Author: Isabel Allende
URL: Find it at your local library.
Date: 2002

Notes:
At a Glance: "When fifteen-year-old Alexander Cold accompanies his individualistic grandmother on an expedition to find a humanoid Beast in the Amazon, he experiences ancient wonders and a supernatural world as he tries to avert disaster for the Indians." (Library of Congress catalog description.)

Best for: This book is part of a trilogy Allende wrote for older children and young adults.

Standout Features: This is a fictional adventure story set in the Amazon River Valley with many environmental concerns woven into the plot - an excellent way to spur a discussion with older children and/or teens about humans' impact on their surroundings. Of course, it's also a good story!

Keep in Mind: This is a work of fiction. But fiction is often a good starting place for making connections to the real world.
Also, with the third book in this trilogy (Forest of the Pygmies), Allende joined the Greenpeace Book Campaign, which aims to make publishers use "ancient forest friendly" paper so that the world's ancient forests are preserved for future generations.

Suggested By: laurabang