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Mamba Point
When his dad gets a job at the U.S. embassy in Liberia, twelve-year-old Linus Tuttle knows it’s his chance for a fresh start. Instead of being his typical anxious self, from now on he’ll be cooler and the new Linus.But as soon as his family gets off the plane, they see a black mamba—one of the deadliest snakes in Africa. Linus’s parents insist mambas are rare, but the neighborhood is called Mamba Point, and Linus is sure the venomous serpents are drawn to him—he can barely go outside without tripping over one. Then he hears about kasengs—and the belief that some people have a deep, mysterious connection to certain animals.Unless Linus wants to hide in his apartment forever (drawing or playing games with the strange kid downstairs while his older brother meets girls and hangs out at the pool), he has to get over his fear of his kaseng animal. Soon he’s not only keeping a black mamba in his laundry hamper; he’s also feeling braver than ever before. Is it his resolution to become the new Linus, or does his sudden confidence have something to do with his scaly new friend?From Kurtis Scaletta comes a humorous and compelling story of a boy learning about himself through unexpected friends, a fascinating place, and an extraordinary animal.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2010
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About the author
Kurtis Scaletta
19 books45 followersKurtis Scaletta is the author of several books for young readers including Mudville, which was short listed for the Mark Twain Readers Award, and The Tanglewood Terror, which was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award. He lives in Minneapolis with wife and son and some cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 15, 2010
Mamba Point is a tightly wound tale that will make you laugh, hold you in suspense, and have you checking underneath your bed to make sure there aren’t any mambas slithering about. I had not one, but two dreams about mambas while reading it.
So here’s my review: two thumbs way up, five out of four stars, on a scale of 10, it’s an eleven, insert your own hyperbole. The thing to do now is to order Mamba Point and read it without letting me tell you anything further. Have I ever steered you wrong before, Esteemed Reader? Don’t bother reading the rest of this post, just buy your copy: Mamba Point.
The thing is, the less you know about Mamba Point going into it, the better. I’m going to try not to spoil the book for you , but inevitably I probably will give some of it away and I’m sure a few of you Esteemed Readers are still reading without having first bought and read it (shame on you). I had the good fortune to read this book without knowing anything going in other than Kurtis Scaletta is a very nice man who gave me a signed copy of his book, and that is the way to experience Mamba Point, because it knocked for a loop (mostly because some jerk blogger didn’t tell me all about it beforehand).
All right, I gave you a whole paragraph to stop reading and now I’m starting the summary. This is the first line of Mamba Point: “My brother changed his name on the plane ride to Africa.” What a great opening line, yeah? It’s exciting, it’s provocative, and it sets up the story at once. It’s 1982 and Larry, now Law, Tuttle and his brother Linus (there are plenty of blanket and Snoopy jokes) are on a plane to Africa where they will be living near the US embassy in a place called Mamba Point. But not to worry. There aren’t really any mambas there, or so Linus’s parents tell him, and the local inhabitants tell him. But as soon as the boys step off the plane, they are attacked by a mamba, which makes for an exciting opening. Not anymore though. I just ruined it. Told you not to read.
Linus is hoping to make a new start for himself in Africa. He doesn’t want to be the same Linus he was back home in Dayton, Ohio. He tells us constantly (the book is written in the first person) that he is becoming a new Linus. This is a wonderfully universal experience shared by most children who have moved and it resonates. But the problem is everywhere Linus goes, he sees another Mamba. He’s not supposed to be seeing them because there aren't supposed to be any mambas around, but he does. Early in the book, Scaletta drops this information:
“Mom wanted Darryl to shut up because she didn’t want to exacerbate your condition,” he said… When my parents took me to see that shrink after my panic attack at school, he talked to me for a while by myself.
Is interesting, no? Here we have a boy who might just have a mental issue who keeps seeing black mambas everywhere, usually while no one else is around. And the black mambas’ behavior gets stranger and stranger. Linus is able to pet them and they slither around his leg and never hurt them, and he is so not a parselltoungue. A black mamba follows him around, becomes his friend, and even lives in his laundry hamper. At this point, I began to suspect the mamba’s real name was Tyler Durden and Linus and he would start their own Fight Club. How fun is it to suspect something like that in a middle grade novel? It’s a lot of fun and now you won’t have it because I told you about it beforehand.
Is Linus crazy? Maybe. But his new friend Gambeh has a different theory. The rural religions believe some people have a special connection to animals called Kaseng. So those are your options: Linus is crazy and has delusional fantasies, which would make for an awesome story. Or, Linus has a special connection to actual, physically real black mambas and he can hang out with them and convince them to do things without ever being hurt, which would also make for an awesome story. I’m not going to tell you which it is because I’ve already spoiled enough. But either way, what follows is an awesome story and you're going to love it.
I said this was going to be a short review, but I’ve lied about that before (every week). Don’t worry. I’m not going to ruin anything else. But I’ve honestly never read a book quite like Mamba Point and I really, really liked it. It’s a boy book through and through, though girls will like it too, and the thing that makes it really special is the characters. I cared about Linus and Law and even Matt, the nerdy kid who lives across the hall. I knew a couple of Matt’s growing up.
