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A review by sde
We Dine With Cannibals by C. Alexander London
4.0
First off, my review is biased. My family happened to be in NYC for the book launch party at the Rubin Museum for London's first Accidental Adventure. Mr. London was so charming to my kids and thrilled for them to be there ("I'm so thrilled to have someone who is not my friend or relative here.") and the event was such great fun, that I think I am predisposed to liking all his books.
That said, I liked this book even more than the first. The first took place in Tibet, which I know little about. I know a lot more about the Amazon, the setting for this book, especially after having just read "River of Doubt" a few months ago. Because of this, I could appreciate much more the fact that the author weaves little factual details into the story. For instance, that the indigenous people bend branches as a message that you are entering their territory. So the readers are secretly learning a bit as they follow the Navel twins on their madcap adventure through the Amazon.
The book is silly and crazy and not at all realistic. It IS suspenseful. Every night my son wanted to read well past his bedtime, and he is a kid whose reading is usually limited to graphic novels and Wimpy Kid books (both of which are great, but not real chapter books like this one is.) This is not the sort of book that will win a Newbery Medal, but it is a lot of fun.
In the author's note, Mr. London mentions that the Museum of Natural History has a collection of khipu (knotted strings created by the Incas as some sort of communication or record-keeping device, which you would already know if you read the book), five of which are on public display. It so happens that we are going to the Museum in a few weeks. My son is so excited to go see these khipu. It obviously takes a talented writer to make a 10 year old video game addict eager to see these esoteric artifacts!
And now I must sign off to find out more about Fordlandia, an American suburban-like town Henry Ford attempted to create in the Amazon - something I learned about from this book!
That said, I liked this book even more than the first. The first took place in Tibet, which I know little about. I know a lot more about the Amazon, the setting for this book, especially after having just read "River of Doubt" a few months ago. Because of this, I could appreciate much more the fact that the author weaves little factual details into the story. For instance, that the indigenous people bend branches as a message that you are entering their territory. So the readers are secretly learning a bit as they follow the Navel twins on their madcap adventure through the Amazon.
The book is silly and crazy and not at all realistic. It IS suspenseful. Every night my son wanted to read well past his bedtime, and he is a kid whose reading is usually limited to graphic novels and Wimpy Kid books (both of which are great, but not real chapter books like this one is.) This is not the sort of book that will win a Newbery Medal, but it is a lot of fun.
In the author's note, Mr. London mentions that the Museum of Natural History has a collection of khipu (knotted strings created by the Incas as some sort of communication or record-keeping device, which you would already know if you read the book), five of which are on public display. It so happens that we are going to the Museum in a few weeks. My son is so excited to go see these khipu. It obviously takes a talented writer to make a 10 year old video game addict eager to see these esoteric artifacts!
And now I must sign off to find out more about Fordlandia, an American suburban-like town Henry Ford attempted to create in the Amazon - something I learned about from this book!