City of the Beasts (Charnwood Library) [Import] [Hardcover]

Isabel Allende (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd; Large Print Ed edition (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843951339
• ISBN-13: 978-1843951339
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,265,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Peru and raised in Chile, Isabel Allende is the author of eight novels, including, most recently, Zorro, Portrait in Sepia, and Daughter of Fortune. She has also written a collection of stories; three memoirs, including My Invented Country and Paula; and a trilogy of children's novels. Her books have been translated into more than twenty-seven languages and have become bestsellers across four continents. In 2004 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Isabel Allende lives in California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant New Series for Teens, April 23, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: City of the Beasts (Hardcover)

Fifteen-year-old, Alexander Cold, is given the opportunity of a lifetime, when his fearless Grandmother, a magazine reporter for INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, invites him to tag along on her journey through the Amazon. Bidding his family and ill Mother goodbye, Alexander takes the chance, and ends up exploring, not only with his Grandmother, but with a Doctor, a celebrated anthropologist, a local guide, and his young daughter, Nadia. Their journey will take them where no man (or woman) has gone before, to document the legendary Yeti that just so happens to survive in the Amazon, and is better known as "the Beast." Under the canopy of the rain forest, and with his newly acquired friend, Alexander and Nadia are led on an adventure that will change their lives forever, by the invisible People of the Mist.

A woman I know at the local Barnes & Noble has been recommending this book to me since it was released. However, it seemed like something that I probably wouldn't be interested in. Boy was I wrong. Being very interested in the field of cryptozoology, I found all of the talk about "the Beast" absolutely fascinating, and was extremely mesmerized by the descriptions of the rain forest. Alexander is a likeable character that will appeal greatly to male readers, while Nadia is a brave character who will appeal greatly to female readers. A must have for all ages, especially teens interested in adventurous YA literature. Great job, Ms. Isabel Allende!

Erika Sorocco

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Adventure and Self-Discovery, February 10, 2006

By 

Faye G. (Gaithersburg, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of the Beasts (Hardcover)

I rented this book from the library on a whim, and much to my suprise, I really enjoyed it. I was very captivated by the book, and would reccomend it to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure books.

This book is a great addition to anyones bookshelf. Elegantly crafted, it has many twists and suprises and the plot is very fast paced. While providing an entertaining story, City of the Beasts also delivers lessons and morals to the reader.

City of the Beasts is also a story many Teens will be able to relate to. Not because of the exotic setting of the story itself, but through the charecters. This book shows how the 2 main charecters become friends, and is also a source of self-discovery for the main charecter.

Overall, this book is a worthwhile read for anyone. I only gave it 4 Stars because it does not stand out that vividly in my mind as one of the best books I have ever read, but it is still up there in my top 20!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Exciting Part One of Alex Cold Saga, March 14, 2006

By 

Pat W Jusuf "Book Fanatic" (Jakarta, Indonesia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of the Beasts (Hardcover)

Great adventures in the Amazon, to be precise: somewhere between Manaus in Brazil and Venezuela.

This first novel of the trilogy is actually written by Isabel Allende for young adults. Being uninformed of this purpose, I have picked up City of the Beasts because of the promising adventures content. Well, it turned out to be a well written book, for ALL ages.

Regardless of what other reviewers say about this novel, I found that Miss Allende have done an extremely wonderful job in describing natures beauties along with an exhaustive research on Amazon, anthropologies, environmental and related issues. It is a light novel with serious environmental issues.

Alex Cold is a fifteen year-old teenager from California. He was sent to stay with his grandmother, Kate, for a moment during her mother's extreme cancer therapy somewhere in Texas. Kate is working for International Geographic as a journalist curretnly assigned to study the Amazons. Alex was taken along for the exhilarating journey, meeting weird creatures. the plot generates ffrom this main storyline.

Lots of imagination and environmental issues. A well-written light novel for everybody enjoying adventure-genre fictions.