I identified with these characters. Reading the banter of the brothers reminded me of being their age and horsing around with my own brother. And the boys are very funny. Even if a single black mamba had never shown up, I still would have enjoyed reading about them and that’s the hallmark of great characterization. These boys don’t need a strong plot to make them interesting, they make the plot they’re in interesting. And because the boys are so believable in all other situations, from playing video games to meeting girls, we believe them in some of the more fantastic situations.
Mamba Point is a love letter to youth, I think. Today’s kids will love the book, but if you grew up in the last thirty years, this book will be extra special to you. I was a boy in the 1980s and I remember Indiana Jones when he was fresh and new and decades away from the Crystal Skull. I remember how amazing Atari was at the time and how it was to dream of owning Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Back then, I could never have conceived of a Red Dead Redemption and Scaletta’s description of Pac-Man is like poetry. I haven’t played that game in forever, but I broke out my copy of Pac-Man after reading this book. Scaletta also presents us with the age old argument of Marvel vs DC and who has the better superheroes. He picks Marvel, which is just ridiculous and nearly ruined the book:) But later, he makes positive mention of Stephen King, so we'll call it even. Nice save, Scaletta.
Mamba Point is a time machine for adults of a certain age and even though I’ve never been to Africa or seen a black mamba, I felt transported to a time when I had. It was a wonderful experience and worth having. So go buy the book already.
For more reviews and to read an interview with author Kurtis Scaletta, check me out online at www.middlegradeninja.blogspot.com
So here’s my review: two thumbs way up, five out of four stars, on a scale of 10, it’s an eleven, insert your own hyperbole. The thing to do now is to order Mamba Point and read it without letting me tell you anything further. Have I ever steered you wrong before, Esteemed Reader? Don’t bother reading the rest of this post, just buy your copy: Mamba Point.
The thing is, the less you know about Mamba Point going into it, the better. I’m going to try not to spoil the book for you , but inevitably I probably will give some of it away and I’m sure a few of you Esteemed Readers are still reading without having first bought and read it (shame on you). I had the good fortune to read this book without knowing anything going in other than Kurtis Scaletta is a very nice man who gave me a signed copy of his book, and that is the way to experience Mamba Point, because it knocked for a loop (mostly because some jerk blogger didn’t tell me all about it beforehand).
All right, I gave you a whole paragraph to stop reading and now I’m starting the summary. This is the first line of Mamba Point: “My brother changed his name on the plane ride to Africa.” What a great opening line, yeah? It’s exciting, it’s provocative, and it sets up the story at once. It’s 1982 and Larry, now Law, Tuttle and his brother Linus (there are plenty of blanket and Snoopy jokes) are on a plane to Africa where they will be living near the US embassy in a place called Mamba Point. But not to worry. There aren’t really any mambas there, or so Linus’s parents tell him, and the local inhabitants tell him. But as soon as the boys step off the plane, they are attacked by a mamba, which makes for an exciting opening. Not anymore though. I just ruined it. Told you not to read.
Linus is hoping to make a new start for himself in Africa. He doesn’t want to be the same Linus he was back home in Dayton, Ohio. He tells us constantly (the book is written in the first person) that he is becoming a new Linus. This is a wonderfully universal experience shared by most children who have moved and it resonates. But the problem is everywhere Linus goes, he sees another Mamba. He’s not supposed to be seeing them because there aren't supposed to be any mambas around, but he does. Early in the book, Scaletta drops this information:
“Mom wanted Darryl to shut up because she didn’t want to exacerbate your condition,” he said… When my parents took me to see that shrink after my panic attack at school, he talked to me for a while by myself.
Is interesting, no? Here we have a boy who might just have a mental issue who keeps seeing black mambas everywhere, usually while no one else is around. And the black mambas’ behavior gets stranger and stranger. Linus is able to pet them and they slither around his leg and never hurt them, and he is so not a parselltoungue. A black mamba follows him around, becomes his friend, and even lives in his laundry hamper. At this point, I began to suspect the mamba’s real name was Tyler Durden and Linus and he would start their own Fight Club. How fun is it to suspect something like that in a middle grade novel? It’s a lot of fun and now you won’t have it because I told you about it beforehand.
Is Linus crazy? Maybe. But his new friend Gambeh has a different theory. The rural religions believe some people have a special connection to animals called Kaseng. So those are your options: Linus is crazy and has delusional fantasies, which would make for an awesome story. Or, Linus has a special connection to actual, physically real black mambas and he can hang out with them and convince them to do things without ever being hurt, which would also make for an awesome story. I’m not going to tell you which it is because I’ve already spoiled enough. But either way, what follows is an awesome story and you're going to love it.
I said this was going to be a short review, but I’ve lied about that before (every week). Don’t worry. I’m not going to ruin anything else. But I’ve honestly never read a book quite like Mamba Point and I really, really liked it. It’s a boy book through and through, though girls will like it too, and the thing that makes it really special is the characters. I cared about Linus and Law and even Matt, the nerdy kid who lives across the hall. I knew a couple of Matt’s growing up.
