The Girl Who Lost a Leopard

by Nizrana Farook

Selvi is a wild child who loves climbing in the beautiful mountains behind her home. She is often joined by Lokka, a leopard with a beautiful coat and huge golden eyes. When hunters come for Lokka, Selvi is determined to fight.

But what can she do against such powerful enemies? Turn to her friends, of course! Now they just need the perfect plan…

From the author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant comes another brilliant escapade. The third thrilling adventure set in a fictional Sri Lanka is jam-packed with peril, poachers and an endangered leopard!

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Animals, Adventure, Childrens, Audiobook

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2022

About the author

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. She has a master’s degree in writing for young people, and lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nizrana Farook writes quite simply the BEST action adventure novels for kids - they're so vivid and fast-paced and exciting, full of gorgeous imagery, wonderful bravery, narrow escapes, and breathtakingly beautiful animal characters, too. This one is breathlessly paced but still encompasses a really wonderful empowerment arc (both for the heroine and for her mother) along with a fantastically fun adventure plot in which sweet, brave kids have to thwart poachers to save a beloved wild leopard. I enjoyed every moment of it and I would have absolutely DEVOURED it as a 9-year-old!

[Chandra Sundeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Who Lost A Leopard by Nizrana Farook is a fast-paced, middle-grade adventure novel set in the jungles of Serendib (the older Persian name for Sri Lanka).

Selvi and her mother live in a small village surrounded by mountains and forests. Selvi is unlike other kids. She is not scared of the forest and loves spending time there, much to her mother’s indignation. The forest is home to many wild beings, and Lokka, a strong, magnificent leopard, is one amongst those. But he is a rare being, with a beautiful coat and huge golden eyes. Selvi shares a special relationship with Lokka. Sprinting through the greens, playing chase, they look out for each other.

One day, while Selvi is in the forest, she comes across a group of poachers who are out there to nab Lokka. Thus, begins a series of exciting events wherein Selvi, along with her friends, tries to save Lokka from the gang. Shocking revelations, heart-warming moments, and beautiful learnings make this journey interesting.

Farook has done a wonderful job in penning a story apt for her target audience; the font size, length of chapters, language and description are perfectly suited for middle-graders.
There’s a lot of action and adventure which is sure to keep the young readers hooked. But this is not just an adventure story. There are beautiful messages being shared, and they don’t sound preachy at all. Children would learn about living in harmony with nature, familial ties, the power of friendship, and kindness towards animals in a fun and exciting manner.

I love stories that have a satisfactory resolution and character arc. In this story, not only the main character Selvi, even her mother, friends, and aunt’s arc show completion. A big plus!

There are a few bits that may seem far-fetched for adult readers but would make perfect sense to the middle-graders.

The Girl Who Lost A Leopard is a joyful read, and I am sure children would enjoy it a lot.
Thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC.

Wordsopedia Rating 4.5/5

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[Floor tussendeboeken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een avontuurlijk verhaal waarmee ik me prima heb vermaakt!

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This stand alone middle grade read by Muslim author Nizrana Farook is similar to her first two books about an elephant and a whale in that it is set in Serendib a long time ago and revolves around a beautiful wild animal and clever, endearing, determined young children. This actual story is an easy read at 203 pages (the end of the book is the first four chapters of one of her previously published books).  I think seven and eight year olds will enjoy getting to know Selvi and the beautiful leopard Lakka that she considers a friend.  For me the ending took an odd turn that seemed out of place, but up until then I was enchanted by the lush imagery, sheer determination, and sweet friendship shared within the pages.  The main character is not Muslim, but presumably some of the side characters are with names such as, Amir and Salma.

SYNOPSIS:
Selvi and her mother live in a small home on the mountain.  Most days she runs wild with a golden leopard she has named Lakka.  She keeps her distance, but there is a pattern to their interactions, and when Selvi's mother finally allows her to go to school, and she finds the other children unkind, Lakka becomes her only friend.  One day poachers are on the mountain hunting not just any leopards, which are protected by the queen, but the rare golden one that is often seen in the area, Selvi tries to interfere.  And before she knows it, they are after her.  She hides near a home, and when the poacher's come looking for her, she is at the mercy of Amir to lie and say he hasn't seen her.  Amir is a classmate, a mean one, but he has seen her before with the leopard, and suddenly Lakka is not so alone.

