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A Whisper in the Jungle
Deep in the African jungle where even the bravest are afraid to venture, lies a truth that will propel James through his improbable American journey, if he can come out alive. James a village boy in Africa receives a scholarship to go and study in America and he becomes the envy of the whole village. His girlfriend Janny is however skeptical of what a long distance relationship can do to love. But when Janny vanishes from the village, James and his dog Simba plunge into the belligerent forest at the risk of his life and his American dream. Love transcends all. 'A Lion in America' is a suspense story full of love, humor and adventure, where the answer to love's dilemma lies with a perfect kiss at the top of the Empire Building in New York City.
254 pages, Paperback
First published April 17, 2012
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 12, 2012
My Synopsis
The story opens with two brothers James and Isaac who live in a mud hut with their mother in a village at the base of Mt. Kenya. James' brother goes missing in an event that haunts the villagers and from which James never truly recovers. Years go by and James continues to pursue his love of soccer and which takes him to boarding school in the city of Nairobi.
But while on holiday in his village, his childhood sweetheart goes missing in the same way as his brother and James enters the forrest to search for her and face his past, whatever the consequences.
My Review
I enjoyed A Lion in America 1, in particular the last third of the novel where James goes in search of the missing village girls. The danger, suspense and tension builds, and it is here that the reader is given a real insight into the African customs and old ways of village life. The author also paints a clear picture of the natural landscape and the creatures and wildlife within it.
There is a clear theme running throughout the novel of the customs and traditions of the past clashing with popular Western culture. The characters in the novel have different views and James makes an interesting observation on paying tribute to his ancestors but also doesn't have all the answers on the best way to incorporate tradition into the future. The author has done a great job of allowing the reader to consider all of the ideas and issues in an easy to digest manner without being preached to.
A Lion in America 1 - as the title suggests - is the first part of a two-part story, and there is a sequel to follow. It will be interesting to see where James goes next and how his story and development progresses, although a small part of me will miss his time in the village.
This book will appeal to fans of soccer, as soccer forms a large part of James' life at boarding school. It'll also appeal to anyone interested in Africa or those wanting to visit from the comfort of their lounge chair.
The story opens with two brothers James and Isaac who live in a mud hut with their mother in a village at the base of Mt. Kenya. James' brother goes missing in an event that haunts the villagers and from which James never truly recovers. Years go by and James continues to pursue his love of soccer and which takes him to boarding school in the city of Nairobi.
But while on holiday in his village, his childhood sweetheart goes missing in the same way as his brother and James enters the forrest to search for her and face his past, whatever the consequences.
My Review
I enjoyed A Lion in America 1, in particular the last third of the novel where James goes in search of the missing village girls. The danger, suspense and tension builds, and it is here that the reader is given a real insight into the African customs and old ways of village life. The author also paints a clear picture of the natural landscape and the creatures and wildlife within it.
There is a clear theme running throughout the novel of the customs and traditions of the past clashing with popular Western culture. The characters in the novel have different views and James makes an interesting observation on paying tribute to his ancestors but also doesn't have all the answers on the best way to incorporate tradition into the future. The author has done a great job of allowing the reader to consider all of the ideas and issues in an easy to digest manner without being preached to.
A Lion in America 1 - as the title suggests - is the first part of a two-part story, and there is a sequel to follow. It will be interesting to see where James goes next and how his story and development progresses, although a small part of me will miss his time in the village.
This book will appeal to fans of soccer, as soccer forms a large part of James' life at boarding school. It'll also appeal to anyone interested in Africa or those wanting to visit from the comfort of their lounge chair.
October 28, 2012
2.5. "A Lion America 1" is a fairly short novel about James, a young teen who lives in Kenya. After his brother and James' girlfriend disappear and James goes after them, he discovers a secret in the forest that he never expected. It calls into question some of James' thoughts on culture and what it means to be African and Kenyan as well as his dreams of going to America to play soccer.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Overall, the story was interesting and kept me interested. I liked learning about some of the African culture in the book as it was very new to me. This book jumped around a lot, which kind of took me out of the book a little bit. First, we are with James in his village. His brother disappears. James goes to Nairobi to play soccer and for a little while, the book seems like it's more about sports than anything else. James comes back to the village and discovers the mystery (a major pivotal point in the book so I will not give it away in this review).
