Bartlett and the Forest of Plenty [Hardcover]

Odo Hirsch (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

The third book in the Bartlett series follows our regular cast of characters-Bartlett, Jacques le Grand, and their young apprentice Gozo-on what may be their strangest adventure yet. Plunging into a wild, unexplored jungle, they discover a forgotten city, a long-lost explorer, a ball game played in a walled court, and an underground dungeon. This gripping, funny and clever adventure is written with Odo Hirsch's customary flair.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Odo Hirsch grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where he trained to be a doctor. He now lives in London, where he spends his time writing children's books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (October 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582349312
• ISBN-13: 978-1582349312
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,657,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hi its me Rose K.B. again here for a report. hehehehehehe., March 17, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bartlett and the Forest of Plenty (Hardcover)

Bartlett and the Forest of Plenty is about three explorers: Bartlett, Jacques le Grand, and Gozo the little apprentice. They go exploring in this unexplored forest and find a hidden town named Run. Gozo wants to prove him self to Bartlett as an explorer by wanting a real adventure. Well, here is his chance to prove that he has Inventiveness, Desperation, and Perseverance to save Bartlett and Jacques, but can he do it?

I like this book because it is funny and has a meaning to it. This story describes it so well that sometimes I think I was holding my breath. Sometimes I would find myself trying to put it down for the night, but the book is too good to stop reading.
Don't worry if it is a little boring in the beginning, because it's worth it until you get to the middle of it. It also explains a sport in this book called wall ball. Gozo and the others love this city (Run) and meet many new people who are kind. Most of them anyway.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great adventure, January 9, 2009

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bartlett and the Forest of Plenty (Hardcover)

Odo Hirsch takes his explorers -- Bartlett, Jacques le Grand, and Gozo through a rift valley and into the mysterious forest beyond it -- a forest so mysterious that no one has ever crossed it, and no one has returned from exploring it. As they are trying to decide on a route to take them through the dense jungle, Gozo catches a glimpse of something white, away from their planned track. Bartlett and Jacques, while dubious that Gozo had seen anything at all, are willing to pursue that glimpse. The explorers' perseverance leads them after many days to the city of Run, where everything is plentiful, where crops grow effortlessly, where each person likes his work and does it for the benefit of the community.

Acting as the spokesman and go-between for the community's leader, The Falla, is a strange man. The explorers are amazed to discover that this spokesman is Elwood Tucker, an explorer comrade who had trained with Bartlett and Jacques, but had disappeared 10 years before.

The story shows how the three explorers learn about the community, develop interests and pastimes, and finally decide to leave. They must overcome imprisonment and the doubts of the Falla, and it falls on young Gozo to develop a plan and encourage the community.

Odo Hirsch does a wonderful job of setting the scenes in the story. He gives his characters clever verbal habits, and in some cases, gives them almost no dialog at all. The character of Elwood Tucker seems emotionally unstable and massively paranoid, which is in jolting contrast to the normalcy and integrity of the other characters. Your young adventurers will like this story, but they may not understand Elwood.

Of course the takeaways in this book (as in all the Bartlett adventures) are Inventiveness, Desperation, and Perseverance... but I think the story also models being true to oneself, and the power of repentance and forgiveness. You could also make a case that "doveru no poveru" (Russian proverb: trust but verify) plays a strong role in the conclusion of the story. This story will give your family lots to talk about, think about, and imagine.