Between making friends at school, battling her uncle's rules to start behaving more ladylike, and keeping a leopard safe, the adventure is fast paced and the story entertaining.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love kids outsmarting adults and saving the day, it makes for good story telling.  I don't want to spoil the ending, but I really felt like it was forced.  I truly do not understand why the children needed to take a drugged Lakka to the port and back.  Why not leave him with the new friends and go to the port without him? He is a wild animal, we have been given reasoning for so much of the human animal interactions to be believable, that this seems to be negligent.  So much could have gone wrong and for what? There was no need.  The kids wanting to see punishment handed out is motivation enough for them to make the journey in my opinion.  Sigh, I don't know that younger kids will be as bothered as I am, but I think fourth graders and up will definitely question it and be confused.  I also don't know that I have ever seen the sneak peak of another book included at the end, being for a book previously published.  Aren't they usually for upcoming releases? Either way, it seemed to make the last portion of the book deflate a bit for a story that was engaging, entertaining, and hard to put down until then. 

FLAGS:

Lying, poaching, abuse, threats, killing, animal cruelty, bullying.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:


This would be a fun read aloud in a classroom or at bedtime.  The short chapters have little illustrations above the headings that hint at what is to come, and the writing style is perfect for short blocks of time.

[Iselleleest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selvi struint graag door de bergen van Serendib, waar ze woont. Net als Lokka, een prachtige wilde panter. Maar in de bergen waart ook een gevaar rond. Lukt het Selvi om Lokka te beschermen en voor hun vrijheid te vechten? Of zal ze beide voorgoed kwijtraken?

'We moeten meer zoals Selvi zijn.'

Met een diepe zucht sla ik zojuist dit prachtige boek dicht. Wat is het móói.
Mooi vanbuiten, maar ook zéker mooi vanbinnen. De cover van dit boek is een plaatje. Prachtig. Het samenspel van kleuren. Én de foiling... I just love the foiling! Wat dat betreft stond dit boek al 2-0 voor nog vóór ik aan het verhaal begon!

Een verhaal dat we volgen aan de zijde van Selvi. Een dapper meisje van twaalf jaar. Ze is wat eenzaam, al voelt ze zich nooit écht alleen.
Ze maakt de meest schitterende wandelingen door de bergen. En tijdens die wandelingen ontstaat er een unieke vriendschap. Een vriendschap tussen mens en dier. Een vriendschap met Lokka. Vriendschap dat eigenlijk als een rode draad door het verhaal geweven is. Dít boek ademt vriendschap.

Nizrana Farook heeft de magie van het vertellen van een verhaal in haar vingers. Ze betoverde mij met haar schrijfstijl. Het is levendig en beeldend, waardoor het net was alsof ik door de bergen van Serendib liep. De hoofdstukken waren kort en dit zorgde ervoor dat het voor mij onmogelijk was om het boek weg te leggen. De prachtige illustraties, aan het begin van ieder hoofdstuk, waren een feestje om naar te kijken. En dankzij de gedetailleerde kaart was het onmogelijk om te verdwalen. Just keep reading was mijn motto; ik móést weten hoe het verhaal zou aflopen. Hierdoor las ik het boek al in twee avonden uit.

Het was wel jammer dat dit boek al zo snel uit was. En dát is absoluut een compliment naar de auteur. Ik had namelijk nog wel langer door de bergen van Serendib willen struinen. Ik had Selvi nog wel beter willen leren kennen.

Het is een verhaal boordevol actie en spanning. Met een belangrijke boodschap. Een verhaal over de kracht van vriendschap en hulp uit onverwachte hoek. Een verhaal met een diepere laag. Het is prachtig. Ik geef dit boek ****

[Emma Nelson]

The Girl who lost a Leopard is another sure fire hit for author Nizraa Farook. The book is set on the island of Serendib (Sri Lanka) and it opens with the main character named Selvi, who watches as hunters are trying to bait and trap a leopard - her leopard - Lokka. Lokka is a wild leopard who has an affinity with the wild protagonist. Just like Lokka, Selvi wants to run free, but she is constrained by school and she also battles with her uncle who thinks she needs to be 'tamed.'


The story unfolds with interwoven problems threaded through its pages - Selvi trying to save Lokka from being hunted, trapped and sold to a trader; friendship; and family problems. The text is fast-paced and would be a great class read for KS2 - both lower and upper levels. I particularly liked how Farook wove in the issue of animal endangerment and the possibility of leopards becoming extinct - this lends itself to lots of scope for classroom discussions.