I think that if the book had been more linear (perhaps either choosing to follow James' soccer dreams or the mystery in James' village instead of both story lines) that it would really speak more to the reader and allow the reader to get deeper into James' world. I also would have like a little more explanation about some of the traditions in the book that were unfamiliar to me. Some things I did not really understand because I am not familiar with the activities or traditions or why they are done.
There were also a lot of punctuation issues in this book, which took me out of the book a little bit. Also, I had to re-read a couple passages in order to figure out where the missing punctuation went in order to make sense of it all. That being said, I do a lot of proofreading in my daily life so I may be more prone to pick out those issues.
The writing itself is pretty good and Mwangi has a lot of promise.
Bottom line: Good writing, disjointed storyline.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Overall, the story was interesting and kept me interested. I liked learning about some of the African culture in the book as it was very new to me. This book jumped around a lot, which kind of took me out of the book a little bit. First, we are with James in his village. His brother disappears. James goes to Nairobi to play soccer and for a little while, the book seems like it's more about sports than anything else. James comes back to the village and discovers the mystery (a major pivotal point in the book so I will not give it away in this review).
I think that if the book had been more linear (perhaps either choosing to follow James' soccer dreams or the mystery in James' village instead of both story lines) that it would really speak more to the reader and allow the reader to get deeper into James' world. I also would have like a little more explanation about some of the traditions in the book that were unfamiliar to me. Some things I did not really understand because I am not familiar with the activities or traditions or why they are done.
There were also a lot of punctuation issues in this book, which took me out of the book a little bit. Also, I had to re-read a couple passages in order to figure out where the missing punctuation went in order to make sense of it all. That being said, I do a lot of proofreading in my daily life so I may be more prone to pick out those issues.
The writing itself is pretty good and Mwangi has a lot of promise.
Bottom line: Good writing, disjointed storyline.
February 21, 2013
There are places in the African jungle that no one dares to go. Unware of what or who is hiding in the shadows James has been taught to keep his distance of the shadows in the jungle beyond his village. This does not stop him from enjoying his time with his dog Simba, his friends and his older brother. Sometimes they will venture out to go hunting.
Janny a young girl in his village takes time to talk and visit with James. As they mature they find they have much in common and their friendship grows into love. When it is time for James to go off to boarding school Janny wonders what this move will do to their relationship.
James has done very well in school and has become a valuable player on his soccer team, each year getting better and better. Then he is offered a scholarship to go to America but when he returns home to celebrate Janny has gone missing along with some other children from their village. James refused to wait for help and plunges into the shadowy depths of the jungle to find Janny.
What has happened to those missing and what will become of James? Will he be throwing his future away or is it his future he is going after?
The author writes an intriguing story of mystery, suspense, adventure, romance and even humor. I have never read a book about modern day Africa so this was an adventure for me as well. Robert Mwangi definitely caught my attention and held it until the very end of the book. You will never guess what happens! The last part of the book sure surprised me as I am sure it will you also. The author seems like an intelligent, talented and delightful fun loving young man and I love his energy!
I highly recommend this book for middle grade, young adult and adult.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
Janny a young girl in his village takes time to talk and visit with James. As they mature they find they have much in common and their friendship grows into love. When it is time for James to go off to boarding school Janny wonders what this move will do to their relationship.
James has done very well in school and has become a valuable player on his soccer team, each year getting better and better. Then he is offered a scholarship to go to America but when he returns home to celebrate Janny has gone missing along with some other children from their village. James refused to wait for help and plunges into the shadowy depths of the jungle to find Janny.
What has happened to those missing and what will become of James? Will he be throwing his future away or is it his future he is going after?
