Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2)

By: Lars Guignard

Narrated by: Sonja Field

Move over Percy Jackson. The Yogi's Curse has arrived...

Zoe and Zak are back in India. Again. And this time they're attending Moonstock Himalayan Boarding School, which might seem fun except for the fact that the school itself is a little strange.

Students ride elephants instead of school buses, snarling monkeys work as security guards, and angry parrots monitor the halls. And even when they manage to get used to the wildlife, the food is absolutely terrible.

But living with a bunch of other kids their age can be a lot of fun too, or at least it seems that way until Zoe's roommate goes missing. Following the directions written on a steamy bathroom mirror, Zoe and Zak fly through the clouds on their magic carpet to learn that the two of them have been chosen yet again. This time they've been asked to lift the Yogi's Curse.

It's not going to be easy. Zoe and Zak don't even know what the Yogi's Curse is let alone how to lift it, but like it or not, they soon discover that a whole lot of people are depending on them.

Now, if they're going to save the day, Zoe and Zak are going to have to fool the monkey guards, avoid the nasty parrots, and maybe even develop a supernatural ability or two. Because lurking beneath Moonstock is a powerful new enemy. And if Zoe and Zak can't stop him, nobody can.

If you liked Ghost Leopard, you'll love The Yogi's Curse. Join Zoe and Zak on their new adventure today!

©2013 Lars Guignard (P)2013 Lars Guignard

Zoe & Zak are back!

What made the experience of listening to Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) the most enjoyable?

Sonja voice bringing the characters to life.

What did you like best about this story?

The fast paced action and adventure throughout the story.

What does Sonja Field bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Some added thought to character voices.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Zak Attack!

Any additional comments?

I'll have to start by saying this is something totally new for me - audiobooks that is. I've always had a love for reading, but I've never been one that has enjoyed being read to. I find it hard to follow along and form images in my mind as the author builds the characters and sets the scene. However, I really enjoyed listening to Sonja Field read Zoe and Zak and the Yogi Curse. Her voice is cute and young, a lot like I had imagined Zoe to sound after reading Zoe and Zak and the Ghost Leopard.

Zoe and Zak and the Yogi Curse is just as action packed and full of fun as the first installment in the Magic Fantasy Action Adventure series. I certainly can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this magical series, Zoe and Zak and the Tiger Temple. Lars has created a wonderful series here for boys and girls alike. While I feel the books are more suited as a read alone for the late pre-teen/teen group due to size of the books it's sure to hold the interest of the younger crowds as well.

Imaginative Adventure Great for all Ages

If you could sum up Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) in three words, what would they be?

Adventure, Cultural, Imaginative

Who was your favorite character and why?

Zoe, she is strong and brave, but can also be shy and timid. She is a wonderful narrator to this series.

What about Sonja Field’s performance did you like?

The voices, she was able to change her voice even slightly to distinguish all the characters. It was a great performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Younger versions of Indian Jones for all ages

Any additional comments?

To get myself ready for book 2 in the Zoe & Zak series, I listened to the end of the first book again to refresh my memory of the awesome adventure that took place in book 1. Book 2 in the first half kind of let me down a little bit because of this though. What happened to the relationship Zoe and Zak had at the end of the last book?! They were so close and reading each other so well to help the Leopard and get back home in one piece. Now I know that time has passed, they went back to the US and packed up to essentially move to India for the next school year, and I know Zoe is homesick and misses her mother, but come on, they are so disconnected in the beginning of the story it made me sad and a little frustrated.

That being said, I still loved the adventure in this book, the setting of India and their school and new characters was awesome. The descriptions the author uses through Zoe's eyes were well formed and made me long for the first day of school again - the stress, the nervousness, the new school supplies, the people and teacher (yea I am a nerd). It was wonderful.

I loved the play on characters returning and new bad guys and the overall adventure and mysteries the kids solve while trying to figure out what is going one. LOVE IT.

I think this book could be for all readers and age groups, the reader was spectacular, a little different from the last one but just as fun and alternated between voices well. I think both kids and parents will love to listen to this book together. I really do love this series and the fact that it is set in India, which is not a common Middle Grade plot setting. I continue to learn a lot from the series and hope to learn and love more of it as it continues.

Another great adventure featuring Zoe and Zak!

Would you consider the audio edition of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) to be better than the print version?