Farook's characters are always very vivid and realistic and Lokka and Selvi are of no exception. A recommendable read that would be enjoyed by those aged 9+.

[Sylvia De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat een heerlijk verhaal, je zit er meteen middenin en het laat je niet meer los. Een boek voor als je van dieren en andere werelden houdt. Ook speelt loyaliteit een rol in het boek. Echt een aanrader!!

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable 4.5… a one sitting read!

[Jamie Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids ate this story up! Beautiful imagery, strong vocabulary and fast paced story. Can’t wait to read another book of hers.

[Cass HT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be approved to read a proof copy of Nizrana’s new book on netgalley and I have raced through it. I love Nizrana’s books for their simplicity; they have beautiful descriptions that you can picture in an instant, short chapters that are fast paced and exciting plots that often contain messages about friendship, the beauty and importance of nature and it’s creatures and standing up for what you believe in.
This title does just that. The main protagonist, Selvi, has befriended a leopard and will do whatever it takes to keep it safe. Follow her adventure as she uncovers some difficult lessons about poaching, the truth about a family member and the meaning of true friendship.

[Ugnė St · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very good book for 5th class children's.

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this super charming and I'm grateful to Nosy Crow for sending me a copy to look at. The first thing to note is how beautifully they produce their books there. I always mention it because it's always true: Nosy Crow give good looking books. It's such a good sign because it tells you, the reader, how much they value the stories that they tell. And The Girl Who Lost A Leopard is lovely - it's a pacey adventure story from the excellent Nizrana Farook and one which fearlessly takes young readers along for the ride.

Selvi lives on Serendib and spends as much time as she can with her beloved Lokka, a wild and beautiful leopard. Their relationship is rendered with a lot of restraint; Selvi recognises Lokka's wildness and need to be by himself for she has something very similar inside of herself. The two of them move through the mountains together until the arrival of poachers bring danger. How will Selvi save Lokka?

Farook's writing here is so clean and sharp that it's a pleasure to read. It makes the story very quick and easy to read and you kind of just keep rolling with it (it's probably not one for bedtime!).

I really enjoyed it and I think it's got a very good space in the world to inhabit. Not only does Farook bring in a kind of young 'people power' quality to the text, an excellent thing for any young activist, she also delivers some softly told lessons about friendship. Structurally it's also going to be of particular interest to readers who may benefit from the confidence-building short and crisply told chapters. Lovely stuff.

Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, for all that could have been great about this, and for all its good intentions, what I read was very heavy-handed and overwrought. Selvi is very much a Mowgli-type wild child, and has somehow taken to running with one of the local leopards, and so her nature causes heavy-handed portrayal of family politics, South Asian-style. News of what she does as a hobby leads to heavy-handed looks at bickering in the classroom, leads to news that Lokka is being hunted by poachers, leads to a quite risible cliff-top action drama scene. That done, a classroom discussion over the benefits of culling leopards for financial gain is just far too clunky and unsubtle. There is no way that toning things down would have made this less appealing – the whole read, with its admirable narrative drive, coming across like a fantasy, so rarefied is the semi-real Sri Lankan landscape and the leopard-girl relationship at the core of the book. Let's face it, this is a quite gripping read, but seems unaware it would still be so were it much less blatant – although, that said, the third act's 'people power' message is also cheese of the ripest Hollywood kind. Readers – and leopards – deserve better.

[Angel Mouser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute book. I love that we have such a strong female character leading the narrative.

[~ Elsie~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book and I really enjoyed reading it so I definitely recommend it if you want to read it

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl Who Lost a Leopard by Nizrana Farook is about a young girl, Selvi, who likes being outdoors and exploring the beautiful area behind her home. She likes spending her time climbing the mountains. There she comes across a leopard. Since Selvi doesn’t have any human friends, she befriends the leopard.

Selvi names him Lokka. Unlike other leopards in the area, Lokka has a beautiful shimmering coat with huge golden eyes. Together the duo roam and explore the wilderness. Because Lokka has a rare and beautiful coat, he becomes prey to hunters who want his fur. Selvi wants to protect Lokka and ensure he is not caught, but circumstances lead to Lokka’s capture. She feels powerless against the hunters and she isn’t sure who she can turn to for help. Will Selvi be able to help rescue her friend before he is sold to traders?

The book is a quick and fun read. The novel has short chapters for young readers. I liked that the book contained lush descriptions of the wilderness and the characters were well fleshed out. I liked the cute illustrations. While the book was based on a fictional Sri Lanka, I would have loved to learn more about the actual culture and people.