I identified with these characters. Reading the banter of the brothers reminded me of being their age and horsing around with my own brother. And the boys are very funny. Even if a single black mamba had never shown up, I still would have enjoyed reading about them and that’s the hallmark of great characterization. These boys don’t need a strong plot to make them interesting, they make the plot they’re in interesting. And because the boys are so believable in all other situations, from playing video games to meeting girls, we believe them in some of the more fantastic situations.
Mamba Point is a love letter to youth, I think. Today’s kids will love the book, but if you grew up in the last thirty years, this book will be extra special to you. I was a boy in the 1980s and I remember Indiana Jones when he was fresh and new and decades away from the Crystal Skull. I remember how amazing Atari was at the time and how it was to dream of owning Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Back then, I could never have conceived of a Red Dead Redemption and Scaletta’s description of Pac-Man is like poetry. I haven’t played that game in forever, but I broke out my copy of Pac-Man after reading this book. Scaletta also presents us with the age old argument of Marvel vs DC and who has the better superheroes. He picks Marvel, which is just ridiculous and nearly ruined the book:) But later, he makes positive mention of Stephen King, so we'll call it even. Nice save, Scaletta.
Mamba Point is a time machine for adults of a certain age and even though I’ve never been to Africa or seen a black mamba, I felt transported to a time when I had. It was a wonderful experience and worth having. So go buy the book already.
For more reviews and to read an interview with author Kurtis Scaletta, check me out online at www.middlegradeninja.blogspot.com
March 25, 2010
I was interested in this book for a couple of reasons. First of all it is set in Liberia a few years after I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in nearby Sierra Leone. Secondly, when I was the age of the protagonist I spent a year in Germany, on the fringe of the US Embassy culture so felt I could identify with the main character in many ways.
So anyway, this is the story of twelve-year-old Linus Tuttle who moves to Monrovia, Liberia when his dad gets a job at the US Embassy there. A nervous kid Linus hopes for a chance to reinvent himself in a new place (something I totally identified with as I hoped for the same thing with each of our many moves). When they first arrive the family has a dramatic encounter with a black mamba snake. Mambas being among the most deadly snakes of the region. Once in their new apartment Linus sees a black mamba everywhere. He then learns about kasengs, a belief that people can have special mysterious connections to animals. As the story goes on it appears that this is the case with Linus and his black mamba.
Aspects of the setting felt very real to me from the houseboy (as offensive as the term sounds that is what the household servants were called), the curio seller, the music, etc. I did find the family to be remarkably disinterested in the culture they were in. They seem to have come to Monrovia, the dad and mom went right to work, and that was that. Scaletta does drop in bits of information and I do recognize that Embassy folk at that time were pretty isolated (as I barely knew any of them when I was in Sierra Leone). Still being sensitive to the way Africa comes across to young Americans, I would have liked a bit more cultural context, especially to better understand the kaseng.
Linus is an appealing protagonist and his interactions with "his" snake are gripping as are his complex relationship with his older brother and a few other kids. An interesting and different read, worth checking out.
So anyway, this is the story of twelve-year-old Linus Tuttle who moves to Monrovia, Liberia when his dad gets a job at the US Embassy there. A nervous kid Linus hopes for a chance to reinvent himself in a new place (something I totally identified with as I hoped for the same thing with each of our many moves). When they first arrive the family has a dramatic encounter with a black mamba snake. Mambas being among the most deadly snakes of the region. Once in their new apartment Linus sees a black mamba everywhere. He then learns about kasengs, a belief that people can have special mysterious connections to animals. As the story goes on it appears that this is the case with Linus and his black mamba.
Aspects of the setting felt very real to me from the houseboy (as offensive as the term sounds that is what the household servants were called), the curio seller, the music, etc. I did find the family to be remarkably disinterested in the culture they were in. They seem to have come to Monrovia, the dad and mom went right to work, and that was that. Scaletta does drop in bits of information and I do recognize that Embassy folk at that time were pretty isolated (as I barely knew any of them when I was in Sierra Leone). Still being sensitive to the way Africa comes across to young Americans, I would have liked a bit more cultural context, especially to better understand the kaseng.
Linus is an appealing protagonist and his interactions with "his" snake are gripping as are his complex relationship with his older brother and a few other kids. An interesting and different read, worth checking out.
August 24, 2010
This book is literally like nothing else I've ever read. Reread in 2010.
October 21, 2020
Grade 6th and up- Linus and his brother Law traveled from Dayton, Ohio to Liberia, Africa at Mamba Point! His dad got a new job at the Embassy near their new home. Throughout the book, he bonds with a dangerous black mamba, carefully trying not to hurt anybody. His new friend Charlie recalls it is called a “kaseng”, as he had one with the cassava snake. As his life changes in Africa, he learns from his mistakes and makes new friends, like Matt, Gambeh and Tokie, Charlie and his cleaner and cook, Arti! He finds new ways to enjoy himself such as drawing (especially snakes), reading, and playing games with his friends! Every day, he continues trying new things and looking out for his snake, while also the snake is looking out for him. While he tries to keep his snake out of trouble, the snake finds a way to protect him as the story goes on. As the story goes on the rising action grows! As the rising action grew and grew, this book was very hard to put down and I always kept reading it as the story got more and more interesting! The plot to the story about moving to Africa and how change isn’t always a bad thing is true because I moved from Massachusetts to Maine this summer and it was the most amazing experience and I can’t wait to make more happy memories here! I would say it is an adventurous and fun book to read and to write about! It is an awesome book and I think everyone should read it!