The author writes an intriguing story of mystery, suspense, adventure, romance and even humor. I have never read a book about modern day Africa so this was an adventure for me as well. Robert Mwangi definitely caught my attention and held it until the very end of the book. You will never guess what happens! The last part of the book sure surprised me as I am sure it will you also. The author seems like an intelligent, talented and delightful fun loving young man and I love his energy!
I highly recommend this book for middle grade, young adult and adult.
I rated this book a 5 out of 5.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion.
May 22, 2013
"A Lion in America 1" by Robert Mwangi is about as near to my perfect book as you can get. An exotic location, insight into a different culture and life style, a coming of age story, a life with a view to future emigration and an insight into a country that is developing and growing to come into its own.
This is the story of a Kenyan football player, beginning with his childhood in the wilderness outside of Nairobi in a tribal village. The dangers of life in the wild are only one part of this amazing set up. There are his dreams for the future, his first love, his friends and his heroic single mother. Tragedy in the forest and a possible way out through football.
Village life and life in the capital Nairobi already are in sharp contrast with each other and I cannot begin to imagine how hard it must be to adjust to life abroad. I have travelled Africa and Kenya extensively but have never gone directly into the jungle off the beaten track and I would like to thank the author for taking me now.
The book has adventure as well as interesting cultural highlights, yet the main voice of Robert is so likeable and he tells his story with so much compassion and honesty, it was hard to put the book down.
The introduction to the first book tells us a little about the author behind the book and what his life in the US is like, but we will have to wait for the next few instalments before we get to hear about this part of his life.
6 out of 5 stars.
This is the story of a Kenyan football player, beginning with his childhood in the wilderness outside of Nairobi in a tribal village. The dangers of life in the wild are only one part of this amazing set up. There are his dreams for the future, his first love, his friends and his heroic single mother. Tragedy in the forest and a possible way out through football.
Village life and life in the capital Nairobi already are in sharp contrast with each other and I cannot begin to imagine how hard it must be to adjust to life abroad. I have travelled Africa and Kenya extensively but have never gone directly into the jungle off the beaten track and I would like to thank the author for taking me now.
The book has adventure as well as interesting cultural highlights, yet the main voice of Robert is so likeable and he tells his story with so much compassion and honesty, it was hard to put the book down.
The introduction to the first book tells us a little about the author behind the book and what his life in the US is like, but we will have to wait for the next few instalments before we get to hear about this part of his life.
6 out of 5 stars.
Want to read
July 6, 2015My first book. Many more to come. I started writing as a kid. Writing is how I say the things I want to say to the world.
April 30, 2013
I hope the story would be epic. I've read the history of the writer and it's touching. He amazed me.
February 7, 2013
Pretty good read. 3.5 stars. Review to come soon at thereadiacs.com.
July 12, 2019
The best book I've read this year.if you haven't got yourself one,better grab yourself a copy now.
April 28, 2013
Originally posted on my blog Guiltless Reading
A love story - about Kenyan culture.
My two cents: I am always keen to read immigrant stories probably because I am an immigrant myself. I find it fascinating to hear how people enter into new cultures and come to terms with the new while combining it with the "old," resulting in a combining of both worlds. Everyone makes sense of it in their own way.
A Whisper In The Jungle speaks to this quite strongly but not in the way I expected it to. Robert Mwangi, in this semi-autobiographical book, shares the experience of being Kenyan and thrust into an American culture as a soccer player. I was prepared for a story along this premise so I was a little disconcerted when the soccer playing in America was just a diversion.
The stronger plot lies in the small Kenyan village where James was born, grew up and lives. Although he has gotten the taste of playing soccer abroad and is just about to start living his dream of leaving his village and make his mark in the world, James is compelled to return his childhood sweetheart, Janny, mysteriously disappears. This brings back horrible memories of the disappearance of his older brother.
