Jaguar (Hardcover)

by Roland Smith (Author) "Taw's retirement home is about ten miles outside Poughkeepsie..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bill Brewster, Wild Bill, Fred Stoats (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9. Jacob Lansa, 14, has just barely returned from Kenya and settled down to life in Poughkeepsie, NY, when his restless father, a wildlife biologist, is called away to a field project in Brazil. In this sequel to Thunder Cave (Hyperion, 1995), Jacob again joins his father in researching and protecting an endangered species?this time it's to save the jaguar and its habitat in the Amazon rainforest. After a mysterious accident kills the expedition leader, seasoned-captain Jay Silver is hired to take the remaining researchers into the tropical interior. As Jacob; Dr. Lansa; and his girlfriend, an experienced botanist, journey up the Amazon River they witness the devastation of the land and indigenous people caused by the influx of fortune seekers and exploitation of natural resources. The group links up with an Indian who helps them take a family of jaguars to the remote region where a refuge is to be established. But even the harsh beauty of an isolated area cannot protect the animals from human greed, and danger lurks in the heart of the jungle. Although the plot sometimes seems contrived, this fast-paced adventure and survival tale blends enough action, suspense, and legend to keep readers interested until the end. Malcolm Bosse's descriptive Deep Dream of the Rainforest (Farrar, 1993) provides a more detailed and intricate look at a similar environment in Borneo for more mature readers.?Janet Woodward, Franklin High School, Seattle, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 5^-8. In this sequel to Thunder Cave (1995), 14-year-old Jacob Lansa's restless zoologist father takes off for Brazil to set up a jaguar preserve, leaving Jacob behind in upstate New York, boarding with his grandfather in a retirement home. Jake understands his father's devotion to his work but feels abandoned, especially after he visits South America and meets the beautiful botanist Flanna Brenna, who has captured his father's attentions. Before Jake has a chance to write off both his father and Brazil, he gets caught up in the intrigue surrounding the preserve and finds himself deep in the Amazon, battling the elements, tropical wildlife, and some mysterious fortune hunters. While Smith's ecological message--the jungle must be preserved undisturbed--comes through loud and clear, the book's strength lies in strong characterization (particularly the relationship between father and son), vivid local color, and high adventure. At the book's end, Jake sets off for the U.S., prepared to take his aging grandfather on one last trip to his native Arizona, perhaps setting the stage for future adventures. Kay Weisman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 149 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786822260
• ISBN-13: 978-0786822263
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,658,119 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars JAGUAR AHHH!!, March 3, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jaguar (Paperback)

Jaguar is a very exciting book that will keep you turning pages. It is about a young boy named Jake Lansa. It is a series from the first book, Thunder Cave. Jake's gransfather is a Hopi Indian and his father is a field biologist, Robert, who is called Doc. Doc is helping his best friend, Bill to make a Jaguar reservation. But when the boat mysteriously explodes, it kills Bill and injures Buzz, the pilot for the Jaguar tracking device. Doc decides to create the dream of his best friend with his son and his girlfriend, Flanna (Jake's mother died), along with a strange person named Silver who has a boat ready for them. They reach the reservation spot, and with the help of Raul, an Indian, they track a jaguar mother and her 2 kids. Doc falls ill and a terrorist who knows Silver takes over. It seems that their reservation spot is near a gold mine, and a few like Silver and the captor want to get rich. Flanna killed him and they were safe. If you want the whole story, you should read this great book! You can also read The Last Lobo, which continues from Jaguar.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book of survival and intrigue, July 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jaguar (Paperback)

This is a great book to use for the classroom. I plan to use it in my 6th grade Language Arts class. This book has it all - great characters, superb plot, survival/adventure aspects, and internal and external conflicts. I look forward to reading more of Roland Smith's books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My review, March 9, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jaguar (Paperback)

I had to read this book for my English class, but once i started, i couldn't stop and put it down. a week before we finished i read to the end of the book. i give this book really high recomendation to anyone. if u like it tell yur friends!