October 19, 2020
This book is a good book about life and a little fantasy, like when Linus (The main character) finds out he has a "Kasing" for a type of snake called the Black Mamba. It has a lot of "real life" situations that will make you cry, smile, laugh, and rally FEEL for everyone involved. The story starts when the Tuttles move from Dayton to Monrovia. Linus is sad because he is leaving a friend. His older brother, Larry, however is excited to move. He thinks he can fit in, and to do that, he changes his name to "Law". From the first step off the plane, he sees a "Black Mamba" which is rare in that part of Liberia, to the time when he SMUGGLES A MAMBA INTO HIS ROOM, he sees mambas everywhere. He come to know and like a certain snake, but never names it. We don't even know if it is a boy or girl! To sum it all up, I thinks this book is a heartwarming story about friendship, pets, family, and new places. Good for readers 11+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2020
Love this book -- magical realism, the 80s, what could be better?
December 4, 2020
This is a great book for any young reader who loves snakes!
January 18, 2025
In my opinion it was a decent book but I feel like the could have done more but still a good read.
July 21, 2011
There are hints along the way that this book isn't set in Liberia of 2010, even if one doesn't know the exact political situation of the country as it currently exists. The main character, Linus, talks of watching Major League Baseball baseball games featuring pitchers Tom Seaver and Rollie Fingers, both long gone from the league (and enshrined in the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York) by 2010. There's also the Atari video game system that Linus and his friends play, admittedly a hot commodity in the early 1980s but a virtual antique twenty-five years later. Mamba Point doesn't seem like historical fiction, but it can't rightly be interpreted as contemporary literature, either. In the book's afterward, author Kurtis Scaletta expounds upon the reason for this unusual choice in how he styled the setting; he, himself, moved to Liberia with his parents when he was thirteen years old, and personally had many of the same experiences that affect Linus in the pages of this story. The Liberia that Kurtis Scaletta knows and has the personal expertise to write about, though, is the Liberia of thirty years prior to the publication of Mamba Point, and so he has chosen to set this story in 1982.
After his father is given a job at the American Embassy in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, Linus and his family relocate to a nearby apartment in the capital city, where they will live for the next two years. Linus has always been a sort of gun-shy kid, and he didn't react especially well to finding out that he was going to be moving to Africa (a panic-attack episode causing his parents to worry about the effect that the abrupt change would have on him), but he feels better after they arrive on the continent. His new sense of peace belies what's going on around him, though; potentially lethal black mamba snakes seem to approach Linus from everywhere, though his parents are witness only to the first "attack", which was quickly squelched by an armed Liberian man. Strangely enough, Linus doesn't feel particularly unsettled by the venomous snakes that seem to follow him around, a far cry from his generally apprehensive regular personality. Still, it's hard to explain naturally why the mambas would be appearing so often to him, when the average person is unlikely to see a single black mamba even if he spends years in Liberia.
Linus happens into a viable (if supernatural) explanation for the strange behavior of the snakes around him when he meets a roadside merchant who appears to know much about animals that act this way. The reason for the snakes surrounding Linus all of the sudden may be the signs of a special talent possessed by some human beings for the control of a specific animal, and it looks as if Linus may have this talent in relation to poisonous mambas. It means that he doesn't need to be afraid of them, but the ways are practically endless that horrible trouble could come about as a result of his being followed by deadly snakes.
Actually, I'd have to say that Mamba Point isn't really mostly about the supernatural element of the snakes that follow Linus. I think it's primarily about the process of adjusting to preteen life in an unfamiliar place like Africa, getting to know the people and understand the customs of a land so vastly different from that which one has ever known before. The book does a good job of describing both the mundane and exciting details of Liberia to readers totally unfamiliar with the country, and it does this with some great moments of humor and a couple of larger stories wrapped around it. There's the storyline of Linus and how he deals with his older brother, Law, in a relationship that is rarely contented and often contentious. Then there's the concept, equal parts philosophy and practicality, of trying to align as closely as possible with the powerline of one's own special abilities without becoming so obsessed with them that it begins to destroy one's life, always a danger when handling an extraordinary talent. Linus has to find a way to strike an acceptable medium between having the mamba snakes close around him and acknowledging through sufficient protective action the fact that they pose a ceaseless threat to everybody else. More than any of the other problems that Linus faces, I see this one as forming the main crux of the entire story.
I would give two and a half stars to Mamba Point, but I ultimately decided to round that rating up instead of down. I think that this second offering from Kurtis Scaletta is a promising improvement on his first book; the story features richer themes and a deeper, more compelling plot, and the bigger meaning behind the story is more fully realized and sculpted to a satisfactory ending. Kurtis Scaletta has proved himself to be a good storyteller, and I have no doubt that he will continue to get even better as he gains experience. I'm looking forward to reading more of what he writes in the future.
