Lionboy: The Chase

ANNOTATION

After saving the lions from evil Maccomo, Charlie, a boy with the ability to speak the language of cats, goes to Venice to search for his parents and solve the mystery of their kidnapping with help from Bulgarian King Boris.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Charlie and his lion friends have made it safely to Venice, but it turns out that their journey has only just begun. King Boris's palace was meant to be a haven, but it's starting to feel more like a prison. When word arrives from the cat grapevine that his parents are not being held in Italy after all, Charlie knows he must take fast action. Luckily a new ally has come on the scene-and just in the knick of time: Rafi is in hot pursuit.

This second book in the Lionboy trilogy is even more action-packed than the first, offering clever escapes, shipwreck, a prehistoric beast named Primo who will prove himself a great hero, and surprises that will shock and delight. It's an exhilarating, suspenseful whirlwind of a story, and readers will be clamoring for more.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Charlie Ashanti and his lions on the lam return in LionBoy: The Chase by Zizou Corder, illus. by Fred Van Deelen, the sequel to LionBoy. Here Charlie travels to Venice, where he mistakenly thinks his parents (kidnapped in book one) are being held. Charlie learns further details about "Allergenie" cats and their relationship to the human allergy plague as his parents mount an escape from the Corporacy. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

Zizou Corder is the mother and adolescent daughter team who first brought us Lion Boy. With book two, and the third of the trilogy on its way, their concept seems to be turning into a fine commercial enterprise, complete with a music CD. Set somewhere in a nebulous not-too-distant future, Charlie is a multiracial hero who just happens to be a Catspeaker. When the nasty Corporacy kidnaps his scientist parents, Charlie surges to the rescue, a small pride of lions in hand. Unfortunately, his informants (cats of the alley persuasion) confuse Vence in the south of France with Venice. This gives the authors the opportunity to create a future Venice nearly lost beneath the waves, with a doge once more in control. It's an amusing fantasy conceit, almost worth the price of admission. However, to arrive at this point, one must struggle through a rather disjointed recap of book one. When the adventure finally begins, it does move along at a clip. Fred Van Declan's occasional maps and illustrations are good fun and help to orient the action. 2004, Dial, Ages 8 to 12.

VOYA - Teri S. Lesesne

After freeing a pride of lions from a circus, Charlie Ashanti flees from the circus owner and the lion tamer, who are determined to make Charlie return the lions. Charlie, however, has his own plans: He is set on restoring the lions to their homeland. Fortunately Charlie has some assistance in his quest. He is able to communicate with the lions and obtain information that will enable him to accomplish this tremendous feat. There are complications, though. Charlie's parents have been kidnapped, and there is someone tracking him to steal a precious chemical formula in Charlie's possession, one that could cure allergic reactions to cat dander. And, of course, Charlie must find a way to smuggle the pride of lions that includes a genetically engineered saber tooth past those who would prevent their passage. This sequel to Lion Boy (Dial, 2004/VOYA 2004) picks up where the first installment ended. It is not necessary to have read the first book to appreciate the action here. Because it is the bridge book in a planned trilogy, the ending is incomplete, promising more adventures to come. There are more than a few connections to Harry Potter here. Charlie has the ability to communicate with cats of all breeds from domestic to jungle. His parents are absent, in the clutches of an evil entity attempting to brainwash them. These connections ensure a fan base for all three books about Charlie and his lions. VOYA CODES: 4Q 3P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2004, Dial, 272p., Ages 11 to 15.

KLIATT - Paula Rohrlick

In the prequel, Lionboy (reviewed in KLIATT in January 2004), young Charlie set out to find his kidnapped parents and helped a pride of lions escape a circus ship (Charlie helpfully speaks Cat). With the aid of King Boris of Bulgaria, he traveled with the lions on the Orient Express from Paris to Venice. In this new adventure his safe haven with the big cats in a Venetian palazzo is beginning to seem like a trap, and his enemies are trying to track him down. Charlie plays a role in the amazing appearance of the fabled Lion of St. Mark and in overthrowing the doge, and escapes again with the lions, this time by boat, off to Morocco and a happy reunion with his parents. Unlike the first book, this doesn't have a cliff-hanging ending, but more adventures are promised in the final book by this mother-daughter writing team. Younger YAs who enjoyed Charlie's first adventure will want this suspenseful fantasy sequel. (The Lionboy Trilogy, Book 2). KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2004, Penguin Putnam, Dial, 272p. maps., Ages 12 to 15.

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