Determined to find Janny, James sets out to into the dangerous jungle and unwittingly stumbles upon a secret that is difficult for him to fathom -- a secret in the jungle that tests James's loyalties and reveals truths about himself, his family and his culture.
***
I liked:
The originality of the story. I don't want to put in any spoilers in this review but the turning point lies in James's discovery in the forest.
Mwangi's obvious love for African culture is the backbone of the storyline. The stories about James's village, his time with his family, alongside the descriptions of age-old traditions, important figures in African history, and of his homeland are a peek into the Kenyan culture that he so loves. This book is indeed a wonderful ambassador for the Kenyan culture!
For those who have always wanted to see what it's like to be a foreigner in America, Mwangi's observations may be quite an eye-opener! James ponders upon American culture which he loves with an equal fervor as his Kenyan roots.
Verdict: A young man's love story turned love story for Kenya. Read this if you'd like to learn something new about another country and culture.
Uh-ohs:
The storyline can be tightened up a bit. The beginning of the story sets up expectations for the plot to carry through with the soccer storyline so it is a bit confusing to be thrust back into the jungle. However, I thoroughly enjoyed how the story played out.
As with many books written by authors whose first language isn't English, I found this having some small niggling things that distract, and uneasiness in the flow of the language. This would have benefitted from having a good English editor so that thoughts could be tightened up. Some of things I picked up on were strange use of idioms, incorrect spellings (loose for lose, p. 31), some awkward wording (e.g. "In the next few moments of his life, he went through extreme forms of emotions ..." p. 63), and a general formality in the the use of English (especially towards the end).
When I was first putting together Robert's guest post and giveaway, I actually wasn't sure what the title was. Is it Whisper in the Jungle or A Lion in America? Go check Amazon and Goodreads and the primary title is A Lion in America 1. Confusing much. Yes, I understand this is a series but without a clear title, it risks people not finding the book in th first place.
When I first was approached with this book, the cover was very different (see right). The cover honestly didn't appeal to me but then it does capture a sense of the immigrant story I was expecting. When I heard back from the author, the cover had changed to something similar to that in the cover art featured below. I think that cover art is an extremely important first impression, and while the current cover better captures the story, I'm not a huge fan of the Photoshop job.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A love story - about Kenyan culture.
My two cents: I am always keen to read immigrant stories probably because I am an immigrant myself. I find it fascinating to hear how people enter into new cultures and come to terms with the new while combining it with the "old," resulting in a combining of both worlds. Everyone makes sense of it in their own way.
A Whisper In The Jungle speaks to this quite strongly but not in the way I expected it to. Robert Mwangi, in this semi-autobiographical book, shares the experience of being Kenyan and thrust into an American culture as a soccer player. I was prepared for a story along this premise so I was a little disconcerted when the soccer playing in America was just a diversion.
The stronger plot lies in the small Kenyan village where James was born, grew up and lives. Although he has gotten the taste of playing soccer abroad and is just about to start living his dream of leaving his village and make his mark in the world, James is compelled to return his childhood sweetheart, Janny, mysteriously disappears. This brings back horrible memories of the disappearance of his older brother.
Determined to find Janny, James sets out to into the dangerous jungle and unwittingly stumbles upon a secret that is difficult for him to fathom -- a secret in the jungle that tests James's loyalties and reveals truths about himself, his family and his culture.
***
I liked:
The originality of the story. I don't want to put in any spoilers in this review but the turning point lies in James's discovery in the forest.
Mwangi's obvious love for African culture is the backbone of the storyline. The stories about James's village, his time with his family, alongside the descriptions of age-old traditions, important figures in African history, and of his homeland are a peek into the Kenyan culture that he so loves. This book is indeed a wonderful ambassador for the Kenyan culture!
For those who have always wanted to see what it's like to be a foreigner in America, Mwangi's observations may be quite an eye-opener! James ponders upon American culture which he loves with an equal fervor as his Kenyan roots.
Verdict: A young man's love story turned love story for Kenya. Read this if you'd like to learn something new about another country and culture.