After his father is given a job at the American Embassy in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, Linus and his family relocate to a nearby apartment in the capital city, where they will live for the next two years. Linus has always been a sort of gun-shy kid, and he didn't react especially well to finding out that he was going to be moving to Africa (a panic-attack episode causing his parents to worry about the effect that the abrupt change would have on him), but he feels better after they arrive on the continent. His new sense of peace belies what's going on around him, though; potentially lethal black mamba snakes seem to approach Linus from everywhere, though his parents are witness only to the first "attack", which was quickly squelched by an armed Liberian man. Strangely enough, Linus doesn't feel particularly unsettled by the venomous snakes that seem to follow him around, a far cry from his generally apprehensive regular personality. Still, it's hard to explain naturally why the mambas would be appearing so often to him, when the average person is unlikely to see a single black mamba even if he spends years in Liberia.
Linus happens into a viable (if supernatural) explanation for the strange behavior of the snakes around him when he meets a roadside merchant who appears to know much about animals that act this way. The reason for the snakes surrounding Linus all of the sudden may be the signs of a special talent possessed by some human beings for the control of a specific animal, and it looks as if Linus may have this talent in relation to poisonous mambas. It means that he doesn't need to be afraid of them, but the ways are practically endless that horrible trouble could come about as a result of his being followed by deadly snakes.
Actually, I'd have to say that Mamba Point isn't really mostly about the supernatural element of the snakes that follow Linus. I think it's primarily about the process of adjusting to preteen life in an unfamiliar place like Africa, getting to know the people and understand the customs of a land so vastly different from that which one has ever known before. The book does a good job of describing both the mundane and exciting details of Liberia to readers totally unfamiliar with the country, and it does this with some great moments of humor and a couple of larger stories wrapped around it. There's the storyline of Linus and how he deals with his older brother, Law, in a relationship that is rarely contented and often contentious. Then there's the concept, equal parts philosophy and practicality, of trying to align as closely as possible with the powerline of one's own special abilities without becoming so obsessed with them that it begins to destroy one's life, always a danger when handling an extraordinary talent. Linus has to find a way to strike an acceptable medium between having the mamba snakes close around him and acknowledging through sufficient protective action the fact that they pose a ceaseless threat to everybody else. More than any of the other problems that Linus faces, I see this one as forming the main crux of the entire story.
I would give two and a half stars to Mamba Point, but I ultimately decided to round that rating up instead of down. I think that this second offering from Kurtis Scaletta is a promising improvement on his first book; the story features richer themes and a deeper, more compelling plot, and the bigger meaning behind the story is more fully realized and sculpted to a satisfactory ending. Kurtis Scaletta has proved himself to be a good storyteller, and I have no doubt that he will continue to get even better as he gains experience. I'm looking forward to reading more of what he writes in the future.
October 20, 2020
This book is very good although was not my favorite book of all time it kept me interested and I found myself not being able to put the book down. This is a book that is hard to follow at some points but overall I would recommend it for anyone from 6th grade to 8th grade. The main character, Linus is a 12 years old boy that is moving to Africa for his dad’s job, and he runs into some trouble along the way… Linus (the main character) has an older brother named Larry that decides to change his name and become a new person in Africa. Altho Linus does not change his name he does change his personality to become the new Linus. As Linus lives in Africa he makes friends and meets new people but one thing that is wired about him is he has a strange liking for snakes, not just any snakes but black mambas. Black mambas are some of the most deadly snakes in the world I bite of this snake is almost certain death if you don’t have a shot of anti-venom. But Linus finds a way to befriend a black mamba. Linus also likes to rollerblade but in Africa, there is no roller rink where he lives. So he rollerblades in some very odd places that were NOT a good idea. After Linus moved to Africa he didn’t love it at first but once he got used to living there I think he had fun.
January 7, 2011
I'd give this a 3 1/2 if I could. I saw Mamba Point at the library and checked it out when I saw that it's written from the perspective of a foreign service kid in 1980s Liberia. I completely identified with the setting and the main character, 12-year-old Linus, who is determined to leave his old 'fraidy-cat self back in Dayton and become someone new in Liberia. I absolutely love the main story about Linus and his mamba friend, but I can't say much about it without giving things away.
I don't go all the way to four stars for a couple of reasons. I had a very hard time liking the rest of Linus' family. There's supposed to be friction with Law, his older brother, which is a large part of the story, but I'm not satisfied with the resolution there. I still can't stand Law at the end of the book, though I got the feeling that the author wanted me to like him better. Speaking of Law, I should raise the red flag that the author does deal with some of the freedoms FS teens are challenged with (no drinking age, etc.) in developing Law's character. Also, Linus' parents seem really detached -- from their kids and from their surroundings.
Overall, this was a great read and I'm really glad I found it.
