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Overview
Jack Conran can't imagine a better way to spend his summer than researching lions with his scientist father in Tanzania. He's thrilled when Dad invites him along on an expedition to the Witch's Pot, a storm-guarded and unexplored crater in the savanna. But when their plane goes down, Jack finds himself injured and alone in a wilderness teeming with hungry predators. Alone, that is, until he meets the mysterious creature who saved his life. Battling lions and the elements, Jack struggles to survive. But if he wants to return to civilization alive, Jack must first learn the fantastic secrets that nature—and his father—have been hiding.
A fast-paced adventure of discovery and survival from New York Times bestselling author Petru Popescu.
Synopsis
Jack Conran can't imagine a better way to spend his summer than researching lions with his scientist father in Tanzania. He's thrilled when Dad invites him along on an expedition to the Witch's Pot, a storm-guarded and unexplored crater in the savanna. But when their plane goes down, Jack finds himself injured and alone in a wilderness teeming with hungry predators. Alone, that is, until he meets the mysterious creature who saved his life. Battling lions and the elements, Jack struggles to survive. But if he wants to return to civilization alive, Jack must first learn the fantastic secrets that nature—and his father—have been hiding.
A fast-paced adventure of discovery and survival from New York Times bestselling author Petru Popescu.
KLIATT
Jack, age 13, is thrilled to be spending the summer helping his scientist dad tag lions in Tanzania. But their expedition ends in tragedy when their plane crashes near an unexplored volcanic crater and Jack is the only survivor. Injured and surrounded by predators, he must survive alone in the African wilderness; but is he really alone? A small male ape comes to his rescue, bandaging Jack's hurt arm and saving him from lions. Jack calls him "Stone Boy" and is astonished by his cleverness. Together, the two hunt for food and battle lions, even managing to kill one in self-defense. They find Stone Boy's tribe and join them in the forest. Has Jack found the elusive missing link? The cover, featuring a huge attacking lion and Jack bravely facing him with a spear, reminds me of old Tarzan novels, and this has some of the same boy-against-the-wilderness action-packed appeal. Jack is an intrepid hero, and Stone Boy is certainly an intriguing character. There's lots of information about lions here, too, in case you ever need to take one on. An exciting read. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Thirteen-year-old American Jack Conran goes to visit his dad, a research scientist in Tanzania who tags lions for research. On a routine flight into an old crater called the Witch's Pot, their plane crashes. Jack's dad and the pilot are both killed; Jack is the sole survivor. Alone, injured and desperate to go home, Jack is befriended by a mysterious creature who is half boy and half ape and who helps him survive in the wilds of the Savanna. Although Jack does not much care for biting the heads off rodents and eating them raw as his friend likes to do, he does manage to do it. Together, they learn to communicate and hunt while fighting off lions and other wild animals. Although they face death many times, they manage to survive. When Jack accidentally meets the boy's family, he thinks he is truly done for. More like a pack of animals than humans, they learn to trust Jack and even take him in as one of them. Jack is convinced that these fantastic creatures are a secret of nature. Could these mysterious people be the answer to the mystery of what his father was really searching for in the Witch's Pot? Reviewer: Beverly MelasiKLIATT -
Jack, age 13, is thrilled to be spending the summer helping his scientist dad tag lions in Tanzania. But their expedition ends in tragedy when their plane crashes near an unexplored volcanic crater and Jack is the only survivor. Injured and surrounded by predators, he must survive alone in the African wilderness; but is he really alone? A small male ape comes to his rescue, bandaging Jack's hurt arm and saving him from lions. Jack calls him "Stone Boy" and is astonished by his cleverness. Together, the two hunt for food and battle lions, even managing to kill one in self-defense. They find Stone Boy's tribe and join them in the forest. Has Jack found the elusive missing link? The cover, featuring a huge attacking lion and Jack bravely facing him with a spear, reminds me of old Tarzan novels, and this has some of the same boy-against-the-wilderness action-packed appeal. Jack is an intrepid hero, and Stone Boy is certainly an intriguing character. There's lots of information about lions here, too, in case you ever need to take one on. An exciting read. Reviewer: Paula RohrlickVOYA -
Thirteen-year-old Jack is helping his scientist father track lions in Tanzania when tragedy strikes and their plane crashes in the inaccessible African wilderness. Alone and injured, Jack is rescued by a small ape, whom he names Stone Boy. Together they hunt for food, battle lions, and redefine the leadership structure of Stone Boy's tribe. Despite a plot filled with elements that promise a fast-paced survival adventure, this whole work simply falls flat. The situation strains credibility, making it nearly impossible to believe that Jack could really survive. Jack's emotional portrayal is like a roller coaster, going from triumphant primal hunter to lost little boy far too often. The apes and other animal characters are dramatic but lack true authenticity because they are given so many unbelievable human emotions and intentions. In addition, the language is overwritten, especially the descriptions of feelings, which lack the insight needed to broaden the character. The setting, although inherently magnificent, is so overly described that it feels false. A small mystery that connects Jack to his father is so vague that it is impossible to identify the point and how everything that happens fits. A nonexistent theme also leaves little understanding as to why this journey was important or what changes it made in the characters' lives. Fans of Gary Paulsen or Will Hobbs might find some connections here, but beyond genre enthusiasts, this book will surely find limited readership. Reviewer: Rachel WadhamSchool Library Journal
Gr 5-8
On his summer vacation, Jack joins his scientist father and a research assistant to tag lions on the Tanzanian savanna but is stranded in the wilderness when their small plane crashes, killing both men. The survival story takes an extraordinary turn when the injured 13-year-old finds himself cared for by a boyish primate he comes to call Stone Boy. Jack remembers his father's excitement, earlier, when Jack found a trail of ancient primatelike footprints and begins wondering if tagging lions was just a cover for a deeper interest in tracking evidence of early man. The author develops Stone Boy with just enough human qualities to make him endearing, yet realistic. The unlikely friends learn to communicate using gestures and noises, make spears to kill game, and build fires with glass from the plane. The short idyll is disrupted by the appearance of Stone Boy's tribe, including his mother; its alpha leader; and Mohawk, a primate whose penchant for violence makes Jack even more resolved to find his way back to civilization. A satisfying ending includes an emotional rescue and Jack's tight-lipped explanation of his experiences, protecting Stone Boy, as his friend had protected him. Factual information about anthropologists and African wildlife intertwines with speculative fiction to create a fast-paced adventure that middle graders will relish.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY