Morengaru, a strong young hunter, has been cast out by both his mother’s people, the Kikuyu, and his father’s people, the Masai. Every day he misses human companionship, and soon he feels as though he’s becoming more like the animals around him. When Morengaru has the chance to belong again, he seizes the opportunity. Then he faces the greatest challenge of his life: living among the baboons, still clinging to his humanity, hoping someday to return to his people.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Raised by a Kikuyu mother sold into marriage to his Masai father, Morengaru is never fully accepted by either tribe. He returns to his mother's birthplace because "life with the Masai had become impossible," but as a half-Masai, Morengaru lives apart from the rest of the Kikuyu tribe. When he kills the leopard that has been threatening the tribe's cattle, he earns a cow and bull of his own and, with his new property, a place of esteem among the Kikuyu. Yet he loses everything, and is even banished from the tribe, after he accidentally kills a young nyama (spear carrier) who plays a prank by dressing up in the offending leopard's skin and rousing Morengaru from his sleep. Dutch writer Quintana is at his best when Morengaru thrills to the hunt; his descriptions of the baboon tribe, and especially the pivotal lion kill that earns Morengaru his Masai moran spear are riveting. But the narrative switches points of view often, particularly at the beginning of the novel, from that of the leopard to Morengaru's vindictive Kikuyu grandfather to Morengaru himself, sometimes in the same paragraphAand even breaks into second-person narration at times; and the sporadic use of flashback is confusing. The author never explains why Morengaru would leave the Masai after his triumphant showdown with the lion, nor will readers likely understand why he leaves the baboons at the close of the novel. Quintana imparts some interesting facts about life on the grasslands, but leaves too many threads hanging. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8 UpA marvelous trip of discovery, gracefully and grippingly told. Quintana introduces readers to two East African cultures through Morengru, a young man born of a Kikuyu mother and Masai father, and therefore truly of neither group. He now lives alongside, but not exactly among, the Kikuyu, peaceful civilized farmers whom he views through the eyes of his Masai upbringing, thus showing this hunting peoples scorn for what they consider to be earth-grubbers. Morengrus aloof arrogance in this part of the novel will appeal to teens. After accidentally killing a Kikuyu tribesman, Morengru is ceremonially expelled from the village, and he refuses to do the expectedto plead for his readmittancethus exiling himself. However, when he sets off on a solitary journey as a man without a country, his pride begins peeling away. Readers see his fears and the pain of being an outsider. Then he falls in with a troop of baboons and becomes, through a bloody fight with their leader, their new king. He learns the meanings of their various calls and gestures and the structure of their tribal order. The climax comes when Morengru is finally able to contribute to the troop and he realizes that his humanity demands that he return to live among humans. This remarkable novel deserves to be placed alongside such classic looks at the human condition as Lord of the Flies and A Separate Peace, and recommended to readers who loved Gary Paulsens Hatchet (Macmillan, 1986) and are seeking other adventures at a more advanced level.Coop Renner, Coldwell Elementary-Intermediate School, El Paso, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Baboon King,
By
This review is from: The Baboon King (Readers Circle (Delacorte)) (Mass Market Paperback)
Morengaru is an out cast. His mother is from the Kikuyu tribe and is father is a Masai. These two tribes are about as different as you can get. The Kikuyu tribe are peaceful farmers and the Masai are hunters. Since Morengaru doesn't really fit into either one of the tribes he eventually decides to live with his mother's tribe. A leopard has been killing their cattle and Morengaru kills the leopard. This wins a place in the hearts of the Kikuyu. Then the unthinkable happens. A young boy playing a prank awakens Morengaru from a deep sleep. Morengaru comes face to face with the boy dressed in the leopard skin. Thinking it is the leopard he kills it only to find out too late it was the young boy. He is kicked out of the tribe. He leaves and joins a group of baboons. He learns their ways and he fights the leader to become the head of the pack. He eventually leaves the baboons and returns to the people realizing he need them. This is an interesting book, not one I normally would have picked up off of the shelf to read.
3.0 out of 5 stars
A great book!,
By Andrew Nieporent (Ridgewood, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Baboon King (Hardcover)
As a middle school bookclub, we highly recommend The Baboon King. while it is not action-packed, this book has much to offer. It teaches about different cultures, animal behavior, and is a wonderful story about a man who must wonder to ultimately fit in. Through our discussion the book gave us insight into ourselves and the society in which we live. Finally, its a beautifully written translation.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Baboon King,
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This review is from: The Baboon King (Readers Circle (Delacorte)) (Mass Market Paperback)
The Baboon King, written by Anton Quintana, is a book about a boy living in African culture. The book takes place in Africa and demonstrates how important family is and shows a connection between human and the wild plains of Africa. This is an interesting and sad book. I personally wouldn't recommend it though.
I wouldn't recommend it, because of the way the book is written. The book shows a lot of animals being killed and describes how they look after they die too much. The boy gets kicked out of both his father's tribe and mother's tribe. He has no friends and no one likes him. It's sad and mean. The book should be more about caring then hatred. You've my reasons and I've told you why I don't recommend this book. If you want to read a book about African culture or about the wild then this is a good choice for you. If you don't like killing or the wild then I wouldn't read it.
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