[NOW]≫ PDF Gratis Mamba Point Kurtis Scaletta 9780375861802 Books

Mamba Point Kurtis Scaletta 9780375861802 Books

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Mamba Point Kurtis Scaletta 9780375861802 Books

Okay. I have to admit off the bat that I was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia. Nonetheless, the American Embassy kids were always something of a mystery to me, although we attended the same school for the most part. At any rate, this story of Linus, mambas and Monrovia resonated in a completely different way than I thought it would. Yes, it is a story about being moved from Dayton, Ohio to Monrovia, Liberia. And yes, it is a story of mambas. But more than these, it is a universal story of how we all try to reinvent ourselves when we get a fresh start. I am a female, but I completely identified with Linus in his quest to move from dork to cool. Like most of us, he ends up somewhere in between and, in the process, learns a lot about himself, life and relationships. I loved this book. Incidentally, while everyone else was waiting for the bookstores to open, my pre-ordered copy downloaded onto my Kindle the instant publication was official.


Tags : Mamba Point [Kurtis Scaletta] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. When his dad gets a job at the U.S. embassy in Liberia, twelve-year-old Linus Tuttle knows it's his chance for a fresh start. Instead of being his typical anxious self,Kurtis Scaletta,Mamba Point,Knopf Books for Young Readers,0375861807,Americans;Liberia;Fiction.,Black mamba;Fiction.,Human-animal relationships;Fiction.,Africa,Americans,Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians,Black mamba,CHILDREN'S FICTION GENERAL,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children: Grades 4-6,Fiction,Human-animal relationships,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Social Themes New Experience,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction Animals Reptiles & Amphibians,Juvenile Fiction People & Places Africa,Juvenile Fiction Social Issues New Experience,Juvenile Grades 4-6 Ages 9-11,Liberia,People & Places - Africa,Social Issues - New Experience,United States

Mamba Point Kurtis Scaletta 9780375861802 Books Reviews

This book is great for readers who like modern tall tales like MANIAC MAGEE or HOLES. It's also a great pick for reluctant readers--they will be drawn in by the tale of Linus's strange relationship with the deadly black mamba.
This is a well crafted story about a boy and his family who move from Ohio to Monrovia, Liberia. The boy is insecure and deathly afraid of snakes. He learns to befriend a snake to overcome his fears and become a bolder person. He makes friends, helps others with troubled situations, causes a few conflicts of his own, and learns a lot about another culture and land. Good character development, area description, cultural elements, and the story keeps moving along. It was hard to put this book down. Note If you're uncomfortable with snakes, don't make the mistake I did and read the last few chapters right before bed!
Mamba Point is a tightly wound tale that will make you laugh, hold you in suspense, and have you checking underneath your bed to make sure there aren't any mambas slithering about. I had not one, but two dreams about mambas while reading it.

So here's my review two thumbs way up, five out of four stars, on a scale of 10, it's an eleven, insert your own hyperbole. The thing to do now is to order Mamba Point and read it without letting me tell you anything further. Have I ever steered you wrong before, Esteemed Reader? Don't bother reading the rest of this post, just buy your copy Mamba Point.

The thing is, the less you know about Mamba Point going into it, the better. I'm going to try not to spoil the book for you , but inevitably I probably will give some of it away and I'm sure a few of you Esteemed Readers are still reading without having first bought and read it (shame on you). I had the good fortune to read this book without knowing anything going in other than Kurtis Scaletta is a very nice man who gave me a signed copy of his book, and that is the way to experience Mamba Point, because it knocked for a loop (mostly because some jerk blogger didn't tell me all about it beforehand).

All right, I gave you a whole paragraph to stop reading and now I'm starting the summary. This is the first line of Mamba Point "My brother changed his name on the plane ride to Africa." What a great opening line, yeah? It's exciting, it's provocative, and it sets up the story at once. It's 1982 and Larry, now Law, Tuttle and his brother Linus (there are plenty of blanket and Snoopy jokes) are on a plane to Africa where they will be living near the US embassy in a place called Mamba Point. But not to worry. There aren't really any mambas there, or so Linus's parents tell him, and the local inhabitants tell him. But as soon as the boys step off the plane, they are attacked by a mamba, which makes for an exciting opening. Not anymore though. I just ruined it. Told you not to read.

Linus is hoping to make a new start for himself in Africa. He doesn't want to be the same Linus he was back home in Dayton, Ohio. He tells us constantly (the book is written in the first person) that he is becoming a new Linus. This is a wonderfully universal experience shared by most children who have moved and it resonates. But the problem is everywhere Linus goes, he sees another Mamba. He's not supposed to be seeing them because there aren't supposed to be any mambas around, but he does. Early in the book, Scaletta drops this information

"Mom wanted Darryl to shut up because she didn't want to exacerbate your condition," he said... When my parents took me to see that shrink after my panic attack at school, he talked to me for a while by myself.

Is interesting, no? Here we have a boy who might just have a mental issue who keeps seeing black mambas everywhere, usually while no one else is around. And the black mambas' behavior gets stranger and stranger. Linus is able to pet them and they slither around his leg and never hurt them, and he is so not a parselltoungue. A black mamba follows him around, becomes his friend, and even lives in his laundry hamper. At this point, I began to suspect the mamba's real name was Tyler Durden and Linus and he would start their own Fight Club. How fun is it to suspect something like that in a middle grade novel? It's a lot of fun and now you won't have it because I told you about it beforehand.

