Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard (Volume 1)

De: Lars Guignard

Narrado por: Bailey S. Carlson

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!)

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.