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ihateprozac's review
5.0
This book captivated me as a kid when my Dad picked it up second hand from a vintage bookstore. I was mesmerised by these exotic animals and couldn't put the book down. I wish I still had it. =/
heatherymakes's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
boxer_dogs_dance's review
5.0
These adventure novels about capturing animals for zoos stand the test of time. Two young men and their father enjoy adventures all over the world.
audivia's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
felinity's review
4.0
I read and loved these boys' adventure books in my pre- and early teen years, and now my 6yo loves them too! Great for bedtime reading, with lots to talk about and research afterwards, from satellite views of the Amazon and Rio Negro to bamboo and tapirs.
The cliffhangers and occasional danger were thrilling but not too scary, and there were a few funny moments too. Think of a cross between Hardy Boys and My Family and Other Animals and you won't be far wrong.
The cliffhangers and occasional danger were thrilling but not too scary, and there were a few funny moments too. Think of a cross between Hardy Boys and My Family and Other Animals and you won't be far wrong.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review
3.0
Written and based at a time where terms like 'animal cruelty' and 'animal conservation' were not fully fledged, Willard Price's Adventures may be a bit much for the sensibilities for some of today's readers, young and less young. They are very much of their time which should be taken into consideration in regards to the portrayal of the native Amazonians.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way... This story was an enjoyable traipse down the Amazon river. The boys see many of the Amazon's marvels and risk life and limb collecting them. You can tell that Willard Price had actually been to many of the places he wrote about by the almost David Attenborough level of natural history in these pages. Having grown up with these books myself, a lot of what I know about the natural world came from this series of books. It's been at least 25 years since I last read this and I still remember the vapire bat scene vividly (I had forgotten most of the rest).
As usual with this type of adventure story, the luck level that the boys have is turned all the way up to that of Tintin in terms of being able to survive anything that's thrown at them, be it poison arrows, waterfalls, jaguars, army ants and malaria, to name a few. I almost expected them to find Tintin on the floating island.
The bad guy in the story did feel a little tacked on, there were perils enough from the river and jungle without the need to add 'Greedy evil white guy'.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way... This story was an enjoyable traipse down the Amazon river. The boys see many of the Amazon's marvels and risk life and limb collecting them. You can tell that Willard Price had actually been to many of the places he wrote about by the almost David Attenborough level of natural history in these pages. Having grown up with these books myself, a lot of what I know about the natural world came from this series of books. It's been at least 25 years since I last read this and I still remember the vapire bat scene vividly (I had forgotten most of the rest).
As usual with this type of adventure story, the luck level that the boys have is turned all the way up to that of Tintin in terms of being able to survive anything that's thrown at them, be it poison arrows, waterfalls, jaguars, army ants and malaria, to name a few. I almost expected them to find Tintin on the floating island.
The bad guy in the story did feel a little tacked on, there were perils enough from the river and jungle without the need to add 'Greedy evil white guy'.
whatcarlaread's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
thelibraryofethos's review
3.0
What a fantastic adventure.
But... it was missing 2 vital things. But we'll get to that.
I can't believe that this book was written before Google was around. I can't imagine the amount of research that went into this novel.
It is fantastically educational. Every animal mentioned in the story I know a lot better now. And I know a ton of things about the Amazon that I'd never heard about before.
It's a great adventure, as I mentioned before, and the ending was actually very exciting with quite a few interesting plot twists.
But here's the things this story was missing:
1) An emotional side. It was really hard to actually become worried about any of the dangerous things happening in this story, because it was difficult to be attached to any of the characters. I mean, most of the characters weren't even given names. Quite a lot of them were just referred to as "the Indians". However the named characters were characterised well, but not quite well enough.
The second thing this novel is missing is 2) Any female characters whatsoever. Seriously. Here's the list of female characters that I spotted: "Mother" (characterised only by a single telegram), a boa constrictor, a tapir, and a manatee. That's it. (Girls could have made this story soo much better.)
Other than this, the story was enjoyable and incredibly interesting. It has definitely made me appreciate more those crazy adventurers of the past who brought us so much knowledge about the animal world.
But... it was missing 2 vital things. But we'll get to that.
I can't believe that this book was written before Google was around. I can't imagine the amount of research that went into this novel.
It is fantastically educational. Every animal mentioned in the story I know a lot better now. And I know a ton of things about the Amazon that I'd never heard about before.
It's a great adventure, as I mentioned before, and the ending was actually very exciting with quite a few interesting plot twists.
But here's the things this story was missing:
1) An emotional side. It was really hard to actually become worried about any of the dangerous things happening in this story, because it was difficult to be attached to any of the characters. I mean, most of the characters weren't even given names. Quite a lot of them were just referred to as "the Indians". However the named characters were characterised well, but not quite well enough.
The second thing this novel is missing is 2) Any female characters whatsoever. Seriously. Here's the list of female characters that I spotted: "Mother" (characterised only by a single telegram), a boa constrictor, a tapir, and a manatee. That's it. (Girls could have made this story soo much better.)
Other than this, the story was enjoyable and incredibly interesting. It has definitely made me appreciate more those crazy adventurers of the past who brought us so much knowledge about the animal world.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review
4.0
A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.
Two boys, Roger and Hal, travel with their father down the Amazon in search of creatures for zoos. They fight cannibalistic Indians, piranhas, crocodiles, and even an angry anteater. This is an adventure book filled with excitement and drama and scares. There are any number of not-so-politically-correct moments and, as a parent, Roger got on my last nerve, but I loved reading this book.
Two boys, Roger and Hal, travel with their father down the Amazon in search of creatures for zoos. They fight cannibalistic Indians, piranhas, crocodiles, and even an angry anteater. This is an adventure book filled with excitement and drama and scares. There are any number of not-so-politically-correct moments and, as a parent, Roger got on my last nerve, but I loved reading this book.