Τα χρυσά γεράκια του Τζένγκις Χαν

by Rita Ritchie, Ρίτα Ρίτσι, Ερρίκος Μπαρτζινόπουλος (Translator)

"...Η μακρόχρονη αναζήτηση των Χρυσών Γερακιών, γεννημένη από ένα όνειρο και μια υπόσχεση στη μνήμη του αγαπημένου του Ντάριεν, είχε φέρει τον Τζαλέρ στην απέραντη αυτή έρημο. Και τώρα, μια κίνηση και μόνο ενός προδότη θα εξαφάνιζε για πάντα τα υπέροχα αυτά πουλιά". "Το τελευταίο Χρυσό Γεράκι έπρεπε να σωθεί με κάθε θυσία. Γιατί χωρίς αυτό, το όνειρο του Ντάριεν θα έσβηνε για πάντα. Χωρίς αυτό, ο Τζαλέρ δε θα είχε καμιά ελπίδα, ούτε με τον Σάχη, ούτε με τον Τζένγκις Χαν. Θα τα είχε χάσει όλα..." Ένα θαυμάσιο βιβλίο γεμάτο περιπέτεια που περνά πάνω απ' όλα το μήνυμα της φιλίας και της πίστης για τη ζωή. Και όπως λέει και ο ήρωας του βιβλίου: "Η ζωή δε σταματά. Ο κόσμος είναι μπροστά σου και πρέπει μόνος σου να διαλέξεις το δρόμο σου".

Genres: Historical Fiction, Asia, Middle Grade, Childrens

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Rita Ritchie was born, raised and educated in the state of Wisconsin. She began writing in 1st grade. By the time she was in high school, she was doing radio scripts for a local children’s program and producing feature articles for a weekly newspaper. Always interested in people and places, Mrs. Ritchie later spent time vacationing in Mexico and bicycling in Europe. Her curiosity about other places and times led her to study anthropology, and eventually to investigate the “barbarians” repeatedly mentioned in European history. She found the details of Genghis Khan’s empire so exciting that she felt she had to write about it. The result was her first book The Year of the Horse in 1957, and later, The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan and Secret Beyond the Mountains. Over the years, Rita Richie added to these books with others that captured key historical moments in a variety of times and settings, some of which offered further excursions into the fascinating world of the falcon.

Reviews

[Sweet Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing bedtime story for the kids. Carried us away to the mongol steppes and the world of falconry. We really felt like we were there with Jalair, experiencing the desert for the first time, living in a yurt, and the warm, hospitable mongol people. The plot keeps you guessing and the characters are powerful and real.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, this novel for young adults was an excellent read! It provided a good look into the life of people living in the time of Genghis Khan, and life in a caravan traveling the ancient Silk Road. It is a good book to read when studying ancient China.

The life style of Mongolia described in the book agreed with the descriptions of the lifestyle of the ancient Jaradites leaving the Towel of Babel to journey with enormous wagons, drawn by 20 teams of yaks, across the vast steepes of Russia to the Pacific Ocean.

This is an interesting glimpse into a part of the world and an era of time little known to the Western World. Now the "stans" are opening up to travelers from the West, this area is becoming better known and appreciated.

[Βαγγέλης Ιωσηφίδης · Rating 5 out of 5]

Σίγουρα μέσα στην αγαπημένη μου τριάδα παιδικών βιβλίων. Ταξιδιάρικο, εξωτικό, με αέρα ανατολίτικο και ενδιαφέροντα στοιχεία, ταξιδεύει τον αναγνώστη σε ένα χτες με ιστορία, και λαογραφία. Στη στέπα και στην έρημο οι νεαροί πρωταγωνιστές ψάχνουν να βρουν τον εαυτό τους, με τις συνθήκες να τους ωθούν στα όριά τους.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books when I was younger. I loved the mystery about it and learning about other cultures. I have since gone back and read it as an adult and I still enjoyed it. I've even read it to my children. They loved it too.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I struggled with some pronunciation in this one but quickly committed to however I thought it best pronounced and tried to stay consistent throughout. It really brought the time period to life and showed the Mongols in a different light than I or the main male MC expected. Jalair, the MC, isn't someone to admire in my opinion as he is impulsive, foolish, and often hard to like. So many times when we were reading we were shaking our heads at his decisions and wondering if he would ever wise up or if he would end up killed. Yet I found much to admire in the Mongols he met and interacted with and I absolutely did not expect the curve ball in the last chapter. Loved the storyline of the hawks and reading more about hawking which we have loved since a previous history read aloud.

I liked Idikut's response after Jalair made a costly error in the mews. "I suppose I will not be allowed to handle the hawks after this," Jalair said miserably. "Why not?" Idikut said, managing a grin. "How can you be a hawker if you do not learn?" pg 99

[Kayna Yess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Jalair is an orphan, and wants to recover the Golden Hawks that were stolen from his father. His grandfather has different plans for his future, and hawks are not a part of it. When Jalair escapes to the land of the Mongols in search of his father's hawks, he has no idea how much he will learn from the adventures that wait for him. After sacrificing the life of the last pair of Golden Hawks alive, Jalair learns what his real name is, and who his father really was. The Golden Hawks of Genghis Khan has a complex plot with several missing peices to the puzzle that leaves you wanting to know what happens next.

[Molly K · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times this book felt slow, but it might've been because I was quite busy when I read it and didn't have as much time to fully engage. I liked how it gave a real feel for what life was like back when Ghengis Khan was around. The story had many plot twists and the ending was exciting. This book made me want to research Genghis Kahn, the Silk Road, and the Mongols. I will have my middle school students read this when we study the early 1200s.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting info about how the mongols lived

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book! About a boy and learning about people and being true to himself and relationships. Great for people interested in hawking of the culture of Genghis Khan's people.

[Jennifer Schell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with the kids for School! Slow start but really builds up and ends well.

[wanderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow-moving, enjoyed the historical and geographical details

[Ron McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great young person classic

I’ve just discovered a wonderful tale which I first read as a 11 year-old. Now, more than 50 years later, I still have been captivated by the surprising imagination of the story.

[Kyndra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book to my boys. It was a well-written story with solid plot and character development. We learned a lot about both the Mongols and hawking.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Kezia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gppd writing, but we didnt like how the main charrature makes many selfish choices, and then everything miraculesly falls into place. So either a very satifying ending, or a really tragic one.