the best judge of that either, coz I've read books before that are for younger-than-me-kids and I don't mind reading books like that if they have a good plot. So yeah. It depends on you ;)
Maybe it's for people a bit younger than me. I'm not sure; I'm not the best judge of that either, coz I've read books before that are for younger-than-me-kids and I don't mind reading books like that if they have a good plot. So yeah. It depends on you ;)
May 25, 2014
This book is little hard for me to focus they have lot's of hard word and i need to search the word that i don't know,but in different way it good to improve my english language. This book are fun interesting at the beginning but later on it kind of bored,it like stay at the same place for ever and i seem not so excited anymore. the interesting in this book are secret and story line,like they trying to help his parent back.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2016
Lupa kapan tepatnya pertama baca seri ini, udah agak lupa malah sama ceritanya. Tapi yang aku inget dulu aku suka banget sama serial ini. Jadi pengen baca ulang lagi.
March 4, 2019
Recensie Leeuwenjongen
Het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’ van Zizou Corder, behoort tot het genre dierenverhalen. De hoofdpersoon van het boek is Charlie. De ouders van Charlie zijn wetenschappers en heten Magdalena en Aneba. Als Charlie op een dag thuiskomt van het pleintje waar altijd veel kinderen zijn, komt Charlie het huis niet binnen en komt hij erachter dat zijn ouders ontvoerd zijn. Rafi, een zoon van een goede vriendin van Charlies ouders, doet alsof hij Charlie wil helpen. Charlie ontsnapt echter van Rafi en zo komt hij op een circusschip terecht. Hier wordt hij de leeuwenjongen omdat hij goed met de leeuwen overweg kan. Dit komt doordat hij ‘kats’ kan praten, maar dit weet verder niemand. Rafi is op zoek naar Charlie. Charlie is op zoek naar zijn ouders. Blijft Charlie uit de handen van Rafi en weet Charlie zijn ouders te vinden? En waarom zijn de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd? Dit zijn de hamvragen van het verhaal.
Van Coillie (2007) zegt in zijn boek over het genre dierenverhalen het volgende: “In een laatste groep verhalen staat de verhouding tussen mens en dier centraal, als vrienden of als vijanden.” Dit is ook het geval in het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’. Doordat Charlie ‘kats’ kan praten, kan hij met de leeuwen communiceren. De leeuwen worden dan ook zijn beste vrienden. Charlie probeert de leeuwen te helpen en de leeuwen proberen hem te helpen.
Ook zegt van Coillie (2007) het volgende over het genre: “Het vaakst leven de dieren in hun eigen omgeving en bewegen ze zich als dieren, maar praten, denken en voelen ze zich als mensen.” Zoals eerder genoemd kunnen de leeuwen met elkaar praten, maar kunnen ze ook met Charlie praten omdat hij ‘kats’ spreekt.
Zelf vond ik het boek erg prettig om te lezen. Het boek las erg makkelijk weg en er worden verder geen moeilijke woorden gebruikt. Soms wordt er wel wat in het Frans beschreven, maar dan wordt het in het Nederlands herhaald door een van de karakters van het boek. “Taisez-vous’, zei hij. Dat betekent hou uw kop …”. Ik vond Charlie een erg sympathiek karakter. Hij is erg slim, aardig en een echte doorzetter. Hij doet er alles aan om zijn ouders terug te vinden en hij verzint slimme manieren om dit te doen. Het karakter is erg goed beschreven waardoor je met hem mee gaat leven.
Het boek bevat een aantal illustraties waardoor het beeld nog levendiger wordt en dit maakt het voor de lezer ook aantrekkelijker. De spanning van het boek is goed opgebouwd. De auteur laat je eerst kennis maken met Charlie, zijn ouders en Rafi. Daarna loopt de spanning op gezien Charlies ouders ontvoerd zijn. Tot het einde van het boek blijft het spannend. Op het eind van het boek ben je gerustgesteld waarom de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd zijn, maar je weet nog steeds niet waar ze zijn en of Charlie ze gaat vinden en of Rafi nog steeds achter Charlie aanzit. De stijl en het taalgebruik past bij de leeftijdscategorie waarvoor het boek geschreven is, namelijk voor kinderen vanaf 11 jaar of ouder. Eerder benoemde ik al dat Charlies karakter goed beschreven is, hetzelfde geldt voor de andere karakters uit het boek. Ook de ruimte waarin het verhaal zich afspeelt zorgt ervoor dat de spanningsopbouw goed is. Charlie komt aan bord van een circusschip, dit schip wordt heel goed beschreven. Bij spannende momenten, is de ruimte vaak kleiner en donkerder dan op andere momenten van het boek. Door de spanning dat is opgebouwd in het boek qua stijl, ruimte, personages etc. denk ik dat het boek zeker bij de doelgroep aan zal spreken.