Is Linus crazy? Maybe. But his new friend Gambeh has a different theory. The rural religions believe some people have a special connection to animals called Kaseng. So those are your options Linus is crazy and has delusional fantasies, which would make for an awesome story. Or, Linus has a special connection to actual, physically real black mambas and he can hang out with them and convince them to do things without ever being hurt, which would also make for an awesome story. I'm not going to tell you which it is because I've already spoiled enough. But either way, what follows is an awesome story and you're going to love it.

I said this was going to be a short review, but I've lied about that before (every week). Don't worry. I'm not going to ruin anything else. But I've honestly never read a book quite like Mamba Point and I really, really liked it. It's a boy book through and through, though girls will like it too, and the thing that makes it really special is the characters. I cared about Linus and Law and even Matt, the nerdy kid who lives across the hall. I knew a couple of Matt's growing up.

I identified with these characters. Reading the banter of the brothers reminded me of being their age and horsing around with my own brother. And the boys are very funny. Even if a single black mamba had never shown up, I still would have enjoyed reading about them and that's the hallmark of great characterization. These boys don't need a strong plot to make them interesting, they make the plot they're in interesting. And because the boys are so believable in all other situations, from playing video games to meeting girls, we believe them in some of the more fantastic situations.

Mamba Point is a love letter to youth, I think. Today's kids will love the book, but if you grew up in the last thirty years, this book will be extra special to you. I was a boy in the 1980s and I remember Indiana Jones when he was fresh and new and decades away from the Crystal Skull. I remember how amazing Atari was at the time and how it was to dream of owning Pac-Man or Space Invaders. Back then, I could never have conceived of a Red Dead Redemption and Scaletta's description of Pac-Man is like poetry. I haven't played that game in forever, but I broke out my copy of Pac-Man after reading this book. Scaletta also presents us with the age old argument of Marvel vs DC and who has the better superheroes. He picks Marvel, which is just ridiculous and nearly ruined the book) But later, he makes positive mention of Stephen King, so we'll call it even. Nice save, Scaletta.

Mamba Point is a time machine for adults of a certain age and even though I've never been to Africa or seen a black mamba, I felt transported to a time when I had. It was a wonderful experience and worth having. So buy the book already
Moving to Liberia, Africa, seemed like the perfect time to become a new person. At least that is what 12-year-old Linus Tuttle believed. After his father is transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, Linus has the opportunity to start in a new school, meet new people, and be whoever he wants to be. Gone is the shy and timid Linus. In his place is a bold, new Linus that isn't afraid of anything. Except snakes, of course --- especially extremely poisonous snakes, like the black mamba, one of which greeted him as he stepped off the airplane. One little snake isn't going to stop him from being a brave new person, is it?

Linus wishes he could be more like his older brother Larry, or Law, as he goes by now. Law is old enough to hang out at the club in the U.S. Embassy and instantly seems to have a tight group of friends. He also appears to be trying everything from smoking to drinking to hanging out all night. Linus isn't sure what to make of his brother's actions, but the few times Linus attempts to spend time with Law and his friends, Linus is quickly shoved into the background. This doesn't sit well with the new and improved Linus.

Instead, Linus focuses his attention on his problem with snakes. He steps outside, and black mambas seem to follow him wherever he goes. This freaks him out at first, but as he spends more time in Africa, he learns more about Kasengs. A Kaseng is when you have a strong connection with an animal. The animal will respond to the person, and in turn, the person will start exhibiting some of the animal's behavior. So instead of hiding from the black mamba, Linus welcomes it into his life. Soon he is keeping a black mamba in his laundry hamper, and starts being brave and courageous, just like the black mamba.

At first, Linus loves being like a black mamba. He isn't afraid to call up teenage girls, he rollerskates through dangerous neighborhoods, and he even strikes up new friendships with everyone around him. He also spends countless hours drawing his black mamba in his bedroom, as his family remains clueless. The black mamba, however, is still a dangerous, poisonous snake, and Linus never prepared himself for the repercussions of keeping one so close. Is he ready to accept the consequences of the black mamba hurting the people he cares about the most?

Kurtis Scaletta offers a different and interesting perspective on growing up and reinventing oneself. Most teenagers do not have the luxury of moving during middle school and trying to become a new person, let alone traveling to another country to do it. MAMBA POINT is a funny and refreshing story that anyone will enjoy. Having a connection to an animal is something many kids might fantasize about, but the animal is usually a dog or a cat, not a poisonous snake. Any reader will be able to relate to Linus as he navigates through attempting to become a more confident person and being inexplicably connected to one of the most dangerous reptiles in Africa.
Okay. I have to admit off the bat that I was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia. Nonetheless, the American Embassy kids were always something of a mystery to me, although we attended the same school for the most part. At any rate, this story of Linus, mambas and Monrovia resonated in a completely different way than I thought it would. Yes, it is a story about being moved from Dayton, Ohio to Monrovia, Liberia. And yes, it is a story of mambas. But more than these, it is a universal story of how we all try to reinvent ourselves when we get a fresh start. I am a female, but I completely identified with Linus in his quest to move from dork to cool. Like most of us, he ends up somewhere in between and, in the process, learns a lot about himself, life and relationships. I loved this book. Incidentally, while everyone else was waiting for the bookstores to open, my pre-ordered copy downloaded onto my the instant publication was official.