Lionboy

When his parents are kidnapped, what's ten-year-old Charlie Ashanti to do? Rescue them, that's what! He doesn't know who has taken his parents, or why. But he does know that one special talent will aid him on his journey--his amazing ability to speak Cat. Charlie calls on his clever feline friends--from stray city cats to magnificent caged lions--for help. With them by his side, Charlie uses wit and courage to try to find his parents before it's too late.

With its whirlwind action and suspense, Lionboy is a nonstop page-turner. This mother-daughter writing team will fascinate readers of all ages with their Cat-speaking hero!

"A zinger of a story, told with a J.K. Rowling-like blend of humor, drama and headlong plotting." --The Washington Post

* "A rousing traveling circus adventure . . . a page turn[er]." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Corder writes a Harry Potter read-alike. . . This will be devoured by Rowling fans. It will also be a hit with lovers of Eoin Colfer and Philip Pullman." --VOYA

"An adventurous romp. . . .Intriguing." --Kirkus Reviews

"Inventive storytelling." --School Library Journal

"For anyone who's ever wanted to run away and join the circus, as well as save the world and be a friend to cats, here's the book. --The Chicago Tribune

"Reads brilliantly. . . .Lionboy deserves a roar of approval." --Observer

"A fast-moving fantasy adventure." --Financial TimesZizou Corder is Louisa Young and Isabel Adomakoh Young, whose names are too long to fit on the cover of a book. Louisa is an adult and has written five adult books and far too many newspaper and magazine articles; Isabel is a kid and has written mostly schoolwork. The original Zizou is Isabel's Lizard. This is its first novel. They all live in London. Only one goes to school.

Louisa Young was a freelance journalist for many years, writing for national newspapers, motorcycle magazines and women's magazines. She studied history at Trinity College Cambridge, and has of course worked as a street performer, a motorcycle messenger, a cocktail waitress, a singer, and so on. Her first book, A GREAT TASK OF HAPPINESS: THE LIFE OF KATHLEEN SCOTT, was a biography of her grandmother, the sculptress widow of  Scott of the Antarctic. She is also the author of a romantic adventure trilogy for adults and THE BOOK OF THE HEART, a cultural history of our most symbolic organ. LION BOY, cowritten with her daughter Isabel, is her first children's novel. She lives in London with her daughter, their lizard Zizou, several spiders and a dead tortoise.