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Reading age
8-12
Genre
historical fiction with magical/mystery
Publisher
Greenwillow Books
Publication date
October 18, 2022
In the village of Sesa, there was a boy named Ezomo who was considered useless by the other villagers. They laughed at him and looked at him in disgust, except for his friends Chimama and Muja. Three years ago, Ezomo’s father died because of a leopard attack. On the anniversary of his father’s death, Ezomo, Chimama, and Muja found the leopard that killed his dad. They believed the leopard was responsible for all the problems in the village, including why Chimama’s mother couldn’t cook and Muja’s father couldn’t speak. So, they decided to embark on a daring journey to hunt the leopard and save the village, even if it meant breaking a few rules.
I chose to read this book primarily because of the leopard on the cover and the title. I’m a huge fan of cats and anything feline-related, so I was immediately drawn in. As I started reading, I was pleasantly surprised by the setting and how the story was set far into the past. The language used was also intriguing, with a unique dialect that added to the story’s authenticity.
One of the aspects I enjoyed most was the setting of a secret village far in the wilderness. It was fascinating to see how the characters lived and interacted with each other in such a remote location. The main character, Ezomo, was well-developed, but I wanted him to open up more. His emotional journey throughout the story was engaging and relatable.
The supporting characters, Chimama and Muja, were also interesting, although I didn’t find them as compelling as Ezomo. However, they did add depth and complexity to the story.
Overall, this was a great book, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a touch of adventure and mystery.