Review: Stunning read that is suitable for adults and children
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2013
"Zuri" is a story that encompasses a rainbow of emotions. Reading the murder of Zuri's mother was a hugely emotional experience. I felt like the child watching "Bambi" for the first time. "Zuri" is the sort of novel that changes lives and inspires people to act for their planet. Written for both adults and children, "Zuri" by Ruth Harris is a novel that should hit your reading list and be at the top of the TBR pile.The character of Zuri, the baby rhino is beautifully written. She is a baby but has seen the "tourist creatures" before but not the ones with the "shiny sticks that make a boom noise." When the poachers cut off her mother's horn and the first chapter ends with her calling out for her mother, I was sobbing. There is a recovery period where the animal must build trust. As Zuri recovers, Renny and Starlite's relationship deepens. There's a beautiful scene in which the pair watches Zuri sleep and Renny identifies with her nightmares. Starlite probes lightly and reveals information Renny didn't realize anyone knew. The conversation is casual and yet intimate and shows a great talent for those emotionally driven moments. Harris is an author who knows when to give with both guns but to also hold back which drives the reader to bond with the character.Underwritten in "Zuri" is a great deal of information. Harris had to have gone deep in her research of this novel. Harris gives us the realistic and detailed look at both poaching and animal protection. Making the novel seem less like an instructional manual is a beautiful and subtle love story between Renny and Starlite. To be honest, this reader fell a little in love with Renny as well as he built a bond with both human and animal.