The Zoo at the Edge of the World

From the author of The Bully Book comes a timeless story about a young boy, his father, and the world that comes between them, which New York Times–bestselling author Peter Lerangis called "magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart."

Marlin is not slow, or mute; what he is is a stutterer, and that makes it impossible for him to convince people otherwise. What he is also is a Rackham: the younger son of the world-famous explorer Ronan Rackham, the owner and proprietor of the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort where the well-to-do from all over the globe can come to experience the last bit of the wild left at the end of the nineteenth century.

In order to impress a powerful duke who comes to visit the zoo, Marlin's father ventures into the jungle and brings back a mysterious black jaguar, the only one in captivity. Everyone is terrified of it, including Marlin—until one night, when the jaguar confers upon him a powerful gift. Soon, Marlin finds himself with a difficult choice to make and, finally, something to say. If only he can figure out how to say it.

Marlin is not slow, or mute; what he is is a stutterer, and that makes it impossible for him to convince people otherwise. What he is also is a Rackham: the younger son of the world-famous explorer Ronan Rackham, renowned for his daring exploits in the jungles of South America, taming wild beasts and filling in the blank spaces on the map. Ronan is the owner and proprietor of the Zoo at the Edge of the World, a resort where the well-to-do from all over the globe can come to experience the last bit of the wild left at the end of the nineteenth century. For Ronan, each day is a new opportunity to cast a light into the dark recesses of the world; for Marlin, each day is a struggle: to speak, to communicate, to live up to the lofty expectations that his family name carries. This isn't easy when the only ones who understand him are his father and his pet monkey.

In order to impress a powerful duke who comes to visit the zoo, Marlin's father ventures into the jungle and brings back a mysterious black jaguar, the only one in captivity. Everyone is terrified of it, including Marlin—until one night, when the jaguar confers upon him a powerful gift. Soon, Marlin finds himself with a difficult choice to make and, finally, something to say. If only he can figure out how to say it.

Praise for The Bully Book: “A gripping debut novel. A layered and attention-grabbing mystery. Gale’s accounts of bullying are subtle and chilling, but readers will finish the book believing that the humiliations Eric suffers can be conquered.” - Publishers Weekly

“A compelling and unusual look at a complex and intractable problem that succeeds admirably as story as well.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Fast paced, with strong character voice in the writing. Great for discussion.” - School Library Journal

“A killer jaguar, a zoo on a pyramid, a boy with a stutter who can talk to animals—this powerhouse novel doesn’t only tread the line between fantasy, action/adventure, and historical fiction, it dances on that line with wild abandon. Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.” - Peter Lerangis, New York Times-bestselling author of The Seven Wonders and The 39 Clues series

“Magical, mysterious, fresh, original, and full of heart, Eric Kahn Gale’s The Zoo at the Edge of the World will keep you at the edge of your seat.” - Peter Lerangis, New York Times-bestselling author of The Seven Wonders and The 39 Clues series

“Being able to talk to animals would be my favorite superpower ever, and the Zoo at the Edge of the World would be my favorite place to use it.” - Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan

“As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and heart. Beautiful and fully absorbing.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Well-paced action, a complex-but not too complicated-plot, healthy doses of suspense, and a wild, well-developed cast of characters (human and animal) make this an enjoyable page-turner.” - School Library Journal