Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard (Volume 1)

By: Lars Guignard

Narrated by: Bailey S. Carlson

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

If you loved Harry Potter, if you couldn't get enough of Percy Jackson, if you're wondering what to listen to after The Kane Chronicles - from, Lars Guignard, the author of Lethal Circuit, comes the brand new, kids' magic fantasy adventure....

Ghost Leopard

Zoe Guire just talked to an elephant. Well, technically speaking, the elephant spoke to her, but either way it was weird and, as a rule, Zoe doesn't do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.

And those are the least of Zoe's troubles. Because if she's to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen - chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.

Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they're going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don't, nothing will ever be the same again.

©2011, 2012, 2013 Lars Guignard (P)2013 Lars Guignard

Perfect read for your next family adventure

What made the experience of listening to Ghost Leopard the most enjoyable?

Bailey Carlson's performance was fantastic. Any future books she does, I want to listen to. She energetic and entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved how the different gods of India were incorporated in the story. I've read lots of stories with Greek, Roman, and Norse gods, but never one with gods from India. It was enjoyably original.

Which character – as performed by Bailey S. Carlson – was your favorite?

Any character that was from India. Carlson added dialect and made them stand out.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Two kids, a camera, and one amazing adventure!

Any additional comments?

Guingnard did a wonderful job setting the pace of the story. It is action packed with lots of adventure. The main characters aren't in one place for long periods of time. They are constantly on the move--either escaping danger or hunting to find the ghost leopard. It will definitely hold young readers' attentions (as well as older readers!)

9 year old daughter liked this adventure story

The narration was sometimes choppy during transitions from one sentence to the next, I suspect due to editing. The character voices were fun and youthful.

A Cute Story!

What made the experience of listening to Ghost Leopard the most enjoyable?

See review below.

What other book might you compare Ghost Leopard to and why?

Indiana Jones because that's what this book reminds me of but a kid version.

Which character – as performed by Bailey S. Carlson – was your favorite?

Zoe. I found Zak's voice to be annoying.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

See review below.

Any additional comments?

This title has the honor of being my first audiobook review! Luckily, it was a positive experience due to this book being an interesting one. In fact, this book reminded me of the Indiana Jones series but for children.

I think the title is a fantastic one when it comes to a middle grade read. The whole "ghost leopard" bit definitely piqued my interest, and I think it will definitely catch the attention of middle graders and possibly younger kids.

For a children's book, the cover is very eye catching! The colors will definitely attract the wandering eye of children.

I think the world building, when it comes to a middle grade book, is quite believable. As an adult, I know the adventures of Zoe and Zak would never happen due to concerned adults, but the author sets his story up where it's believable to children. The setting of India is done really well! I've never been to India, but it's what I'd imagine India to be.

The pacing is spot on! From the beginning, you're anticipating what is going to happen next, and while, the adventure doesn't start until about chapter 4 or so, you can't help but be drawn in.

The plot should appeal to children and adults alike. Zoe and Zak seem to find an adventure at every turn. They must find a way to save themselves as well as the world which would seem to be a difficult task as an adult, let alone as two sixth graders.

The characters are written well. One thing I did notice was that sometimes Zoe seemed to act much older than her 11 years. Also, I do find Zoe to be too much of a goody goody and a bit of a scaredy cat. However, as the story progresses, Zoe becomes more brave and willing to take risks. I really enjoyed Zak's mischievous nature. Zak had me laughing a lot throughout the book!

As for the dialogue, there were a few words and phrases that Zoe uses that make her sound more like someone in high school or older. Luckily, this is a rare occurrence. One thing that did bother me was that Zoe was say something and explain how she knew it which made me feel as if she was talking down to the reader. For example, in once scene, she says she heard a click from the door being opened. She says she knows this because she's used a key card reader or something to that effect. Basically, there was no need to explain why. Otherwise, the dialogue flows smoothly and works for a middle grade read. There's no swearing either although there are mentions of butts and poop which should definitely appeal to boys the most!

As for Bailey S. Carlson, the narrator, I felt that she did a good job overall. I did find her voicing of Zak to be a bit too nasally at first. Luckily, as the story goes on, Zak's voice quits being so nasally. I also had difficulty when it came to whether Zoe or her mother was talking since Carlson seems to use the same voice for them both. Also, when it came to doing an Indian accent for the nanny, she goes from doing an Indian accent to her original one and then back to Indian again. Saying that, she does a fantastic job at voicing the other Indian character. The overall narration is great though.

Overall, Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard is a very attention grabbing and interesting book that will have children (and some adults) wanting more. Luckily this book is part of a series, and this is the first one!

I'd recommend this book for those aged 8+ who want to go on a fantastical action adventure!

I'd give Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard a 4 out of 5.


(I was provided with a free audiobook of this title from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. This review can also be found on my blog).

An entertaining and educational adventure.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I think this is an excellent read for middle grade kids as it entertains while teaching. There is plenty to stir the imagination and the two protagonists are a lot of fun.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ghost Leopard?

I enjoyed learning more about the culture and the Indian Gods.

What about Bailey S. Carlson’s performance did you like?

I thought she did a remarkable job with the two children's voices and I also liked the way she did the Indian accents.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had the time to sit in listen in one sitting, yes.

What a fun read!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ghost Leopard to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version, however, I think the audio was great. A few hiccups here and there but otherwise fabulous.

What other book might you compare Ghost Leopard to and why?

