About the Book
Title: Ghost Leopard
(Zoe and Zak Series, Book #1)
Authors: Lars Guignard
Publication
Date: July 21, 2012
Publisher: Fantastic
Press
Pages: 338
Recommended
Age: 8+
Summary (Amazon):Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India,
where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they
just have to do one little thing… …Save a mythical creature from an ancient
evil that wants to rule the world. When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom’s
business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god
speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool… She and her classmate Zak get
locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange city near the foothills of the
Himalayas… and a crazy snake charmer tells them they’ve been chosen to protect
a mythical creature called the Ghost Leopard from an ancient evil that wants to
take over the world. As they travel deeper into the majestic mountains known as
the Realm of the Gods, things get even weirder. If she and Zak want to make it
back to their parents, they’re going to have to tap into powers they never knew
existed. Because if they don’t, things will never be the same for any of us
ever again.
My Review
This novel is jam packed with adventure, tons of humor and great information on the culture, religions and mysticism of India. The main character, Zoe, is a smarter than average, type A, eleven year old girl, who tags along with her mom on her business trip to India. Zoe figures she’ll have fun doing things with her mom during her free time―that’s what she figures, however, things don’t go quite as Zoe had planned. Soon after she arrives at her luxurious hotel, she is unexpectedly surprised by another kid; not just any kid, but one she knows from her class back home in the US. Zak is his name, and he just happens to be in India with his dad, on the same business trip as Zoe’s mom. It isn’t long before Zak, a carefree, witty, jokester, goof-ball type kid starts to get on Zoe’s nerves. Zoe doesn’t mind seeing Zak and being friendly to him but when her mom and Zak’s dad tell her and Zak that they will be going away for 4 days (part of the business trip) and be leaving Zoe and Zak with a hotel nanny, this just throws a wrench into the plans Zoe had with her mom. No matter though; Zoe is optimistic and just figures she’ll make the best of it and have a peaceful time at the hotel, hang out at the pool, and take a bunch of pictures while her mom is away. Zak on the other hand hardly likes things calm. He’d rather have some adventure and get into mischief. And, he is not disappointed, for once the parents leave, Zak finds a map, belonging to a man (the kids name him Rhino butt, due to his large rear, lol). They decide to return the map, but it’s not that easily done. This is when things get complicated and their nonstop whirlwind of adventure begins. Zoe and Zak end up venturing through India, where they will try to find the “Ghost Leopard” ―their supposed destiny. Along their journey they will run into many mind boggling situations, meet a yogi, named Mukta, barely escape danger on numerous occasions, and encounter all kinds of strange and mystical circumstances.
What I liked about this book is it is nonstop action from beginning to end. There is a great deal of the real culture, history as well as mysterious beliefs described throughout the book. Lars Guignard did a great job of recounting the Indian dogmas he experienced firsthand himself, and his descriptions of India drew me into the story, making me feel like I, too, was in the foreign and wonderful country. Lars has a great sense of humor, which he incorporates into the characters, especially Zak and Zoe’s dealing with each others opposite personalities, and Mukta, the yogi―he cracked me up more than a few times. I was laughing through many parts of this book. I think it would make a really cool kids action movie. Great job Lars! I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
What I liked about this book is it is nonstop action from beginning to end. There is a great deal of the real culture, history as well as mysterious beliefs described throughout the book. Lars Guignard did a great job of recounting the Indian dogmas he experienced firsthand himself, and his descriptions of India drew me into the story, making me feel like I, too, was in the foreign and wonderful country. Lars has a great sense of humor, which he incorporates into the characters, especially Zak and Zoe’s dealing with each others opposite personalities, and Mukta, the yogi―he cracked me up more than a few times. I was laughing through many parts of this book. I think it would make a really cool kids action movie. Great job Lars! I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
Purchase
The Buzz
"Awesome! ~ I am 11 and I liked the book because I love
adventures. It was a different kind of adventure from what I usually read and
it was funny too. " ~
5-Star Review from J. Olsen, Amazon
"This
was a fun read. This book was like a kid's version of Indiana Jones. It's also
very educational as Zoe tells you real facts about what she sees and the
history. I enjoyed it immensely. If you have a 10-12 year old child that loves
adventure books, this is definitely a must read. " ~ 5-Star review from Simone Lilly-Egerter,
Amazon
"I'm
sure this book was written for children who are around the age of the two
children in the book, 11 or so. But, this 35 year old loved this book! It had
action, adventure and imagination galore! It was exactly the kind of adventure
that a lot of kids that age dream of." ~ 5-Star review from The Novice Christian, Amazon
About The Author: Lars Guignard
[caption id="attachment_14417"
align="alignleft" width="154"]
Lars
Guignard[/caption]
Lars
Guignard[/caption]
Prior to writing novels,
Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a
teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his
experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now
include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost
Leopard, Zoe & Zak
and the Yogi’s Curse, and Zoe
& Zak and the Tiger Temple.
He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and
cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range.
For news about new releases, please join his email list
here: http://www.larsguignard.com/contact/
Ask
Lars Guignard a Question on Goodreads
Fantastic
Press is pleased to announce that Lars Guignard will be answering questions
about Zoe &
Zak and the Ghost Leopard throughout
the day on Monday, December 16th, 2013 on Goodreads. If you have any questions for Lars or just
want to introduce yourself, you can head on over to Goodreads and say hello
now. Also, everyone who joins the Forum
will earn an entry into the Ghost Leopard Blog Tour giveaway (see below for
more details).
Click on the Goodreads Button below to go to the Mon, Dec 16 - "Ask Lars Guignard about Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard" event and leave a question for the author anytime from now until December 16th, 2013.
The Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Schedule (2013)
November 15
November 16
November 18
November 19
November 20
November 21
November 22
November 24
November 25
November 26
November 27
November 28
November 29
December 1
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 5
December 7
December 10
December 11
December 12
December 14
** Be sure to look for the upcoming Blog Tour for Book 2 in the Zoe and Zak Series, "Yogi's Curse" coming December 15, 2013. **
* Ghost Leopard Blog Tour Giveaway *
Prize: Three winners
will receive a print (U.S. & Canada) or electronic (international
winners) copy of Ghost
Leopard by Lars
Guignard.
Contest runs:
November 15 to December 17, 11:59 pm, 2013
Open: Worldwide
How to enter: Enter
using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO
PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winners
will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by
email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winners will then have 72
hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will
take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number
of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or
administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the
author Lars Guignard and Fantastic Press and is hosted and managed by Renee
from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel
free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.
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