Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Jungle adventure offers intriguing mix of fact and fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As CITY OF THE BEASTS: MEMORIES OF THE EAGLE AND THE JAGUAR opens, Alex Cold is having trouble coping with his mother's prolonged struggle with cancer. His father sends Alex to stay with his grandmother, Kate, a journalist with International Geographic, who takes him along on an expedition in Brazil to find the fabled Beast, a 9-foot-tall humanoid with a powerful odor. Soon Alex finds himself on a boat on the Amazon, where he meets the People of the Mists and learns about their culture, which has been hidden from the rest of the world for centuries. He and a fellow young explorer, Nadia, are told that it's their destiny to become godlike figures -- the Jaguar and the Eagle. But when they uncover a sinister plot to develop the land the People live on, can they stop it before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
Latin American literature is renowned for its magical realism, and this jungle adventure makes the mixture work. In City of the Beasts, author Isabel Allende has devised an enchanting, action-packed jungle adventure with an eco-friendly streak for middle grade fantasy lovers. Her depictions of animal behavior are fascinating, so much so that readers may sometimes wish for less magic and more realism. Alex and Nadia are interesting enough as main characters, even though they come off as rather stiff at times. All in all, City of the Beasts will reward readers who open themselves to its spell.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how City of the Beasts uses myth and folklore to power its narrative. What kinds of fantasy elements have you seen in other novels?
Alex goes through a rite of passage. How would you describe what a rite of passage is? What rites of passage do you know about? Why are they important?
What have female scientists had to do to prove themselves to their male colleagues? What can be done to foster an early interest in science among young women?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harper & Row
- Publication date : January 1, 2002
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 15
- Number of pages : 408
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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