Charlie Small 1 :: Gorilla City Book Review
Author: Charlie Small
Kidzworld reviews “the amazing, astonishing, incredible and true adventures” of Charlie Small. Check out his first-hand account of his perilous journey through the jungle in Gorilla City.
Struck by Lightning
The day after a terrible thunderstorm, 8 year-old Charlie Small leaves his house to explore the great outdoors. With his rucksack full of exploration materials, Charlie rafts down the stream behind his house. But before he can turn back, the great storm clouds gather and unleash a mighty downpour of rain. Thunder claps as he tries to maneuver his paddle. Suddenly a fork of lightning shoots down from the heavens and strikes his upraised paddle, sending a jolt of electricity through his body.Uncharted Waters
That’s when everything changes from stormy to strange. His raft sails down an unknown tunnel where Charlie encounters an enormous cobweb and a crocodile that wants to make Charlie his lunch. He escapes, but only just. Charlie continues through strange territory—down a waterfall, through a jungle and into a huge grassland.
Friends and Foes
Charlie meets a few friendly creatures along the way, including a robotic, steam-powered rhinosaurus that saves his life on more than one occasion. But there are far more predators than friends inside the jungle: hungry hyenas, giant snakes and an angry silverback gorilla (the King of Gorilla City).
King of Gorilla City
The silverback holds Charlie prisoner in Gorilla City. And during those many days, Charlie makes friends with the young gorillas and learns to speak their language. Then he decides to stand up to the King. And after winning a competition, Charlie becomes the new King. But he can’t stay in the jungle forever. He misses his mom and her home-cooked meals. Will Charlie ever be able to escape this strange jungle and return home?
The Bottom Line
Charlie Small writes his incredible adventures as a journal, complete with drawings, diagrams and the occasional treasure that he glues inside. The book is action-packed from start to finish. So if you like adventure, action and ferocious beasts, then you’ll love the journal of Charlie Small. And best of all, it’s a series!
Gorilla City Rating: 
Related Stories:
It’s almost time for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games! We wanted to find out which American athletes we should be watching as they go for the gold in 2010!
Get ready for Ben 10: Evolution by checking out some of the new rumored aliens!