“A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest” by J.A. Myhre
Middle grade fiction
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
About the Book:
Ten-year-old Mu, orphaned as a toddler, has lived his entire life in the heart of Africa. For as long as he can remember, he has served in the household of a great-uncle where he is unloved and ignored. In his drudgery-filled life, Mu has little hope of happiness and little hope that anything will ever change. But one day everything does change. On his way to draw water one morning, Mu is astonished when a chameleon greets him by name and announces that they will embark on a quest together. And what a quest it turns out to be! Mu faces danger and finds unexpected allies as they journey through an everchanging landscape. Through his adventure, Mu learns many things about himself. Along with Mu, you will walk through Africa, encountering good and evil. Read carefully and you just may find out who you are too.
My Thoughts:
The cover of this book is quite endearing, and the illustrations inside are lovely as well.The writing style flowed really well, and I found this to be an interesting tale. It’s middle grade fiction, I believe, though I’m not honestly sure which age I would personally recommend it to. For sensitive readers/children I would definitely warn that there are serious subjects, and one scene that I found particularly upsetting. I at first thought it was a bit of an allegory, but upon finishing the book, that point never became clear, and I felt was a bit on the harsh side for a children’s book. The spiritual thread I also found to be unclear. I enjoyed the tale itself, and the journey the boy, Mu, takes is enjoyable to follow along with, but to be completely honest, by the end of the book I felt a bit unsettled by the spiritual aspect of it.So while mostly cute, and I liked the setting and adventure, I’m not sure it was my cup of tea.