Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple

Zoe & Zak, Book 3

By: Lars Guignard

Narrated by: Sonja Field

Zoe and Zak have learned some things since their first semester at Moonstock Himalayan Academy in India:

#1 Don't trust the parrots.

#2 Don't eat the food.

#3 And most importantly... Don't stick around if something crawls out of the lava hole beneath your school.

Last semester, Zoe and Zak returned the first lost Noble Truth to its rightful home. Now, the seventh graders are back in India for their second semester at Moonstock, their boarding school high in the Himalayan mountains where impossible things seem to happen on a regular basis.

School kicks off with the Activity Week Challenge in the tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan where the students must deliver medical supplies. Things take a turn for the worse when Zak becomes deathly ill after an encounter with a strange floating bubble. On returning to Moonstock, Zoe and Zak discover that a creature has come through the lava hole far below their dormitory. When Zoe and Zak follow the creature, they soon learn what they must do. They have been tasked with finding the second lost Noble Truth--the Tiger Eye of Justice.

Finding the Tiger Eye sounds like an impossible mission, and it's only made more confusing when Zak discovers that he has been given a powerful gift to help with the task. But Zak's new gift is a double-edged sword, and if Zoe and Zak don't find the Tiger Eye quickly, Zak's time will run out.

The Tiger Temple takes Zoe and Zak deep into an exotic world of magical enchantment and heart-pounding action. It promises to be the most thrilling Zoe and Zak adventure yet.

ABOUT:

Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple is the third book in the Zoe and Zak series. It is preceded by the best-selling first book, Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard, and book two, Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse.

©2014 Lars Guignard (P)2014 Fantastic Press

Awesome Kids Adventure

I think by now you know that I am a huge fan of Lars Guignard. I absolutely love the Zoe & Zak series, both reading the story and listening to the audiobooks. My older daughter and I both love Zoe & Zak’s adventurous spirits. We know when picking up a Zoe & Zak story that we’re going on a grand adventure and we’re going to enjoy every minute of it. Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple by Lars Guignard has been our favorite story so far. It was really exciting to listen to. We both enjoy the narrator. Lars has a writing style that makes the story feel genuine. If you love brave little heroes and fun adventures, this series is one you need to read or listen to (or both!).

Perfection! Best Narration I've Heard Yet!

This is the third Zoe & Zak book I've listened to on audio and I have to say, they just keep getting better and better. There are so many things I love about this series so I hope that I can express my love well enough that you know that this is a series you MUST get!

Zoe and Zak are perfect compliments to each other. Zoe is more serious and Zak is all about the fun. In the past they've had to deal with some serious life or death situations, but things step up another notch in this one and things are so serious that Zak could die if they don't figure things out. It's clear that Zoe is freaking out and it's not really helping much. Zak on the other hand is handling things well and gives us some comedic relief. Not that the book feels so 'scary' or whatever, but knowing that things really ARE serious makes it a bit more intense.

In this book there's a new bad, but who would have guessed it to be the new student who seems to get his way with everything and everyone? He has it out for Zak and will go to any lengths to make Zak look bad, or to get him in trouble.

One thing I really, really love about these books is the culture. I think it's important to teach our kids about other cultures and so them being at a boarding school in India is perfect. It's an international school and Zoe and Zak are American, so we can follow things easily. But they are experiencing Indian culture everyday. And Zoe does a good job of explaining the foods and the different words used, etc. So we don't get too much and can feel like we are really there. I appreciated that the words they use in India were used and explained. For example, the word 'walla' (I listened to the audio so the spelling might be wrong) is someone who sells something. So when they say the 'bike walla' we know what they are talking about, it's the person selling the bikes.

I have watched some shows about the scary roads in the Himalaya's so it was easy for me to really picture things as they were barreling down (or up) the mountain and Zoe feeling like they would fall off the cliff at any minute. There were so many times in this book that I found myself just staring off into the distance listening intently. I listen while doing things usually (cooking, cleaning, etc) so this was impressive that it pulled me out of doing stuff to where I concentrated completely on the story.

The narration is pure BRILLIANCE. I have listened to quite a few audiobooks and there's not many narrators that can pull off a variety of voices. Sonja Field does it all perfectly. We get Zoe and Zak and their two distinctive voices that are easy to tell apart. We also get the various Indian accents, somehow still distinctive from each other. We also get some British accents and a few other voices but on top of that we get the various things like the talking elephant Alta, the creature called Mon Sta and various other animals that all had their own incredible voices. Oh and the parrot that we get in this one, also done perfectly. This is definitely the best narration I have heard in an audiobook yet.

If you have a reluctant reader this is a series I recommend. This is perfect for middle grade readers up to adults. It's a series the whole family can enjoy together. It's a perfect pace of adventure with fabulous characters, a wonderful setting, and an intense plot that keeps you wrapped up and anxious for more . I couldn't recommend this any more highly. It's perfection.