Het boek wil meegeven dat het soms niet gaat hoe je het allemaal gepland hebt en dat het moeilijk is om te voorspellen wat er in de toekomst gaat gebeuren. Maar dat je hoe dan ook moet proberen het beste ervan te maken en om altijd positief te blijven.
Het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’ van Zizou Corder, behoort tot het genre dierenverhalen. De hoofdpersoon van het boek is Charlie. De ouders van Charlie zijn wetenschappers en heten Magdalena en Aneba. Als Charlie op een dag thuiskomt van het pleintje waar altijd veel kinderen zijn, komt Charlie het huis niet binnen en komt hij erachter dat zijn ouders ontvoerd zijn. Rafi, een zoon van een goede vriendin van Charlies ouders, doet alsof hij Charlie wil helpen. Charlie ontsnapt echter van Rafi en zo komt hij op een circusschip terecht. Hier wordt hij de leeuwenjongen omdat hij goed met de leeuwen overweg kan. Dit komt doordat hij ‘kats’ kan praten, maar dit weet verder niemand. Rafi is op zoek naar Charlie. Charlie is op zoek naar zijn ouders. Blijft Charlie uit de handen van Rafi en weet Charlie zijn ouders te vinden? En waarom zijn de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd? Dit zijn de hamvragen van het verhaal.
Van Coillie (2007) zegt in zijn boek over het genre dierenverhalen het volgende: “In een laatste groep verhalen staat de verhouding tussen mens en dier centraal, als vrienden of als vijanden.” Dit is ook het geval in het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’. Doordat Charlie ‘kats’ kan praten, kan hij met de leeuwen communiceren. De leeuwen worden dan ook zijn beste vrienden. Charlie probeert de leeuwen te helpen en de leeuwen proberen hem te helpen.
Ook zegt van Coillie (2007) het volgende over het genre: “Het vaakst leven de dieren in hun eigen omgeving en bewegen ze zich als dieren, maar praten, denken en voelen ze zich als mensen.” Zoals eerder genoemd kunnen de leeuwen met elkaar praten, maar kunnen ze ook met Charlie praten omdat hij ‘kats’ spreekt.
Zelf vond ik het boek erg prettig om te lezen. Het boek las erg makkelijk weg en er worden verder geen moeilijke woorden gebruikt. Soms wordt er wel wat in het Frans beschreven, maar dan wordt het in het Nederlands herhaald door een van de karakters van het boek. “Taisez-vous’, zei hij. Dat betekent hou uw kop …”. Ik vond Charlie een erg sympathiek karakter. Hij is erg slim, aardig en een echte doorzetter. Hij doet er alles aan om zijn ouders terug te vinden en hij verzint slimme manieren om dit te doen. Het karakter is erg goed beschreven waardoor je met hem mee gaat leven.
Het boek bevat een aantal illustraties waardoor het beeld nog levendiger wordt en dit maakt het voor de lezer ook aantrekkelijker. De spanning van het boek is goed opgebouwd. De auteur laat je eerst kennis maken met Charlie, zijn ouders en Rafi. Daarna loopt de spanning op gezien Charlies ouders ontvoerd zijn. Tot het einde van het boek blijft het spannend. Op het eind van het boek ben je gerustgesteld waarom de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd zijn, maar je weet nog steeds niet waar ze zijn en of Charlie ze gaat vinden en of Rafi nog steeds achter Charlie aanzit. De stijl en het taalgebruik past bij de leeftijdscategorie waarvoor het boek geschreven is, namelijk voor kinderen vanaf 11 jaar of ouder. Eerder benoemde ik al dat Charlies karakter goed beschreven is, hetzelfde geldt voor de andere karakters uit het boek. Ook de ruimte waarin het verhaal zich afspeelt zorgt ervoor dat de spanningsopbouw goed is. Charlie komt aan bord van een circusschip, dit schip wordt heel goed beschreven. Bij spannende momenten, is de ruimte vaak kleiner en donkerder dan op andere momenten van het boek. Door de spanning dat is opgebouwd in het boek qua stijl, ruimte, personages etc. denk ik dat het boek zeker bij de doelgroep aan zal spreken.