I thought the book was a heartwarming read about a young girl who befriends a wild animal because she was struggling to fit in. I liked that she mentions that she can’t control Lokka, i.e. that she will always remain on guard because Lokka is a wild animal and she needs to be careful of this creature. As the book progressed, I liked seeing the different characters finding their voices and standing up for their beliefs. It was nice seeing Selvi and the other characters grow while finding a supportive community.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year old Selvi is most happy when she is climbing the forested mountains of her home in Serendib. She loves observing the animals there, especially the young leopard she has named Lokka. When she notices poachers trying to trap Lokka, she must think of a way to save him. At the same time, her mean uncle is trying to prevent Selvi from gallivanting in the forest, using his sway with her mother to enforce her spending time at home. Selvi, reluctantly at first, welcomes help from the classmates at school, and together the young people discover who’s responsible for the cruel and illegal hunting of her beloved leopard.

I loved following Selvi around in the forest. The descriptive language does a great job of fleshing out the scenery and sounds of Serendib, with the author’s inspiration drawn from her childhood in Sri Lanka. There are lots of thrilling moments in the story: Selvi’s almost magical rapport with Lokka, the chases by the poachers, Selvi and her new friend Amir’s fall off a cliff – young readers who love animal-centric stories will applaud her bravery and her conviction to keep the young leopard free. Wonderful black and white chapter head vignettes prepare the reader for the upcoming drama, and there’s also a map of Serendib at the beginning. No illustrator is credited for these lovely additions to the story, although the gorgeous cover art by David Dean is in the same style. The cover alone will draw in readers, with the deep twilight colors and view of a majestic leopard and his young champion.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all of Nizrana Farook’s books, The Girl Who Lost a Leopard is set on the island of Serendib (the old Persian name for Sri Lanka). In this adventure we met Selvi, who lives with her mum and who prefers spending time in the mountains than in school. Her uncle helps the family out but disapproves of Selvi’s lifestyle.

Solve has befriended Lokka, a rare golden leopard who lives in the mountains behind her home. Yet one day on her visit to him, she comes across poachers who are desperate to capture him. While escaping the poachers, she comes across Amir, a boy in her class, who hides her. Can they become friends and work together to save Lokka from the poachers?

This is a story of adventure and friendship. The relationship between Selvi and Amir takes a while to build and it shows that friendships take work to be successful. The setting of the Serendib mountains will transport children to a place that they probably know very little about, and gives the opportunity to introduce them to different lives and cultures.

The issue around animal hunting is an interesting one to use in a children’s book and would make the basis for a good class discussion.

The relatively short chapters help to keep the story moving at a good pace and makes it an easy book to dip in and out of. For children who are daunted by longer chapters and books, this will make it more appealing.

This is a book that should have a place in every school library and on class bookshelves.

[Lemon and Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selvi is a wild child who loves to play in the Jungle behind her village. Because she spends so much time there, she has discovered some peculiar friendships, not all human. Lokka is a rare leopard but sometimes rarity hides a lot of danger. When Lokka goes missing, Selvi must venture out to find him even if that means confronting poachers, escaping the confines of her Uncle and even risking her life. She must find him before it’s too late.

This book contains the following: Adventure, fantasy and wildlife. It is written for children around 10 or 11 years old.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is its characters. The protagonist is relatable due to her empathy and love for animals. On the other hand the antagonist, Jansz, is the absolute opposite. He is described as an avaricious, selfish and grasping character. As a middle-grader I personally loved this book along with the messages it came with. These were very inspiring plus they had a lot of girl power in them! Overall the story was like a jigsaw puzzle, because it may be full of surprises but everything slotted into place in the end.

Overall, I would highly recommend this to wild dreamers and animal lovers!

