Thursday, February 10, 2011

Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country - Allan Richard Shickman

Publisher:  Earthshaker Books
Pages:  160
Source:  Received review copy from publisher
Genre:  Middle Grade/Young Adult Adventure

In this sequel to Zan-Gah we are carried on a roller coaster of emotions through the main character Dael, Zan-Gah's twin.  He has been rescued by his brother yet he mind still lives through the two years he spent as a slave to the Noi where he was starved and tortured.  During this time he fell in in love and married.  After his wife dies in childbirth he pretty much snaps.  He wants revenge on just about everyone.  He decides he doesn't want to be a twin so he changes his appearance and develops his own following.  For all of his troubles there is always an underlying hope that things will change for him and will work out.  Zan-Gah's love for his brother and his memories of what he was like a a younger person before he was kidnapped keep him believing in his brother.
I loved the tension brought on when Zan-Gah married a girl who loved to hunt.  This was not looked on favorably by his clan.  He supported his wife in this.  This is what made their bond stronger.  This book has so many wonder discussion points.  Topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder is just one of the many things kids can look at and connect to current events.  The idea that people must change and adapt is another discussion point.  Once again I sing praises to the author for creating such a wonderful book to recommend to teens and adults

2 comments:

  1. Hi Sandra,

    The third book of the Zan-Gah series, Dael and the Painted People, is nearly finished. Watch for it this summer at the new web address:

    www.zan-gah.net

    I hope you will pay us a visit.

    Allan R. Shickman

    ReplyDelete
  2. I bookmarked the site. Looking forward to the new book.

    ReplyDelete