Het boek wil meegeven dat het soms niet gaat hoe je het allemaal gepland hebt en dat het moeilijk is om te voorspellen wat er in de toekomst gaat gebeuren. Maar dat je hoe dan ook moet proberen het beste ervan te maken en om altijd positief te blijven.
May 6, 2020
Niet erg realistisch, wel een leuk gegeven.
Het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’ is geschreven door Zizou Corder, oftewel Louisa Young. Het boek gaat over Charlie die met zijn ouders in Londen woont. Op een dag komt Charlie thuis en ontdekt dat zijn ouders zijn ontvoerd. Rafi, de crimineel die de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd heeft, probeert ook Charlie te ontvoeren. Charlie heeft door wat er gaande is en weet te ontsnappen. Hij komt op een circusschip terecht en hij raakt al snel bevriend met de circusartiesten en de leeuwen. Charlie spreekt ‘kats’ en kan hierdoor communiceren met de leeuwen op het schip. Hij helpt de leeuwen te ontsnappen en stapt samen met hen op een trein richting Venetië, waar zijn ouders ook schijnen te zijn.
‘Leeuwenjongen’ is een dierenverhaal, omdat de leeuwen een erg belangrijke rol spelen in het verhaal. Het gaat echter niet alleen om dieren, de hoofpersoon van het boek is namelijk een mens. Dit boek valt ook onder het genre ‘avontuur en spanning’. Het meest typische structuurelement in het avonturenverhaal is de tocht. De tocht brengt de hoofdfiguur buiten de grenzen van zijn vertrouwde omgeving. (Coillie, 2007)
Ik vond het een leuk boek om te lezen, maar ik zou het niet nog een keer hoeven lezen. Het verhaal was voor mij niet realistisch genoeg. Ik kan ook genieten van boeken die niet realistisch zijn, maar dan moeten ze totaal niet realistisch zijn. Dit boek was het voor mij net niet. Ik kan me wel voorstellen dat kinderen het een erg leuk verhaal vinden, maar door de manier van schrijven zal het voor veel volwassenen niet interessant genoeg zijn.
Young maakt in dit boek gebruik van simpele, korte zinnen en makkelijke taal. Af en toe komen er wat woorden uit een andere taal voorbij, maar deze worden daarna vertaald en verduidelijkt. Young beschrijft de personages en de situaties heel gedetailleerd, waardoor je het gevoel hebt dat je er zelf bij bent. Sommige dingen waren een beetje voorspelbaar of juist erg onrealistisch, dit haalde voor mij de spanning af en toe weg.
Ik denk dat de zingevende visie van de auteur vooral gebaseerd was op de manier waarop de hoofdpersoon met het avontuur omgaat. Soms gebeuren er dingen die erg vervelend zijn of dingen die je totaal niet aan zag komen, maar probeer positief te blijven en niet op te geven.
Ik denk dat het boek bedoeld is voor kinderen van 12 tot en met 15 jaar en ik denk eigenlijk ook dat het voor anderen een stuk minder interessant is.
Het boek ‘Leeuwenjongen’ is geschreven door Zizou Corder, oftewel Louisa Young. Het boek gaat over Charlie die met zijn ouders in Londen woont. Op een dag komt Charlie thuis en ontdekt dat zijn ouders zijn ontvoerd. Rafi, de crimineel die de ouders van Charlie ontvoerd heeft, probeert ook Charlie te ontvoeren. Charlie heeft door wat er gaande is en weet te ontsnappen. Hij komt op een circusschip terecht en hij raakt al snel bevriend met de circusartiesten en de leeuwen. Charlie spreekt ‘kats’ en kan hierdoor communiceren met de leeuwen op het schip. Hij helpt de leeuwen te ontsnappen en stapt samen met hen op een trein richting Venetië, waar zijn ouders ook schijnen te zijn.
