King of the Cloud Forests by Michael Morpurgo

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Rating 8.0/10

A beautiful and magical tale of love, loss, friendship and understanding.

When Japan invades China, Ashley and Uncle Sung are forced to flee. It is a perilous journey across the Himalayas, and they struggle to survive. Then Ashley is captured. Who are these strange creatures that revere him as their king?

King of the Cloud Forests is a beautifully told story featuring unforgettable characters. Humour and strong characterisation blend with a sparkling narrative to create a moving, yet often humorous fairy-tale.

The works of Michael Morpurgo always have a feeling of effortlessness; within his deceptively simple tales are some of the most touching and inspirational works of children’s literature. The characters are alive and realistic; characters that you join on their journey and who remain with you long after the last page has been turned.

King of the Cloud Forests is the story of Ashley Anderson, the son of a missionary working in China. When the Japanese invade his adopted country he must flee with his Uncle Sung across the Himalayas into India. What happens to Ashley in the Himalayas and whom he meets there is what makes this book so special – unfortunately it is impossible to expand on these events without spoiling the book for those who have not read it, so you must get it and read it as soon as possible to find out...

“An hour or so after we left the mission – it was still not quite morning – Uncle Sung turned off the road into the trees and dismounted. He drew out of his saddlebag a pair of felt boots and a bulky quilted coat with deep pockets just like the one he always wore. ‘I made it myself,’ he said with some pride, holding it up against me. The coat was far too big for me and I told him so. ‘Time will take care of that,’ he said. ‘This will be a long, long journey. By the end of it you may well find these clothes too small, but then by the time we reach India you will have no need for them any more.’”
King of the Cloud Forests: Chapter 3

There are strong themes within this book’s pages; child soldiers, death, religion and racism are all dealt with expertly – the reader is not given the author’s opinion on these matters, they are given the facts and left to make up their own minds. The story also highlights the resilience and adaptability of youth.

Books can play a large part in the development of young adults and the topics covered between the covers of King of the Cloud Forests will leave the younger reader a far more thoughtful and mature person. It may also leave them finding their school life and surroundings rather dull and constrictive when compared to a life amongst the cloud forests of the Himalayas.

King of the Cloud Forests is a beautiful and magical tale of love, loss, friendship and understanding. Michael Morpurgo really IS a master storyteller.

King of the Cloud Forests (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Michael Morpurgo
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 192
Publication date: 2006-09-04
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd

RRP: £4.99
Lowest new price: £0.50
Lowest used price: £0.01

Escaping from China as the Japanese invade, Ashley and Uncle Sung embark on a perilous journey across the Himalayas. Then Ashley finds himself alone in the hostile mountains, battling for his life. He is just about to give up all hope, when he has a mysterious and terrifying encounter.
Product Description

King of the Cloud Forests (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Michael Morpurgo
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 192
Publication date: 2006-09-30
Publisher: Egmont UK Limited

RRP:
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: $0.01

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