King of the Cloud Forests
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Published by: Farshore (Egmont) @FarshoreBooks
Published: 1987
Price: £5.99
First line: I am called Ashley Anderson, Ashley after my mother’s father so I was told, and Anderson after my father of course, whom I remember so well that I only have to close my eyes to have him standing before me.
Genre: Adventure, History
Age: 9+
ISBN: 978 1 4052 2668 4
What’s it all about? Ashley is a young boy growing up I his father’s mission I China in the late 1920s. In 1931, the Japanese invade China, and Ashley’s father wants him safe, so he sends him to England. This involves a treacherous journey for Ashley, led by his ‘Uncle’ Sung across China, Tibet, Nepal and India. On the way, the two are separated by storms. Ashley is rescued by the gentle yetis that live hidden high up in the Himalayas and he slowly becomes the ‘King of the Cloud Forest’.
Why should I read it? A beautifully written story, about friendship, fear and trust set to the background of a brutal occupation in Asia. The story will make you long for the solitude of the yeti homeland and its simple lifestyle. The yetis forgiving nature is truly inspiring and a lesson for us all. The characters are crafted creatively and you long to be with them. As always, Michael Morpurgo’s stories have a strong sense of nostalgia and a great love for the wild, nature and animals. Its quite a short story, and there is only a small group of main characters, so would be great for reluctant readers of that age group.
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