Customer Reviews

The Last Leopard

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Following "The White Giraffe" and "Dolphin Song" - "The Last Leopard" is the third book in the adventures of 11-year-old Martine, who lives on an African game preserve with her grandmother. "The Last Leopard" has a strong animal-conservation theme and takes place in Zimbabwe, where Martine and her friend Ben travel to become involved in a search for the elusive Leopard, whose capture is linked to a lost treasure. Poachers and treasure hunters are the villains in Martine's world, where she is fearlessly willing to risk her life in her quest to save the last leopard.

In keeping with St. John's earlier works, this story is full of African mysticism, legends, and hocus-pocus events, which were used to give the plot a convenient save, or to advance the plot by magical events, drawings, visions, or people.

Characters in this story were not as well developed as in the two earlier works, which could definitely stand alone. Of course, this may be a more important factor for those who have never read the White Giraffe or Dolphin Song, and didn't "know" Martine and Ben.

Some portions of the book are slow, and others could use better transition. It seemed it was put out in a rush with not enough time spent in revision.

Whole sections of the book nearly lost me several times, when the plot wasn't flowing well, or when too many foreign names and their strange spellings were used (too many too close together) to give the African names and meanings for people, places, and things. This was like studying the language and took me out of the story several times to the point that I could have laid the book down and forgotten about finishing it. It was a love for Martine's character from the previous works that caused me to want to reread some sections to try to get back into the story.

"The Last Leopard" is a good story, and I did enjoy reading about little Martine and her knowledge and supernatural abilities with wild animals. The descriptions of the African landscape, wildlife, and people were informative and added to the adventure.

I read this book to my eight year old girl. It is a sequel yet it is not as good as the White Giraffe from the same author. The book becomes exciting near the middle to the end, however it lacks enough momentum at the beginning to hook the young reader. This is a shame since my daughter adored the White Giraffe that was compelling from the first page to the last!

My two children really enjoy this series and so do I. It is hard to find books that they both enjoy.

The book arrived quickly and in good condition. The series starts with The White Giraffe, then The Dolphins Song and finally The Last Leopard. They are all fantasically written. I highly recommend them for any age. I look forward to any future books in this series.

I haven't received this book yet but i ordered it. I've read the White Giraffe and Dolphin Song and they are both really good books. I can't wait to get the Last Leopard. It sounds just as good as the first two. If you like animals or have read the White Giraffe and/or Dolphin Song you will probably enjoy this book too.