The Nancy Drew Series! This book brought me back to loving mysteries as a kid.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I wish the narrator would have paused at the end of a climactic event. There were so many chapters when Zoe and Zak were in peril and the narrator just zoomed to the next part instead of letting what happened to Zoe and Zak sink in a little.

Any additional comments?

Really fun to listen to. I normally do not get into mysteries, they just aren't my thing anymore, but this was absolutely fun. A very easy listen, definitely for the younger audience.

A fun adventure

Would you listen to Ghost Leopard again? Why?

Yes. It was a fun and entertaining book. The narrator did a fantastic job and I liked the story.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I thought it was a little tidy, but still good.

Which character – as performed by Bailey S. Carlson – was your favorite?

I really thought that she did Zak great. I could feel his energy almost.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not particularly.

Great Narrator! Fantastic for fans of middle grade

Where does Ghost Leopard rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really enjoyed the narrator! I thought the narrator did a great job of differentiating between the characters.

What did you like best about this story?

This is the first audio book middle grade novel that I have ever reviewed. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it. I have listened to audio books before and really enjoyed them, especially if they have a good narrator but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the voice relating to the age in this one. After starting it I realized that the narrator actually does a great job of coordinating between the two main characters, Zoe and Zak. I found it easy to understand when she swapped from one to the other. It was overall a great experience with this narrator.

I am used to reading young adult and adult novels so it took me a little bit to get into this one since it was middle grade but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the way that the author wrote the story in order to add educational information for the reader. My son will soon be at this age and he loves reading so it was interesting to see what type of books he will be coming into before long. I liked the fact that had he chosen this book he would get to enjoy a good story but also discovers information about another country!

The main character Zoe and her mother visit India for her mother’s work. Zoe is a very engaging character and of course wants to go on an adventure while she is in this new world. Zoe meets Zak almost immediately and their two personalities collide. Zoe is very calm and uptight where Zak is to the point of annoying but this is what is to be expected at this age so it fit perfectly into the story.

Zoe and Zak then learn that they are “supposedly” meant to protect what is called The Ghost Leopard from all evil including lots of bad men. Zoe and Zak then begin their journey to search for The Ghost Leopard and incur LOTS of bad situations that they have to find their way out of!!!

The book is full of action, fast-paced sequences, and young humor. I enjoyed the book immensely and thing that any fan of middle grade would love it! I mean who doesn’t love a good mystery along with ghosts, scary situations, Indian folklore, and of course A Ghost Leopard.

Adventure beyond belief.

If you could sum up Ghost Leopard in three words, what would they be?

Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard is an adventure story about Zoe and Zak who were chosen to protect the people of India from the Monkey God. When Zoe’s mother takes her to India for her business trip, Zoe is determined to take the best picture so she can win her school’s contest.

But when she sees Zak, a boy that she went to school with, she is annoyed and really doesn’t want him there. However, he loves adventure so when he finds Rhino Butt’s map, Zak wants to know where it takes him.

I absolutely loved Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard and think that it’s the perfect book for middle graders. There is that time when children don’t want to hear anymore about fairytales and want some action to get them excited for books. I really think that this book was well written and is able to catch anyone’s attention. The characters were very well presented and it was amazing to see the world through 11-year old’s eyes.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Since I was listening to the Audiobook version, I do think that it takes time to get used to the narrator, that was for me at least. At times it felt like she was overdoing it but if you consider the fact that this is meant to be a younger public, it was perfect.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of my favorite moments has to be the scene when Zak and Zoe were protecting the Ghost Leopard in the mountains. I thought it was very fast paced and definitely made the book better.

Very fun adventure!

Would you listen to Ghost Leopard again? Why?

Yes! It was a fun adventure and I loved 'visiting' India.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Zak. He was the one willing to jump in with both feet and while at first that was annoying it became one of my favorite things about him. He rarely questioned things, he trusted in what he saw and felt.

Which character – as performed by Bailey S. Carlson – was your favorite?

Zoe because she's the one narrating the story anyway. I felt like the narration was spot on for Zoe's voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved when Zoe finally started finding her strength and started trusting in herself. Even if she had to do it alone, she was going to keep the promise she had made to protect the ghost leopard.

Any additional comments?

This was a fun ride with great fantasy elements, truly scary bad guys, great adventure, and an amazing setting. I very highly recommend to fans of middle grade fantasy!

Ghost Leopard Review

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

While I enjoy reading a good book, I just love listening to an audiobook that has been narrated well, and that's just what I found with the audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard. Bailey Carlson does a wonderful job expressing the characters' personalities and making the words come to life. I felt like I was right there with the Zoe and Zak, sharing their adventures with them.

Zoe is a pragmatic, intelligent girl. Because of this, she can get judgmental, especially when it comes to Zak. He's a troublemaker and often gets carried away with his mischief. When the two of them and magic come together in an adventure... let's just say that isn't Zoe's ideal way to spend her time abroad in India. Nevertheless, it does make for some great humor. When I first listened to Zoe and Zak argue after he first pulls a prank on her, I laughed so much. I just can't express enough how much I love how Carlson portrays their voices.

Set in India, Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard is a fun, enjoyable middle-grade fantasy read. I love how the most unrealistic, fantastical, outrageous things can come across as perfectly normal and acceptable in middle-grade fiction. It's even better to hear it aurally as opposed to reading it on the page. I recommend listening to the audiobook of this book. It's fantastic!!