I don't go all the way to four stars for a couple of reasons. I had a very hard time liking the rest of Linus' family. There's supposed to be friction with Law, his older brother, which is a large part of the story, but I'm not satisfied with the resolution there. I still can't stand Law at the end of the book, though I got the feeling that the author wanted me to like him better. Speaking of Law, I should raise the red flag that the author does deal with some of the freedoms FS teens are challenged with (no drinking age, etc.) in developing Law's character. Also, Linus' parents seem really detached -- from their kids and from their surroundings.
Overall, this was a great read and I'm really glad I found it.
June 3, 2010
The book opens on the plane, the Tuttles are headed to Monrovia, Liberia- Dad has a diplomatic assignment there. Lawrence and Linus are chatting when Lawrence turns to Linus and says, "From now on I am Law- no more Larry." Point taken. Linus would love to leave the old, anxiety ridden little Linus in the states. He wisely realizes that changing his name will not do the trick. He knows what he wants to change, the task is how.
This is the story of Linus first summer in Monrovia. Law, Mom and Dad seem to jump right into Monrovian life- Linus seems to be a bit 'stuck' but looks are deceiving. In his own plodding, careful way Linus is changing and developing.
Introduced to the intriguing idea of Kaseng, the idea that there is a bond between totem animals and individuals Linus finds himself in the company of a dangerous black mamba snake far too often to be a coincidence. Does he have a kaseng? What can it mean and what should Linus do about it? All interesting questions that Linus bravely works on as the summer passes. A great story of a boy brave enough to really look at himself and make an effort to develop. Linus is a guy we would all like to know.
This is the story of Linus first summer in Monrovia. Law, Mom and Dad seem to jump right into Monrovian life- Linus seems to be a bit 'stuck' but looks are deceiving. In his own plodding, careful way Linus is changing and developing.
Introduced to the intriguing idea of Kaseng, the idea that there is a bond between totem animals and individuals Linus finds himself in the company of a dangerous black mamba snake far too often to be a coincidence. Does he have a kaseng? What can it mean and what should Linus do about it? All interesting questions that Linus bravely works on as the summer passes. A great story of a boy brave enough to really look at himself and make an effort to develop. Linus is a guy we would all like to know.
May 27, 2011
When you’re an adult a weird and mild form of multiple personality disorder overcomes you when you read Middle Grade Fiction. When you’re reading a really good book, in this case Mamba Point by Kurtis Scaletta, part of your personality is overtaken by the twelve-year-old you once were. You revel in the danger and intrigue of the story. At other points the grown-up part of your personality takes over. You gasp and think “stupid kid, what are you doing?”
I did both while reading about Linus Tuttle, a twelve-year-old boy who moves from Ohio to Monrovia in Liberia, Africa. Linus and his family move to the new country because his dad gets a job at the American Embassy there. On the plane ride to their new home Linus’ older brother, who had been Larry in Ohio, decides he’s going to reinvent himself and asks his family to call him Law.
The idea of reinvention appeals to Linus and he decides that he too is going to reinvent himself. No longer will he be quiet, anxiety-ridden, scared Linus. In Africa he will be brave and bold.
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I did both while reading about Linus Tuttle, a twelve-year-old boy who moves from Ohio to Monrovia in Liberia, Africa. Linus and his family move to the new country because his dad gets a job at the American Embassy there. On the plane ride to their new home Linus’ older brother, who had been Larry in Ohio, decides he’s going to reinvent himself and asks his family to call him Law.
The idea of reinvention appeals to Linus and he decides that he too is going to reinvent himself. No longer will he be quiet, anxiety-ridden, scared Linus. In Africa he will be brave and bold.
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August 23, 2016
Our family has lived overseas for 23 years, and this is the best book I’ve ever read to describe expat life as we know it. The book is well targeted for middle schoolers – quick clear sentences and situations, with just enough significant detail.
12 year-old Linus Tuttle has just moved with his family to Liberia. He has a lot to adjust to, but first he must come to terms with his own insecurities. He is a boy after all, prone to obsess over girls and games and group dynamics no matter where he might be.
Scaletta draws upon his own childhood memories of Monrovia, the capital. His experience has helped him recognize that the local culture isn’t going to dominate every expat’s daily life. The local scenes and honest teen emotions provide the necessary foundation to support an impressive twist of African mysticism. Linus has a young boy’s faith in what is possible and what is right. He’s an inspiring everyman hero, in an absolutely wonderful novel.
12 year-old Linus Tuttle has just moved with his family to Liberia. He has a lot to adjust to, but first he must come to terms with his own insecurities. He is a boy after all, prone to obsess over girls and games and group dynamics no matter where he might be.
Scaletta draws upon his own childhood memories of Monrovia, the capital. His experience has helped him recognize that the local culture isn’t going to dominate every expat’s daily life. The local scenes and honest teen emotions provide the necessary foundation to support an impressive twist of African mysticism. Linus has a young boy’s faith in what is possible and what is right. He’s an inspiring everyman hero, in an absolutely wonderful novel.
August 11, 2010
Thank you, First Reads, for a free advance copy of this Mamba Point. The phase of the moon worked in my favor this time!
