Annotation:
As
is the custom in his herd, Jaspa, a small, magical version of a giraffe, must
travel across the rugged landscape of the Serengeti Plain deep in the African
wilderness. Although his friends and relatives have all undergone this
rite-of-passage, Jaspa doesn’t realize that something special is going to
happen during his Journey, something having to do with a boy and his family
visiting from London.
Personal
thoughts: I was offered the chance to read a free downloadable version of
this book, and (after getting used to reading on a screen, something I don’t
often do!) I found it to be very cute and fun. It’s definitely for a middle to
upper elementary school level, and while the factual information about Africa
and the Serengeti does dominate most of the book, the story of Jaspa and the
Ses was a creative addition. I think it would make an enjoyable classroom
read-aloud, and would recommend it to any student wanting to learn more about
Africa by reading something other than a non-fiction book.
Plot summary:
The
Serengeti Plain is one of the most diverse and beautiful regions in Africa.
Full of terrifying but awe-inspiring terrain, animals and other wildlife, the
Serengeti is home to some of the Earth’s most amazing creatures. One such
creature is Jaspa. Jaspa is a Giraffeses, a small, magical version of a regular
giraffe, who, like the other Ses creatures in the world, is invisible to the
human eye. Every year, members of Jaspa’s herd of Giraffeses must participate
in a rite-of-passage known as the Journey: a 500 mile trek across the Serengeti
Plain where only the brave will survive. This year Jaspa, and his younger
brother Bisckits, are setting out on their Journey, with no idea what the
rugged landscape has in store for them. Although they suspect that their
travels will be full of danger and excitement, what they don’t expect is that their
Journey coincides with a Ben, a boy from London who is on vacation with his
family in the Serengeti. Ben is a Seer, a human with the ability to see and
communicate with the Ses. And he has a secret that will make Jaspa and Bisckits’
Journey unlike any other.
Review: For
students interested in learning a great deal about the Serengeti Plain, Jaspa’s Journey, the debut novel from
British born author Rich Meyrick, is a fun and lively novel that teaches while
it entertains. Full to the brim of facts about wildlife, flora and fauna,
geography, and more, Meyrick has managed to pack an encyclopedia’s worth of
knowledge into a novel of appropriate length for younger readers. The story of
Jaspa and the idea of the Ses is interesting and, although the various Ses in
the novel act and talk just like a human would, having an animal as the primary
protagonist proves to be enjoyable. Young American readers might have a bit of
trouble understanding some of the author’s British lingo (i.e. “blooming,” “holiday,”
etc.), they will, with a little bit of perseverance, eventually get used to and
likely come to enjoy Meyrick’s writing style. Overall, a fun, creative book
that would do well in a classroom to enhance learning about Africa and the
Serengeti. The novel is currently available for download on amazon.com and at www.jaspasjourney.com. The sequel, Jaspa’s Journey: The Pride of London was
released in Summer 2012.
Genre: Fiction
Reading
level: Grade 4+
Similar
titles: Jaspa’s
Journey: The Pride of London by Rich Meyrick.
Themes: Africa, Serengeti, magical creatures,
friendship, sibling relationships.
Awards/Reviews:
USA Book News’ National Best Books 2009 Award Finalist
Series
Information: First novel in Jaspa series.
Second novel, Jaspa’s Journey: The Pride
of London released online Summer 2012.
Discussion
questions:
-
What are some of the things you learned about
the Serengeti by reading Jaspa’s Journey?
What is the most interesting thing you learned? Your favorite thing you
learned?- How would you describe the Ses? Do you think it’s possible that such creatures exist?
- Was it difficult for you to understand some of the British terms the author used in the novel? How did you discover their meaning? Did they enhance the story for you?
- Who was your favorite character? Why?
- What would you like to see happen in the sequel?
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