Publication Date: 7 April 2022

The Blurb

Selvi is a wild child who loves climbing in the beautiful mountains behind her home. She is often joined by Lokka, a leopard with a beautiful coat and huge golden eyes. When hunters come for Lokka, Selvi is determined to fight.

But what can she do against such powerful enemies? Turn to her friends, of course! Now they just need the perfect plan…

The Review

It’s time to head back to Serendib for the third thrilling adventure from Nizrana Farook, for a story about a mythical leopard packed with peril and poachers at every turn.

Solitary Silva is most at home out on the wild mountainsides surrounding her village with Lokka for company, finding the classroom far more dangerous than the sheer cliffs she climbs. Determined and resourceful, as soon as she realises her beloved leopard is in grave danger, she does everything she can to keep him safe from the men who are hunting him illegally.

Amir is an unlikely ally for Silva, as he shuns and teases her in the classroom. But, his curiosity about the wild girl who he watches running with a leopard sees him follow her so that he too, can meet Lokka. We watch as he moves away from his friend to spend more time with Silva as they realise time is running out for the leopard that has captured both of their hearts.

Once again, Nizrana’s evocative writing transports us to the the island based on Sri-Lanka, stirring up the sights, smells and sounds of the landscape we traverse, from the lush vegetation to the crowded school room. You can hear the swish of branches over head as macaques swing past and feel the spray from the waterfall.

Beyond the theme of poaching for profit, which is skilfully discussed in the book, there are also themes of friendship and societal expectations of how girls should behave, and how patriarchal ideals still hold families in it’s grip.

Great for fans of:

• When The Mountains Roared by Jess Butterworth
• Asha And The Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan
• The Rewilders by Lindsay Littleson

Huge thanks to Nosy Crow for sending me an early proof copy.