I really enjoyed Mamba Point. For starters, I really appreciated Linus as a character. I think any kid (and a lot of us adults!) like to think about how we can be better and cooler and maybe a bit different, when we move somewhere new, or at the beginning of a new school year. I've also had the experience of moving to a foreign country and been through that (really fun) adjustment period, like Linus, so that resonated with me as well.
Beyond my affection for Linus, I enjoyed Scaletta's writing style - it came across as very easy and natural, and it sounded like a mature 12-year-old. A little funny, a little quirky, and overall a pleasure to read.
I really enjoyed Mamba Point. For starters, I really appreciated Linus as a character. I think any kid (and a lot of us adults!) like to think about how we can be better and cooler and maybe a bit different, when we move somewhere new, or at the beginning of a new school year. I've also had the experience of moving to a foreign country and been through that (really fun) adjustment period, like Linus, so that resonated with me as well.
Beyond my affection for Linus, I enjoyed Scaletta's writing style - it came across as very easy and natural, and it sounded like a mature 12-year-old. A little funny, a little quirky, and overall a pleasure to read.
November 5, 2010
One of the first things Linus sees when he steps off the plane in his new home of Liberia is a black mamba, the deadliest snake in the whole country. He notices the snake more and more, and it seems almost friendly. Linus feels himself becoming more like the snake—braver, bolder—but will his mystical connection to this spirit animal help him reinvent himself, or put his whole family in danger?
I used this as one of my middle school booktalks, and a girl came by after school the next day to ask for it, so I guess my booktalk worked. Linus is a believable boy--who hasn't wanted to take advantage of a move to reinvent himself?
The cover does nothing for me (sorry, Kurtis) but I liked seeing my name in the acknowledgments. :)
I used this as one of my middle school booktalks, and a girl came by after school the next day to ask for it, so I guess my booktalk worked. Linus is a believable boy--who hasn't wanted to take advantage of a move to reinvent himself?
The cover does nothing for me (sorry, Kurtis) but I liked seeing my name in the acknowledgments. :)
June 1, 2011
I checked this book out of the public library because the cover was facing me. I had no expectations about it or any idea what it might hold for me.
This is the story of two brothers who move to Liberia with their parents because Dad is going to work for the US embassy. The older brother decides to go by Law instead of Larry because he gets a fresh start. Linus, the protagonist, wants to be different, change his persona but doesn't think changing his name will help; he is a 'fraidy cat' by his own admission.
Linus can't go outside because every time he does he sees snakes. Linus does go through a very meaningful transition, more believable and understanding than Gatsy or Jake. Linus is a fun character and the cast of characters is a group whose stories would entertain us at dinner.
This is the story of two brothers who move to Liberia with their parents because Dad is going to work for the US embassy. The older brother decides to go by Law instead of Larry because he gets a fresh start. Linus, the protagonist, wants to be different, change his persona but doesn't think changing his name will help; he is a 'fraidy cat' by his own admission.
Linus can't go outside because every time he does he sees snakes. Linus does go through a very meaningful transition, more believable and understanding than Gatsy or Jake. Linus is a fun character and the cast of characters is a group whose stories would entertain us at dinner.
July 28, 2012
This book takes place in Liberia in 1982. Linus and his family move from Dayton, Ohio to Liberia when his father takes a job at the American embassy there. Linus is 12 and has always been very anxious and scared of things. He wants to make a change for himself with this move. When he first gets to Liberia he sees a mamba, a very deadly snake. Later he keeps seeing a mamba and seems to bond with this snake and have no fear of it. Linus eventually takes it home as a secret pet. The inevitable happens when the snake gets loose, but fortunately the results are not tragic. The thing that I liked best about this book is the setting. I learned a bit about the history of the country as well as some of its customs and beliefs.
July 27, 2011
Terrific, realistic fiction. Although the book is set in Liberia in 1982, many kids will recognize themselves in Linus, who decides that he will take on a new, braver persona when his family moves from Dayton to Liberia. The story contains wonderful details from the author's own experiences there - such as the snap-shake and life on the American Embassy grounds - but Scaletta never lets the setting overwhelm the character's own quest. Scaletta also does a fine job of conveying the idea of a kaseng, a Liberian belief that certain people may have powerful connection to particular animals. Those scenes are at once magical, believable and powerful.
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October 25, 2011It's about a boy that his name is Linus and his family moved to Liberia. Because his Dad got a job at the U.S. embassy. And his brother changed his name to Law. Now he is living in the U.S. apartments having a good time but it always rains. And when he got of the airport he was black mamba was moving at him but a man killed it. And he does not have any friends.
Linus whats friends and his bother already has friends and Linus was jealous. Then he goes to the pool and he finds him so friends plying with a ball and he plays with them so he kicks the ball to far and goes get and a black mamba was moving fast at him but it got scared. But he made friends with the kids he saw.
Linus whats friends and his bother already has friends and Linus was jealous. Then he goes to the pool and he finds him so friends plying with a ball and he plays with them so he kicks the ball to far and goes get and a black mamba was moving fast at him but it got scared. But he made friends with the kids he saw.