by T. B.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and shared Nizrana Farook's previous titles - both I and the children at school enjoyed them, so this title had a lot to live up to! Selvi is a strong character and although her home and life might be very different, I thought she was easy to relate too. She and her mum work hard following the death of her father (this has happened before the story opens). Selvi has recently started school and is finding it difficult to adapt and make friends. She loves spending time in the jungle near her home and has a special connection with the leopard of the title. However, once this connection is discovered both Selvi and the leopard are in danger... A fabulous adventure story, this would work well as an end of day read for years 3 and 4 with lots to discuss, or for readers in year 5 and above to read for themselves. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Farook has written a whole series of books based in Serendip, the “old” name for Sri Lanka. These books share with readers the lives, flora, fauna and whole ecosystems of Sri Lanka. In this story, we’re in the mountains with a girl who has carefully, from a distance, befriended a leopard. The action starts when she discovers poachers who want this specific leopard. Our heroine, despite being an outcast at school, slowly leads her classmates to become leopard supporters! This book brings up great questions about what kind of world we want to live in and how we can coexist with animals who are wild. Ms. Farook is a bit like Peter Brown of The Wild Robot fame – she trusts young children to grapple with deep problems. Some of the book's plot points are more than a touch far - fetched, but you are having so much fun, you don't really mind.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The girl Who Lost a Leopard is about a girl named Selvi. Selvi Selby lives in a small village that is in like a valley surrounded by mountains and a lot of forest. There's a lot of different creatures in this forest area like her friend Lokka. Lokka is a beautifully strong Leopard and he and Sylvie share a deep and meaningful friendship. Unfortunately, there are hunters out looking for Lokka one day and she has to save her friend.
This story was beautifully written and there are so many great scenes that the readers can imagine as the reading through. It is a perfect size novel or a middle schooler and the messages in the story are not thrown in your face which I really appreciated as a reader. Therefore, I highly recommend it to a middle school audience and possibly adults.

[Nichola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book by Nizrana Farook and whilst they dont have to be all read, it makes a great accompaniment to the Girl Who Stole an Elephant and The Boy who Lost a Whale. Set again on the island of Serendib, the main character likes being in the jungle and has befriended a leopard, but with the respect of knowing it is a wild animal. She doesn't have friends at school and ia often teased. She has to learn to work woth others and accept friendship to stop leopard poachers taking "her" leopard and it is such an adventure and absolutely brilliant at showing the power of children and friendships.

[Kirsten Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Nizrana's previous books and was so excited to get a sneaky preview via Netgalley!
This book does not disappoint, the same pace and interest as her previous titles, with characters you just love instantly.

In this story Selvi is a young girl living in Serendib (which I had to look up and is the Persian be for Sri Lanka.) She is close to nature and has befriended a leopard. Selvi is new to her school and hasn't yet made any friends, other than her Lokka. Find out what happens when you mix in friendships, poachers, controlling uncles and a stunning landscape.

[Emily Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Serendib (Sri Lanka), this is the heartwarming story of a young girl and her friends, who form a bond with a wild leopard, later saving it from a group of poachers. This book hooked me in straight away and I loved every moment. Selvi is a brave, strong female character who alongside her friends achieves an impossible feat. The story teaches children about the importance of nature and stopping poaching, in an exciting and interesting way alongside themes of friendship and kindness. I loved it and will definitely be recommending this book to the children in my class!

[GG_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOW does this book only have 70 ratings?! THIS is the middle grade we need to be talking about!!

This is the simple, sweet story of Selvi, a girl who lives on an island and loves to run free in the mountains next to her friend...who happens to be a leopard that poachers are pursuing. This has friendship, betrayal, non stop action AND an ending worthy of tears?! I am a sucker for a bitter sweet middle grade ending...

Definitely going to check out more books by this author, and so should YOU!!! Right now!!

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this middle-grade adventure story! The characters are rich, the setting is gorgeous and the story is gripping. I love that this is middle-grade but doesn't shy away from powerful themes. It's a breeze to read through this because the narrative is so engaging, but it also makes one stop and consider some deeper connections. Kids will likely want to read other books by this author if they haven't already.

***Note: I was given a review copy of this book via Peach Tree Publishing. Opinions are my own.

[Rebecca R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selvi spends a lot of time roaming the mountains and forests of Serendib but she’s not lonely because she has Lokka the leopard to keep her company. But when a gang of poachers set their sights on Lokka, Selvi must try to convince him to go somewhere safe. But she won’t be able to protect Lokka alone…

Another thrilling, perfectly pitched, animal adventure. Loved it!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful chapter book intended for the young reader. It has a number of positive messages -- friendship, family unity, kindness to animals -- that make it a positive read. And there's lots of action that will keep the child interested. A positive recommend from me.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Maryam ღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really emotional. It made me upset how the leopard was treated by the hunters. I can't imagine what it would be like if my cat went through that torture. I liked that Selvi had no friends in the beginning of the book, but by the end of the book she had many friends who wanted to help her save her leopard from being turned into a carpet!