Very good installment

These books are tough for me to assess. They have good writing, likable characters, realistic dialog, and are relatively light. But there is something that makes me slightly uncomfortable. Maybe it's just how foreign the culture and mythology is, compared to, say, the Greek mythology of Percy Jackson. Maybe it's how completely random some of the experiences seem to be. Things can be a bit jarring and hard to follow when they are so random.

This book specifically was good, though it was one of those "everything stops working for no reason" sequels. Spoilers ahead. The yogi powers suddenly stop working due to lack of concentration. The flying carpet stops working due to... something. The flying elephant phone doesn't work. Etc.

Anyway, it's still a fun story. If you liked the previous books, you'll love this one.

A Whirlwind Adventure

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audio to several different types of friends. Even my boys would enjoy this story.

What did you like best about this story?

The adventure. The story is fast paced and there is always something going on. This story had several twists & turns that the previous story did not.

Have you listened to any of Sonja Field’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Sonja Field was just as enjoyable during Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse as with this book. Her voices of the characters carried over very nicely.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme laughing out loud. However, there were a few sections where I did feel the need to worry with them or say you better move because something is about to happen.

Any additional comments?

Listen to this one or read it. Truly, the adventures are fun.

Another great Zoe & Zak adventure!

Would you listen to Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple again? Why?

Of course I would listen to this audiobook again. It's perfect and I'm sure my daughter will want to listen to it too.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character has been Zak since the first book because he is so fun and always makes me laugh.

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't have a favorite scene because I love the whole book equally.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I actually like to listen to a few chapter a night before going to bed. It takes a little bit longer to finish but also keeps the adventure going for longer.

Any additional comments?

If you like to read fantasy books with plenty of adventure then I recommend the Zoe & Zak series. Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple is the third book in this series and it seems to only get better. Zoe & Zak are in the seventh grade but they sound like they have grown up so much since the Ghost Leopard and the Yogi's Curse books. They are both great characters but I totally love Zak. This is a middle grade book but I am 25 and the Zoe & Zak series are my favorite adventure books I have read/listened to in years. Listening to the audiobook is also very fun because you get to hear how everyone sounds and also if I get interrupted I can just rewind. Plus Sonja Field is an awesome narrator. I give this book 5 stars, if I could give this book more then I would!

Wow what an Adventure!

What about Sonja Field’s performance did you like?

Loved the voice transitions, very nice! She is a great reader for this series!

Any additional comments?

Zoe and Zak’s adventures are so entertaining I love listening to them. In this, the third book in the series, Zoe and Zak are back at Moonstock Academy and have been sent on the mission to find the 2nd lost noble truth- The Tiger Eye of Justice. This was a wonderful plot for the third book, it continues on the original series quite well and leaving the number of Noble Truths open ended allows for so many other books in the next books…I found that clever.A few things had me really hooked while listening to this installment; the first was that there was more urgency to their adventure. Not that someone was taken or anything like that, but Zak is sick and in order to make sure he gets well again they must complete the mission in a certain timeline. Another was that Zak has a lot more of a role in this book, since he is affected by the outcome he has a larger role in the overall adventure. And lastly, there is a parrot, he is hilarious – I think he was my favorite part of this book!Zoe is her normal self, considering herself the planner and one that knows best. Zak again is the more adventurous of the two but he is really smart and I love their dynamic when they work together. Other characters were just as interesting and fun to follow, we learn more about Tuk, Zak’s roommate and his businesses on the campus of the academy and a little about Jill – they are both super supportive and helpful. Also thrown in is a mysterious new kid who is causing trouble for everyone.Like his other books Guignard does a wonderful job of interspersing the adventure with a lot of interesting history and facts, and he does it in a way that does not seem like learning. I think this is a great series and continue to love that it is set in India, which allows for an explosion of cultural information and history to be provided to young readers.

Adventure, friendship, and magic! Terrific!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely!

The Setting: The mystical and magical culture of India. The adventure, danger, and beauty of the Himalayan mountains. The poverty and need present in Bhutan.

The Characters: I love Zoe and Zak but I have to admit that Zak is still my favorite. Zoe is serious and takes care of business and Zak takes life by the seat of his pants and always makes me laugh. They balance each other out perfectly. In addition to Zoe and Zak we get to revisit with Jill and Tuk, Monsta, Mr. Muk, and the flying elephant, Alta. One of my favorite additions to The Tiger Temple character cast is Open Sesame, Zak’s new parrot.

The Adventure: Off the charts adventure that educates the reader/listener without them even knowing it. You get the opportunity to learn about indian culture and mythology, common words of India, and the beauty and magic of the region.