I didn't read the print version, but I don't think I would. I prefer the audio version. The characters and story come alive with the audio version. Sonja Fields does all the voices in the book and she sounds like a 12 yr old girl and a 500 year old yogi and a talking elephant. I never get confused about who is who, her voices are very distinctive and the inflection and tone are done well. When Zoe is a whiny 12 yr old, she sounds like one!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2)?

In the very beginning of the novel, Zoe and Zak have traveled by railway car to the Himalayas. They are kind of floundering around because no one is there to meet them from the school and it's misty and they can't see. All of a sudden something large and dark and red and gold appears and it's elephants from the school sent to pick them up. They kneel down and the kids get on their backs and ride on them to the school. I think that would have been spectacular to see.

Which character – as performed by Sonja Field – was your favorite?

I love Mr. Muck (not sure how to spell it) the most. They way he calls the kids "Mud Devils"
Ulta would be my second favorite.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Realistic Fantasy with Percy Jackson like powers and adventures.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait for the next adventure with Zoe and Zak.

Great sequel in a fun middle grade fantasy series!

What made the experience of listening to Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Sonja Field, does an amazing job with the characters. I especially liked her narration of Zoe and Zak, they are exactly as I imagined them from the first book (I didn’t listen to the audio of that one, I just read it). Zoe is every bit the calm, thoughtful girl who tries to bring some reason to fantastical situations while Zak is buoyant and hyper and outgoing, not always thinking everything through, but always along for the ride. Field effortlessly switches to the gravitas of a talking elephant and a wizened old yogi, and does a very convincing villain voice as well. I highly recommend this series for fans of middle grade fantasy, especially for younger middle grade readers, and the audio, at least for book two, is a fantastic way to experience the story.

What other book might you compare Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) to and why?

Kane Chronicles, Percy Jackson

Which character – as performed by Sonja Field – was your favorite?

Zoe

Audiobook Review ---> Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Cur

What made the experience of listening to Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) the most enjoyable?

1.) Flying elephants 2.) the Adventure

What about Sonja Field’s performance did you like?

She did a wonderful job. Her voice did not grate my ear drums and each of the cast had a distinct voice that did not have you guessing as to which character maybe in role at the moment.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Moved... not particularly. However, I did not want to stop listening at any point in time.

A truly magical adventure for young adults!

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

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook to anyone young or old, it was a great story and the narrator did an awesome job of portraying the characters and storyline.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Without a doubt my favorite character was Zoe - probably because she is a lot like me - headstrong and knows what she wants, doesn't let anyone push her around. And because there are a lot of aspects of her that I think any girl should look up to!

What about Sonja Field’s performance did you like?

I thought her voice was PERFECT for a young adult book. I could feel her passion for the story when listening to it and she did a great job portraying the characters and doing the different ethnic voices.

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

It made me laugh a LOT. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I felt the characters were likeable and that anyone could relate to them, even older generations such as myself.

Any additional comments?

I read a lot of YA audiobooks and this one did not let me down! I loved the storyline and I thought the reader did an awesome job, loved her voice for a YA novel :) The book was funny and moving at the same time, Zoe is very likeable as a character, she has wit, brains and is headstrong with her own opinions and doesn't let anyone tell her what to think. Zak is funny and smart too, and I think most kids can relate to him because he was in a new place trying to make friends by being funny and showing off a bit.

I have not read the first book in this series but I didn't have a problem getting into it and understanding what was happening so I would say this could be a stand-alone book but I can't wait to read the first book and the 3rd book in the series as well :)

This book was fun and very magical, if you enjoyed Harry Potter or Percy Jackson I think you will love this series! The setting of India is awesome, monkeys and elephants and lizards oh my! And of course mystery abounds :) But I also loved the educational parts of the books - you get to meet a lot of other characters with different backgrounds/ethnicities.

The author manages to take what would be a difficult situation of being in a boarding house for kids and somehow make it fun and adventurous for all the kids. I can see this becoming a popular movie series because the characters are so awesome and I think a lot of people would love the story!

All in all this is a magically delicious story and I highly recommend the audiobook version. I don't think you miss out on anything with the audio as you can hear the adventure and passion in the reading - it was fun and easy to listen to and I definitely will be listening to the audio versions of the rest of the series :)

Filled with nonstop action from beginning to end.

