Deep Dream of the Rain Forest [Hardcover]

Malcolm Bosse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

On an expedition in the mysterious jungles of Borneo, fifteen-year-old Harry Windsor, an orphan thirsty for adventure, is captured by a member of the Iban tribe and must save himself. By the author of The 79 Squares.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Deep in the rain forests of Borneo lives Bayang, son of the headman of a tribe of Iban. The Iban, writes Bosse ( Captives of Time ; The 79 Squares ), "often found the meaning of their lives in the world of dreams," and so Bayang receives the blessing of his elders when a powerful dream prompts him to set off through the dangerous jungle, accompanied only by the lame girl Tambong. Their path crosses that of 15-year-old Harry Windsor, an English boy orphaned by WW I and now in the care of his uncle, a senior officer for the Sarawak Protectorate. The three learn to help and trust one another in their desperate trek, eluding native war parties and foreign river-pirates. Bosse expertly weaves together his narrative from the points of view of each of the protagonists, showing as much perception in imagining the Iban mind as in that of a young English colonial. His gripping adventure story withstands comparison to Kidnapped , Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe , and is far subtler than each of them. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-Bosse has constructed a complex adventure that has discovery as its major theme. Harry Winston, an English boy of 15 who was orphaned during the First World War, visits his uncle, a state officer of the British government in Borneo. At first conditioned to think of the native people as simple little children, Harry learns the depth of their characters and customs after he is kidnapped by a young warrior and a woman of the Iban tribe. They are on a quest to find the "Big Fish" that has appeared to the young man in a prophetic dream, and Harry is forced to accompany them on their trek through the dense and often dangerous rain forest. Attacks by other native war parties, as well as by river pirates, help the three to trust and respect one another. One of the book's strengths is its insight into the way of life of English colonials and of the Iban. This is a multilayered story that has many rewards for patient readers who enjoy learning about the natural history of a very different country and the people who inhabit it.
Ellen Fader, Oregon State Library, Salem
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 179 pages
• Publisher: Farrar Straus & Giroux (J); 1st edition (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374317577
• ISBN-13: 978-0374317577
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,785,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating tale of adventure, culture and suspense!, January 29, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Deep Dream of the Rain Forest (Paperback)

Harry Winsdor is a 15 year old boy living with his uncle in Kuching (a seaport on the Sarawak River). His uncle takes him on an expedition into the rain forest, that's when the adventure begins: an ambush, a mysterious guide, dangerous wild animals and a kidnapping plague Harry and his party along this epic expedition. Then at the climax, cultures clash when Harry meets Bayang and Duckfoot, two natives of an Iban tribe on a dream quest to make Bayang the leader of the tribe.
I liked this book because it helped me get an insight into the culture of a Southeast Asian tribe while still providing a significant source of excitement. I recommend this book for any reader who relishes an adventure that makes you think.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Deep Dream of the Rain Forest (Hardcover)

This book was great! It was so descriptive and realistic-I learned a lot about the rainforest just from reading it. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone who wants to read an incredible book.