Uh-ohs:
The storyline can be tightened up a bit. The beginning of the story sets up expectations for the plot to carry through with the soccer storyline so it is a bit confusing to be thrust back into the jungle. However, I thoroughly enjoyed how the story played out.
As with many books written by authors whose first language isn't English, I found this having some small niggling things that distract, and uneasiness in the flow of the language. This would have benefitted from having a good English editor so that thoughts could be tightened up. Some of things I picked up on were strange use of idioms, incorrect spellings (loose for lose, p. 31), some awkward wording (e.g. "In the next few moments of his life, he went through extreme forms of emotions ..." p. 63), and a general formality in the the use of English (especially towards the end).
When I was first putting together Robert's guest post and giveaway, I actually wasn't sure what the title was. Is it Whisper in the Jungle or A Lion in America? Go check Amazon and Goodreads and the primary title is A Lion in America 1. Confusing much. Yes, I understand this is a series but without a clear title, it risks people not finding the book in th first place.
When I first was approached with this book, the cover was very different (see right). The cover honestly didn't appeal to me but then it does capture a sense of the immigrant story I was expecting. When I heard back from the author, the cover had changed to something similar to that in the cover art featured below. I think that cover art is an extremely important first impression, and while the current cover better captures the story, I'm not a huge fan of the Photoshop job.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story by the end of the book. Half of the book's momentum comes from the various suspenseful events that are genuinely thrilling and the other half comes from the author's take on what it means to preserve one's culture. The story itself is an interesting mystery the reader has to unravel but I like how the novel has a bigger message about how we should preserve our culture and what's important to preserve. In this day and age in America, everything seems to blend together in a melting pot of culture. To see the struggles that African youth go through in modern times where they grow up in a medieval village but are aware of the modern world an hours drive away makes you realize how stuck they are between two very different worlds and it's a part of growing up that we don't experience in America.
Though the story itself was fascinating, the way it was written really held it back for me. There are a lot of grammatical errors, which take away from any story. However, on top of that, the beginning of the story does not equal what is written in the rest of the novel. The author first introduces us to the mystery of the jungle and the kidnappings, which piques your interest, and then the story jumps to the main character's life in high school playing soccer and completely drops the kidnapping plot until later in the story. That segment of the story was extremely boring for me and messed up the thrilling groove the author had placed me in with the mystery of the jungle. The soccer portion of the story does play a role in the conclusion but there needs to be a better way to incorporate it into the story. Because of the disconnect in the beginning, it's hard to get into the book initially.
I was torn about giving this book a "pick it" or "skip it" review because I truly enjoyed the story and think it has great potential. However, I can't in my heart recommend this book because, in the condition it is in, it is not yet readable as a legitimate novel. With some solid editing this book would definitely be one I'd pass on to friends and I even think it could be a great contender for a film adaptation since there really is nothing like this out there on the market. But until there are some corrections I can't recommend the book because it's not at its full potential yet.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
Though the story itself was fascinating, the way it was written really held it back for me. There are a lot of grammatical errors, which take away from any story. However, on top of that, the beginning of the story does not equal what is written in the rest of the novel. The author first introduces us to the mystery of the jungle and the kidnappings, which piques your interest, and then the story jumps to the main character's life in high school playing soccer and completely drops the kidnapping plot until later in the story. That segment of the story was extremely boring for me and messed up the thrilling groove the author had placed me in with the mystery of the jungle. The soccer portion of the story does play a role in the conclusion but there needs to be a better way to incorporate it into the story. Because of the disconnect in the beginning, it's hard to get into the book initially.
I was torn about giving this book a "pick it" or "skip it" review because I truly enjoyed the story and think it has great potential. However, I can't in my heart recommend this book because, in the condition it is in, it is not yet readable as a legitimate novel. With some solid editing this book would definitely be one I'd pass on to friends and I even think it could be a great contender for a film adaptation since there really is nothing like this out there on the market. But until there are some corrections I can't recommend the book because it's not at its full potential yet.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
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