City of the Beasts

By: Isabel Allende

Narrated by: Blair Brown

A search for the Beast, a Yeti-like creature within the heart of the Amazon, becomes a quest for self-discovery in this young adult coming-of-age story filled with international adventure, rich mythology, and magical realism from globally celebrated novelist Isabel Allende.

Fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold has the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. Parting from his family and ill mother, Alexander joins his fearless grandmother, a magazine reporter for International Geographic, on an expedition to the dangerous, remote world of the Amazon. Their mission, along with the others on their team—including a celebrated anthropologist, a local guide and his young daughter Nadia, and a doctor—is to document the legendary Yeti of the Amazon known as the Beast.

Under the dense canopy of the jungle, Alexander is amazed to discover much more than he could have imagined about the hidden worlds of the rain forest. Drawing on the strength of the jaguar, the totemic animal Alexander finds within himself, and the eagle, Nadia's spirit guide, both young people are led by the invisible People of the Mist on a thrilling and unforgettable journey to the ultimate discovery.

engaging

loved the historical context wrapped in the story. I wish the ending was different

Moving growing-up tale

Great characters and moving story line. Great narration. Already loved it when I read it as a teenager.

One of My Favorites

I read this book ages ago, in middle school, and I never forgot it. Hearing it again, as an adult, gave me new appreciation. The story is just as wonderful, but the writing meant so much more this time, with an adult ear. Isabel has an storytelling style as colorful, thorough, and imaginative as Michael Crichton, but with a much more graceful voice. She doesn't "tell" you, she "shows" you, having a phenomenal skill for descriptive storytelling and creating a picture that is just fantastical enough to be a fairytale, but real enough to feel possible.

The reader was quite good, performing accents, and keeping a pace that was just right. My only complaint is a stylistic one, being that I might have had some of the lines read differently; but didn't detract from the story at all, and was still quite good.

An inspiring adventure

it was a beautiful story and makes me want to hear more adventures of Jaguar and Eagle

Isabel Allende???

Couldn’t finish it and am surprised such a great writer wrote it. Perhaps intended for an adolescent audience.