Spotting the Leopard - Softcover

Myers, Anna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1493792598 ISBN 13: 9781493792597

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

Synopsis

A leopard is loose on Papa’s land... H.J. Harper would do anything for his older sister, Jessie. But what can he do, when she wants to become a veterinarian and their father won’t send her to college? Jessie is trapped, just like the leopard H.J. saw in the Oklahoma City Zoo. Then the leopard escapes. As it slowly makes its way toward the Harper fields, H.J. comes up with an idea to save the leopard and help Jessie fulfill her dream. But will it work? “Myers has created another bittersweet tale that celebrates average people and the courage they muster to follow their hearts.” – Kirkus Reviews

About this title

About the Author

Author of 19 books, Anna Myers writes historical and contemporary fiction for young adult readers. Anna Myers has been honored many times for her outstanding writing. Anna Myers’ novels show the human side of history by using fictional characters to tell a story of everyday people caught up in monumental events [School Library Journal]. Anna loves to talk to classroom groups.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-When H.J. sees a caged leopard at the Oklahoma City zoo, where his father works for the WPA, he sees that "misery just dripped from that animal." H.J. is a pretty typical young adolescent, except that he makes a keen connection between the sad cat and his sister Jessie (who was first introduced in Red-Dirt Jessie [Walker, 1992]). Finishing high school, Jessie yearns to become a veterinarian, though their dad, who's never known anyone who went to college, says: "There ain't no way...and it ain't even sensible." Despite such odds, H.J. finds a way to aid the leopard when it escapes its confines and appears (somewhat incredibly) in their own woods, and he also helps his sister to reach her goal. Subplots include the tale of H.J.'s gullible uncle, who loses his business to a con artist, and the boy's evolving if mischievous relationship with his schoolmates. The setting is well defined, and vivid details provide a vivid sense of slow rural post-Depression recovery. The characters are colorful, but some are better developed than others. H.J. and his father are most compelling. Despite the potential excitement of the plot, predictable dialogue and extremely even pacing prevent the tale from realizing its full energy. Those readers who loved Red-Dirt Jessie will nonetheless look forward to H.J.'s continued adventures and Jessie's success.
Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1493792598
• ISBN 13: 9781493792597
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 146