The Girl Who Lost A Leopard

The Girl Who Lost A Leopard by Nizrana Farook is a fast-paced, middle-grade adventure novel set in the jungles of Serendib (the older Persian name for Sri Lanka).

Selvi and her mother live in a small village surrounded by mountains and forests. Selvi is unlike other kids. She is not scared of the forest and loves spending time there, much to her mother’s indignation. The forest is home to many wild beings, and Lokka, a strong, magnificent leopard, is one amongst those. But he is a rare being, with a beautiful coat and huge golden eyes. Selvi shares a special relationship with Lokka. Sprinting through the greens, playing chase, they look out for each other.

One day, while Selvi is in the forest, she comes across a group of poachers who are out there to nab Lokka. Thus, begins a series of exciting events wherein Selvi, along with her friends, tries to save Lokka from the gang. Shocking revelations, heart-warming moments, and beautiful learnings make this journey interesting.

Farook has done a wonderful job in penning a story apt for her target audience; the font size, length of chapters, language and description are perfectly suited for middle-graders.

There’s a lot of action and adventure which is sure to keep the young readers hooked. But this is not just an adventure story. There are beautiful messages being shared, and they don’t sound preachy at all. Children would learn about living in harmony with nature, familial ties, the power of friendship, and kindness towards animals in a fun and exciting manner.

I love stories that have a satisfactory resolution and character arc. In this story, not only the main character Selvi, even her mother, friends, and aunt’s arc show completion. A big plus!

There are a few bits that may seem far-fetched for adult readers but would make perfect sense to the middle-graders.

The Girl Who Lost A Leopard is a joyful read, and I am sure children would enjoy it a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Nosy Crow for the ARC.

Wordsopedia Rating 4.5/5

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About the author

Nizrana Farook was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the beautiful landscapes of her home country find their way into the stories she writes. She has a master’s degree in writing for young people, and lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two daughters.

Get in touch with the author on her website.