It is a series that anyone can enjoy.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way the author weaves modern day India in with the mythological and cultural aspects of this region.

Any additional comments?

The narrator, Sonja Field, is fantastic! She has given Zak, Zoe, and all the other characters of this fantastic series distinct personalities and brings the amazing setting that Lars Guignard has created to life.

Exceptional MG Adventure Novel!!!

Would you listen to Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple again? Why?

The Tiger Temple is the third installment in the Zoe & Zak Adventures series and is an exceptional MG adventure novel! With great character development, detailed Indian culture and amazing visual graphics, it is one of my favorite Middle Grade series that I've read.

Zoe & Zak are back at Moonstock, the unique boarding school in the Himalayas, that they have been attending and are getting ready for another semester. With so many things happening, they hope for a quiet school time. But when Zak gets struck by a balloon and suddently starts showing the "Creature Teacher" powers, they need to find the Second Noble Truth before Zak's time runs out.

With everything that is going on, Zoe & Zak still have to deal with the new kid - Vijay. With his fancy maids, private jets, and clothes, he is the new popular kid at school and everyone wants to meet him. But Zak knows that something is not right about him and it doesn't matter how charming he is but he is involved more in the story than they would have liked to.

Any additional comments?

Another amazing novel by Guignard! He never stops to amaze me on the level of creativity and details that he comes up with. When you're reading the story, it feels like you're there and you get transferred to Himalayas with Zoe & Zak. I loved reading about Indian culture and exploring more of the land & its living. I was also glad to see a lot of the characters from previous books and meet new ones. I love Mon Sta, no matter how gross or creepy he might be lol

Sonja Field has done it again! She is so perfect with the characters and the flow of the novel, I tend to forget that it's only one person who's narrating and not a whole lot of people doing different voices. I said it before & I will say it again: She is perfect for this series! Loved it!

As fun as promised!

I've found another great Middle Grade series, it appears. Though I came into this series late (book #3 was my first read), I'm sold off of this one book. Did it have a little something to do with the fact that it was an audiobook? Probably, and here's why.

The narrator was freaking awesome. Sonja Field has ruined me for audiobook narrators from here on out. I'd pretty much given up on audiobooks because most narrators suck. But not Sonja. Not only was the narration clear and audible, but she did the voices! Gotta do the voices. She did accents and she did kid voices and she did adult voices and she even did animal voices. Yes, animals! She rocked this book all over the universe and I seriously look forward to listening to the other books now just to hear her do what she does again.

The plot was fun and imaginative. Don't get me wrong. Guignard wrote a great plot as well. I adore mythology so this was just my cup of tea. I'd never read any books based around Indian mythology so that was a plus for me. I really liked how Guignard made the plot move, as in, he never stayed in one place. The characters were always going on adventures and racing to save the day, and that made the book really enjoyable. Many fantasy authors promise action and adventure, and don't deliver half of that. Guignard didn't make that mistake. This book was as fun as promised.

The characters were cute and interesting. Zoe and Zak were great. But Zak was my fave. He was hilarious and every time he whipped out his phone and did his vlog, I had to laugh. He was such a kooky little boy and I couldn't help but like him. Add in Field's amazing vocal performance and you had a recipe for awesomeness. Zoe was that 'voice of reason' and balanced out Zak really well. I'm really interested to go back to the first book and see how their relationship began and compare it to how it is in the third book. I can tell these are characters that grow from book to book, even if they are young.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. Guignard, though writing for young readers, didn't forget about the adults. I think it was just complex enough to keep our attention, yet not so complex as to lose the young people. That's how you do Middle Grade. So well done there.

Do I recommend? Of course! If you're into MG Fantasy, this is just a great book/series to take on. I would so suggest the audiobooks, but if that's not your thing, that's okay. You will still love it!

Excellent addition to the series! Best one yet!

What made the experience of listening to Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple the most enjoyable?

I love the voices that the narrator uses. Each character is distinct. The young boys sound like young boys, the British teacher sounds like a British teacher. The old Indian yogi sound like an old Indian yogi. She does each voice so well, it sounds like their is a whole cast of characters instead of one narrator doing the reading.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple?

When the flying carpet gets eaten by the giant snake to save Zoe and Zak. It was sad because it had been on so many adventures with them, but it sacrificed itself so they could escape.

Have you listened to any of Sonja Field’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I listened to the Zoe and Zak and Yogi's Curse, the book before this one and I would say they are the same. Again she did the same job with the voices. She really does a great job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to, but I don't have seven hours to listen to an audio book. If I did, I would have. It was that interesting. Both the story and the narration.

Any additional comments?

I used to hate audio books. I couldn't remember anything I listened to, but since I've learned how to listen to them, I love them. I would try other books by this narrator and will definitely continue this series.