September 29, 2017
I was especially interested in this book because I'm thinking of doing a middle grade fiction class with the author, and because MAMBA POINT is set in Liberia in the 1980s, and deals with the 12yo American main character's sense of displacement and how he copes with the anxieties of being a preteen in Africa. The story starts quietly, with days of Atari and role playing games, but Scaletta keeps upping the stakes in a very realistic and gripping way. I was quite moved by the conclusions the book comes to about identity; my favourite quotation was this: "You have to be careful when you tell lies about who you are. Otherwise . . . the mask becomes your real face."
November 8, 2012
I was completely captured by the cover, but I was not that interested in the actual story. Linus Tuttle has some anxiety problems and is hoping for a fresh start when he moves with his family to Liberia for his dad's embassy job. Linus develops a connection to a deadly mamba snake, and it helps Linus build confidence. The author used his own life experience to describe life as an embassy kid in Africa, and I liked those details. As a mom, I had a hard time with some of the parenting details (the parents leave Linus and his brother without adult supervision while they take a weekend trip). I think I might have enjoyed the book more if I were a 6th or 7th grade boy.
January 19, 2013
When Linus has to move to Africa he decides he will change his personality. When the first thing the family encounters is a black mamba, Linus feels like he has a connection with it. Soon he is taking care of it in his old hamper. When this poisonous snake bites his brother he is in big trouble. Everything seems to go wrong. His friend is in jail, his brother is in the hospital,Linus almost killed his snake by dropping it from the third story of his apartment, there are tiny lizards running rapid around the house, his other friend's dad was fired for sleeping on the job by their housekeeper, What else could happen?
January 15, 2014
Although a bit slow moving at times, this was a creative story that would be loved by snake loving boys. It is also rich with prewar Liberian culture - particularly folk lore of snake stories. Linus is 10 when his dad gets a job in Liberia. He finds himself face to face with the vicious Black Mamba snake several times in the first few days and, through a new friend, believes he has a kaseng - a deep spiritual connection to a wild animal. He secretly befriends a 7 foot long black mamba (it wraps around his waist and he carries it around in a gym bag) and also begins to shake his "fears of the world" as a result.
March 16, 2014
This is a well crafted story about a boy and his family who move from Ohio to Monrovia, Liberia. The boy is insecure and deathly afraid of snakes. He learns to befriend a snake to overcome his fears and become a bolder person. He makes friends, helps others with troubled situations, causes a few conflicts of his own, and learns a lot about another culture and land. Good character development, area description, cultural elements, and the story keeps moving along. It was hard to put this book down. Note: If you're uncomfortable with snakes, don't make the mistake I did and read the last few chapters right before bed!
July 7, 2015
This was fairly good, although ... odd. I never visited Liberia during the time frame in which the book is set, so I can't speak to it, but much of the setting felt right, if right in a superficial way. The embassy kids reminded a great deal of the embassy kids I knew in Togo - in fact "Matt" was almost a dead ringer (personality) for a guy I knew, who introduced me to Star Frontiers and loaned me his 1st ed DMG and PHB.
The story veers between mundane and fantastic, and at times, appears to be out of the author's control; still, it was an overall good read.
Recommended for those who like magical realism.
The story veers between mundane and fantastic, and at times, appears to be out of the author's control; still, it was an overall good read.
Recommended for those who like magical realism.
September 16, 2011
Genere: Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: 2010
In this book, we are introduced to Linus, a teenage boy who was uprooted by his parents from Dayton, Ohio to live in the capital of Liberia. As soon as Linus, gets off the plane he is confronted by a Black Mamba, which is one of the most deadliest snakes in Africa. It does not take Linus long to figure out that he has a strange relationship with Black Mambas. This is a coming of age book where Linus changes from a boy with high anxiety to a teen who dares to live life.
Publication Date: 2010
In this book, we are introduced to Linus, a teenage boy who was uprooted by his parents from Dayton, Ohio to live in the capital of Liberia. As soon as Linus, gets off the plane he is confronted by a Black Mamba, which is one of the most deadliest snakes in Africa. It does not take Linus long to figure out that he has a strange relationship with Black Mambas. This is a coming of age book where Linus changes from a boy with high anxiety to a teen who dares to live life.
October 14, 2010
This book is really funny. Linus is a smart, funny, and laughable kid hat you want to hang out with. Seriously, I'm telling the truth. Linus, as in the Peanuts Comics, the one that always carries the blanket around, has Linus (one in this book) always being made fun of. Then, he sees a black mamba, and he begins to change, all because of a freash, new start and a stranger or two. It's really funny, so you better READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 6, 2012
A story of a boy and his connection to Black Mambas in Liberia. I can't say that I enjoyed it....although I found it weirdly intriguing and I found myself anxious to discover just how the author would tie up all of the details. The cultural tidbits about Liberia and West Africa were interesting. I am just curious enough to visit the author's website to learn more about his other books. www.kurtisscaletta.com
July 1, 2010
An unusual story of a twelve year old boy who moves to Liberia with his family in 1982 when his father gets a posting to the American embassy there. Determined to become less anxious and more popular, he tries to do some of the things his older brother enjoys, but his encounters with a deadly black mamba soon lead him down a different path.
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