Lionboy: Summary and book reviews of Lionboy by Zizou Corder, plus links to an excerpt from Lionboy and a biography of Zizou Corder.

What do you do when you come home one day and discover that your parents have been kidnapped? Well, if you're a brave young guy named Charlie Ashanti, you go off in search of them. And since you happen to know how to speak Cat, your feline friends-the stray cats of the city and the caged lions on a magnificent, astounding floating circus, rally round you, bringing help, advice, and occasional special deliveries. Little do you know that in this search of yours, the fate of the world is at stake. From an exciting new mother/daughter writing team comes this captivating adventure full of heroes, villains, and astounding events. Set in a near future that blends the familiar and the new in unexpected, intriguing ways, Lionboy is an exhilarating, suspenseful whirlwind of a novel-a book destined to become a classic.

Media Reviews

School Library Journal - Steven Engelfried Grade 4-8. Charlie himself is brave and smart, regularly applying his parents' wise advice when in a tough spot, but he never comes alive as a truly distinct or particularly interesting hero.....Still, it's a fascinating premise, and sets up some surprising and exciting situations.... Despite weaknesses, there's some inventive storytelling here, and readers who stick with it will look forward to the sequel.   VOYA - David Goodale Despite flaws in characterization, this novel will also be a hit with lovers of Eoin Colfer and Philip Pullman. This series is recommended for school and public libraries, where patrons will also want to keep an eye out for the movie. Ages 11 to 15.   KLIATT - Paula Rohrlick The saga is imaginative and engaging, and the elaborate details of the circus will appeal to upper elementary and middle school students. Ages 12 to 15.   The Washington Post Book World For Young Readers - Elizabeth Ward Lionboy is a zinger or a story, told with a J.K. Rowling-like blend of humor, drama and headlong plotting – overplotting, sometimes – though worlds removed from Hogwarts..... a delicious midwinter promise of adventures to come.   Publishers Weekly This first volume (by a mother-daughter team writing under one name) in a planned trilogy melds a rousing traveling circus adventure with shades of cautionary science fiction.   Booklist - Jennifer Mattson ... a 22-page description of a circus performance may test children's attention spans, and Charlie's levelheaded strategizing sometimes strains credibility. Still, such flaws will hardly matter once readers are caught up in the suspenseful action and the pleasures of visiting a plausible, if troubling, version of our future.   Kirkus Reviews This inventive cat-and-mouse game combines hi-jinks with messages of mixed marriages, greedy pharmaceutical conglomerates, and environmentally caused allergies. The lion-face cover and clever cat device set the pace and impel the plot. Intriguing. (Fiction. 9-12)

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Lucy Smith
Wow.
This is the best trilogy Ii have read in my whole life. The story kind of sucks you in and you never want it to end. The book took me quite a while to read though but that's what makes it so good as it lasts long. I never ever wanted it to end and...   Read More

Rated of 5 by ipodgirl437
My Review on LionBoy!!
LionBoy is very suspenseful in a way. You don't know what's going to happen next. This book also has many emotions in it like sadness. When Charlie finds out his parents have been kidnapped all he can think about is how sad he is. There is also...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Debrina
Highly recommended
We found this book on CD at our local library, and fell in love with it! My kids (4 and 5 1/2) and I turn it on every time we get in the car, and are now on book three of the trilogy. We have loved every adventure of Charlie and his lions! I...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Natalie
A most excellent book
It is very intresting, and when at the back of the page I saw the "to be continued"..., I was actually quite angry. I am looking forward to the next book very much. THANK YOU LOIUSA FOR WRITING THIS FABULOUS BOOK!!!! I highly recommend it.

Rated of 5 by Aubrey Rodriguez
This book was awesome!! It will appeal to people (especially cat lovers) everywhere!! Wooo!! (WE ALL LIVE IN A YELLOW SUBMARINE.......
---The Beatles "Yellow Submarine"

Rated of 5 by Klaudia
I am 12 years old and just got done reading this fast-paced story! It was exciting and made me think to picture all the scenes exactly the way they were happening. Charlie goes through the adventures that kids can only dream about! My feelings...   Read More

...9 More Reader Reviews

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