‘Leeuwenjongen’ is een dierenverhaal, omdat de leeuwen een erg belangrijke rol spelen in het verhaal. Het gaat echter niet alleen om dieren, de hoofpersoon van het boek is namelijk een mens. Dit boek valt ook onder het genre ‘avontuur en spanning’. Het meest typische structuurelement in het avonturenverhaal is de tocht. De tocht brengt de hoofdfiguur buiten de grenzen van zijn vertrouwde omgeving. (Coillie, 2007)
Ik vond het een leuk boek om te lezen, maar ik zou het niet nog een keer hoeven lezen. Het verhaal was voor mij niet realistisch genoeg. Ik kan ook genieten van boeken die niet realistisch zijn, maar dan moeten ze totaal niet realistisch zijn. Dit boek was het voor mij net niet. Ik kan me wel voorstellen dat kinderen het een erg leuk verhaal vinden, maar door de manier van schrijven zal het voor veel volwassenen niet interessant genoeg zijn.
Young maakt in dit boek gebruik van simpele, korte zinnen en makkelijke taal. Af en toe komen er wat woorden uit een andere taal voorbij, maar deze worden daarna vertaald en verduidelijkt. Young beschrijft de personages en de situaties heel gedetailleerd, waardoor je het gevoel hebt dat je er zelf bij bent. Sommige dingen waren een beetje voorspelbaar of juist erg onrealistisch, dit haalde voor mij de spanning af en toe weg.
Ik denk dat de zingevende visie van de auteur vooral gebaseerd was op de manier waarop de hoofdpersoon met het avontuur omgaat. Soms gebeuren er dingen die erg vervelend zijn of dingen die je totaal niet aan zag komen, maar probeer positief te blijven en niet op te geven.
Ik denk dat het boek bedoeld is voor kinderen van 12 tot en met 15 jaar en ik denk eigenlijk ook dat het voor anderen een stuk minder interessant is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2025
2.3 stars.
Things I expected in this book: a boy who can talk to cats
Things I did not expect to be in this book:
I liked the pictures.
Things I expected in this book: a boy who can talk to cats
Things I did not expect to be in this book:
I liked the pictures.
April 1, 2019
The Lionboy by Zizou Corder is a very exciting and adventurous novel. This book will make readers laugh and it will also have them on the edge of their seats. Lionboy is about being brave and to know what to do at the right time because the main character Charlie is put into some tough spots throughout the book. Zizou Corder does a great job with her use of words creating a very detailed story that the readers can understand.
LionBoy is about a boy named Charlie whose parents are kidnapped. Charlie has to rescue his parents from the pharmaceutical company without being kidnapped. On the way of saving his parents, he ends up getting on a circus boat. As soon as Charlie steps on the boat he is faced with another challenge. He must rescue the lions from their cruel trainer as well as still trying to rescue his parents. Charlie uses bravery and perseverance throughout this book to survive the obstacles that stand in his way.
This book was very intriguing and I thought it was a fantastic book. I really like how in the book there are maps to show the setting. There are maps throughout the book to show where Charlie is at all times. The theme of LionBoy is to not be discouraged with the obstacles that you must face. Charlie runs into many obstacles throughout the book but he was always able to overcome those obstacles. Another reason why I like this book was that anyone can learn a lesson from this book which was to never give up and to never back down from challenges.
LionBoy is about a boy named Charlie whose parents are kidnapped. Charlie has to rescue his parents from the pharmaceutical company without being kidnapped. On the way of saving his parents, he ends up getting on a circus boat. As soon as Charlie steps on the boat he is faced with another challenge. He must rescue the lions from their cruel trainer as well as still trying to rescue his parents. Charlie uses bravery and perseverance throughout this book to survive the obstacles that stand in his way.
This book was very intriguing and I thought it was a fantastic book. I really like how in the book there are maps to show the setting. There are maps throughout the book to show where Charlie is at all times. The theme of LionBoy is to not be discouraged with the obstacles that you must face. Charlie runs into many obstacles throughout the book but he was always able to overcome those obstacles. Another reason why I like this book was that anyone can learn a lesson from this book which was to never give up and to never back down from challenges.
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