Carpinello's Writing Pages is pleased to participate in Lars Guignard's continuing blog tour with Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Today we take a look at the second book in the Zoe & Zak series: Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse.
About the Book
Title: Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Zoe & Zak Series, Book #2)
Author: Lars Guignard
Publishers: Fantastic Press
Publication Date: September 9, 2013
Pages: 340
Recommended Age: 8+
Summary
Zoe and Zak are back in India. Again. And this time they're attending Moonstock Himalayan Boarding School, which might seem fun except for the fact that the school itself is a little strange. Students ride elephants instead of school buses, snarling monkeys work as security guards, and angry parrots monitor the halls. And even when they manage to get used to the wildlife, the food is absolutely terrible. But living with a bunch of other kids their age can be a lot of fun, too, or at least it seems that way until Zoe's roommate goes missing. Following the directions written on a steamy bathroom mirror, Zoe and Zak fly through the clouds on their magic carpet to learn that the two of them have been chosen yet again. This time they've been asked to lift the Yogi's Curse. It's not going to be easy. Zoe and Zak don't even know what the Yogi's Curse is let alone how to lift it, but like it or not, they soon discover that a whole lot of people are depending on them. Now, if they're going to save the day, Zoe and Zak are going to have to fool the monkey guards, avoid the nasty parrots, and maybe even develop a supernatural ability or two. Because lurking beneath Moonstock is a powerful new enemy. And if Zoe and Zak can't stop him, nobody can.My Review of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse:
I loved the faster pace of this second book. Zoe & Zak's adventures kept me turning pages to see what was happening next. One of my favorite parts of the story was the idea of this fabulous school at the foot of the majestic Himalayas. As a kid I would have loved that! I was a bit bewildered at the horrible meals that were served to the kids, though. The task of protecting the egg and saving the elephants fired my imagination. Young readers will easily identify with the antics and personalities of Zoe and Zak which are more developed in this second book. Other favorite characters are sure to Mukta and the chemistry teacher. Can't wait to read Book 3! I give this 5 stars.
Purchase
Amazon (Print) | Amazon (Kindle) | Amazon (Audiobook) | iTunes (Audiobook)
The Buzz
"I have a 10 year old son who is an avid reader!! He loves books, (but he's picky too) he loved Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. He was so excited to read the 2nd book in this series! When I presented him the first book he was not sure he would like it but changed his mind quickly, then when I heard about the 2nd book being released he almost jumped out of his chair! (no exaggeration) He is anxiously awaiting the 3rd book! I would say that any child who enjoys fantasy/adventure books should read this series! It is a well written page turner! It's a fun story that adults can even enjoy the storyline without getting bored! According to my son, 'every kid should read this series'. " ~ 5-Star review from SavyGreenSaver, Amazon
"I loved this book, even as an adult reading it. I was completely sucked into the plot and was constantly finding myself staying up "just a little longer" to read one more chapter. Different twists and turns in the book have you constantly guessing who is behind what and who Zak and Zoe can trust. I could definitely see myself being involved in this series as a middle schooler considering how much I enjoyed it even now. Another thing I liked about it is if you missed the first book, you could still follow along with this one and not be lost." ~ 5-Star review from Staci, Amazon
"Lars Guignard has done a fabulous job with this series. I loved the `Ghost Leopard' & love this one even more. For late-elementary to middle school age readers, you can't beat this series. It's fun and fast-paced. Even my picky fifth grader enjoyed every page. There are bits of magic thrown in keep the action exciting. Mr. Guignard has a brilliant imagination & readers are blessed that he's chosen to use it for YA fiction. If you've yet to read the first installment in this series, do yourself a favor and read these books back to back. Don't limit it just to kids! Adults will have a blast reading these too!" ~ 5-Star review from Liz Terek, Amazon
About The Author: Lars Guignard
Prior to writing novels, Lars Guignard wrote for film and television. As a teenager he attended boarding school in the Indian Himalayas and his experiences there provided the inspiration for the Zoe and Zak series which now include: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard, Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse, and Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple. He lives in the Pacific Northwest where he dodges bears and cougars while hiking & skiing the magnificent Coast Mountain Range. For news about new releases, please join his email list here: Zoe&ZakAdventures@gmail.com
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
The Yogi's Curse Blog Tour Schedule (2013/2014)
December 15December 16
December 17
December 18
December 19
December 20
December 22
December 24
December 26
December 29
December 30
December 31
January 2
January 3
January 5
January 6
January 7
January 8
January 9
January 10
January 11
January 13
January 14
** Be sure to look for the upcoming Blog Tour for Book 3 in the Zoe and Zak Series, "Tiger Temple" coming January 15, 2014. **
Thank you for your review of Yogi's Curse. I wonder if the food is actually that bad in reality! I agree that there is definitely more character development in the second book - in particular Zak. I feel that his development was necessary to keep the series going! Wait until you read Book 3 - I think it's the best one so far. Thanks for joining us on the tour Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Renee. I definitely enjoyed this one.
DeleteThanks for your review of the Yogi’s Curse, Cheryl. Glad to hear that you kept turning those pages and that you liked Zoe and Zak’s new school. The next book, Zoe and Zak and the Tiger Temple, is out now, and I think you’ll find it just as fast-paced. Oh, and they eat some really good food in the next one :) Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lars. Glad to hear that the food will be edible in the next book! Looking forward to it. Happy New Year!
DeleteLooks really interesting, Cheryl!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year :)
Thanks for stopping by, Jemima. Happy New Year!
Delete