The Lost Rainforest #1

November 6, 2017
In a captivating fantasy set in the mythical rainforest of Caldera, magic-imbued creatures come together to save their home. Advised by a knowledgeable boa constrictor, a calico panther named Mez joins other “eclipse-born” creatures, which include a tree frog, bat, kinkajou, and capuchin monkey. Unlike more typical members of their kind, they are able to “cross the Veil” and remain active at both day and night; together, they seek to prevent the dreaded Ant Queen from escaping her prison and once again conquering the land. This unusual alliance of “shadowwalkers” hopes to achieve their goal by traveling to an ancient ziggurat, discovering their individual magical powers, and learning how to imprison the Ant Queen. With a memorable, quick-bantering cast, this kickoff to the Lost Rainforest series, a playful departure from Schrefer’s ape novels, brings fresh perspective to the magical animal subgenre. And, despite the fantasy setup, readers will come away learning quite a bit about this ecosystem and its inhabitants. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management.

November 1, 2017

Gr 4-7-Deep in the rainforest, there are animals who are daywalkers and those who are nightwalkers, and it is unnatural for the groups to ever meet. Mez, a young panther who lives with her aunt, sister, and cousins, is not content with walking only at night. While her family sleeps, she explores beyond their cave, making her a shadowwalker. When a constrictor named Auriel comes calling for Mez, she succumbs to his plea to join other shadowwalkers in defeating the ant queen who is imprisoned in the ziggurat. The animals are all heavily anthropomorphized, each with their own distinct personality. As with most adventure stories, the protagonists must contend with obstacles and villains to reach their ultimate goal. It is the camaraderie of the group, and their ability to work together, that makes this tale so charming. Readers will be cheering when Mez and the gang figure out the riddle of the ziggurat. VERDICT Just right for middle grade readers who want an engrossing fantasy adventure.-Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

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Starred review from October 15, 2017
When the magical rainforest of Caldera is threatened by a terrible evil, four young animal friends must overcome their differences to save the rainforest from destruction. Mez, a young, orphaned panther is called to leave her home and join other animals born during the solar eclipse to fight the rising Ant Queen. But even if what the mysterious boa constrictor says is true--that she is one of the shadowwalkers, those born with magical ability--what difference can one young panther with a mottled coat make? During her journey to the Ziggurat of the Sun and the Moon, she is joined by Lima, a bat with healing powers; Rumi, a tree frog who can control the wind; and Gogi, a capuchin monkey with the power of fire. Even though she fears she is ungifted, Mez chooses to fight anyway. But the Ant Queen is not the only foe they must face. The rainforest is full of danger, betrayal, and long-held grudges. While the story is pure fast-paced fantasy, the underlying issues are real. Ignorance among the species, racism, and intolerance of differences are rampant. An author's note highlights the beauty and importance of the rainforest. Magic with depth in this new series stunner. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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