Parents' Guide to

The Zoo at the Edge of the World

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Bullied kid talks with animals in colonial fantasy tale.

Book Eric Kahn Gale Fantasy 2014
The Zoo at the Edge of the World Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Jayde Q.
Jayde Q. Adult
January 31, 2017
age 13+

Takes you on a journey to a live fantasy zoo!

Marlin is a boy with a gift that the animals at the zoo sent him a message to protect them and set them free until someone or something gets in the way. Marlin struggles against his dad. Marlin wants to tell his dad about the truth of the animals while his dad wants to pay attention to his career instead listening to his own son. Pay attention whom tells you what can happen it might affect your future. This book is amazing because anything can be right or wrong. I would recommend to age 13 and up because decisions you have to make that can be dangerous and risky. Marlin had to face many challenges like growing up to be like his father or be like a family with the animals, but choosing one instead the other causes something or someone to get in the way.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In a fictional, 19th-century British Guiana, 12-year-old Marlin is the younger son of world-famous adventurer Rohan Rackham. Bullied by his older brother and overwhelmed by his father, Marlin's a stutterer whose only friend is his pet monkey. As the story opens, a boatload of rich, snobbish Victorian tourists has arrived at THE ZOO AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, the Rackham family business, in which indigenous animals are caged for the benefit of gawking visitors. Things change dramatically when a newly captured jaguar gives Marlin the ability to converse with the animals; soon he's dodging dangers and trying to save innocents as the truth -- or at least a different perspective -- behind everything he knows comes to light.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The Bully Book author Eric Kahn Gale returns with a heartfelt, uneven book that may try to do too much. It's a coming-of-age tale of a stuttering kid overshadowed by a larger-than-life parent and a bullying brother, now forced to question everything he thought was true; the toxic legacy of colonialism; the ethics of exploiting animals for human gain, whether for greed or "the greater good"; and -- oh, yeah -- a bit of first love with an aristocratic girl whose parents definitely have other ideas for her. Parts of the story are almost painfully compelling, whereas others feel like a slapdash attempt to connect an assortment of themes. Many kids will relate to Marlin's struggles to protect his loved ones while rising above his disability and his toxic family and cheer him on as he finds courage to do the right thing. Animal-loving kids may find some scenes involving cute, vulnerable, doomed critters especially upsetting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how good intentions (such as Marlin's father's plan to "save" the jungle) can turn out really badly, and a noble goal can lead to terrible behavior. How might you keep this from happening if you were trying to accomplish something?

  • Why do you think stories about being able to talk with animals are so popular? How is The Zoo at the Edge of the World similar to other such tales you know? How is it different?

  • Does this story make you want to learn more about the colonial era in South America?

Book Details

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