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

Zak and Zoe are back together for another fun filled escapade. This time they are attending the Moonstock Himalayan Academy for Boys and Girls, high in the mountains in India. Moonstock is very different than the school they attended in America; for instance, the student’s main source of transportation is riding on elephants; parrots monitor the halls and ornery, monkey security guards keep a watchful eye over the school. These kind of strange practices are not at all what Zoe was expecting and at first she feels quite homesick; however, Zack, her best friend, is attending the school as well, which is somewhat of a comfort to her.

At Moonstock, the boys and girls are separated, limiting Zoe and Zak’s time together. When they do see each other, usually at meal time, Zak seems preoccupied with his new past time―vloging: video blogging, though it won’t preoccupy him too long, once the real adventure starts.

There are many kids, from all over the world, at Moonstock and it isn’t long before Zoe meets some interesting acquaintances. A few of them are, her new roommate, Anita, from England, Jill her replacement roommate from Alaska, and Amanda … well, putting it lightly she’s kind of a jerk.

Though Zoe and Zak are getting to like the school, other than the crappy meals, strange things begin to happen. For instance, Anita disappears from the school―seemingly into thin air―and Mr. Muk is looking uncannily like the deceased Mukta, the yogi master from book 1, Ghost Leopard.

The adventure blasts into full gear when Zoe and Zak make it their mission to break the Yogi’s curse. They sneak out of the school and ride a magic carpet (doormat) into the easterly night sky, find a glowing elephant tusk which turns out to be a telephone, (you’ll have to read the book to find out what the mysterious voice says through this telephone) get chased by birds, mean monkeys, and rack their brains to solve a mysterious riddle.

Zoe will use her new yogi powers and Zak his dependable Stryker whip, to fight the evil forces they seem to be encountering on a regular basis.

Like Ghost Leopard (book 1) Yogi’s Curse is filled with nonstop action from beginning to end. There is lots of humor and a great deal of Lar’s fantastic imagination as well as the real culture, history, and mysterious beliefs of India described throughout the book. The story is fun and fasted paced and will keep you intrigued up until the last page. I recommend this book to tweens, teens, and adults who may want to unleash the adventurous kid trapped somewhere inside them.

About the Audio Book:

Listening to Yogi’s Curse, narrated by Sonja B'Field, was an enjoyable experience for me. I found myself getting caught up in the adventure all over again. It was like I was tagging along with Zak and Zoe through India.

If you have read the book, like I have, you’ll find that listening to the audiobook version; you’ll retain even more of the story and find yourself laughing at Lar’s very funny humor.

Another great thing about the audio book, is it’s perfect for those who don’t have much time to read or perhaps don’t like to read. You can listen just about anywhere; for instance, while you’re doing household chores, working on a hobby, in the car, or any place for that matter.

Which character – as performed by Sonja Field – was your favorite?

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

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Any additional comments?

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Totally engaging.

What made the experience of listening to Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) the most enjoyable?

The story and the presentation. I found myself involved from the beginning because it was easy for me to follow. In many ways this was better than a movie.

What did you like best about this story?

The variety of the characters and the presentation and the fact that it was easy to see them in my mind. This was a new experience for me. A really nice surprise.

What does Sonja Field bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This presentation made it easy for me to see the characters . Maybe it was her voice quality or accents. I relaxed and enjoyed. Just nice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Get ready for a fantastic adventure!

Any additional comments?

Loved this format which was new for me: my first audio book!

Adventure, mystery, culture, magic, & laughs.

What did you love best about Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2)?

Zoe and Zak's personalities are the best. I love the Zoe's dry humor and Zac's positive outlook.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2)?

I really enjoyed how the Elephant Egg of Life was brought into the story.

What does Sonja Field bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sonja is a terrific narrator. She does an amazing job of capturing the personality of these two young characters.

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

I laughed out loud several times at some of the name's these kids come up with and the dry humor is great.

Any additional comments?

This is a great series for readers of all ages to enjoy. It offers adventure, mystery, culture, magic, and a coming of age tale as Zoe and Zak both struggle to accept their places and roles in this amazing world that Lars Guignard has created for them.

Enchanting tale

If you could sum up Zoe & Zak and the Yogi's Curse (Volume 2) in three words, what would they be?

Fun, Exciting, Adventure

What did you like best about this story?

I have to say I loved the second book more then the first book. I think the boarding school aspect of the story did more for me then Zoe and Zak being in a hotel and then going on adventure like they did in the first book. I laughed at the description of how disgusting the food was. The author does a great job of describing what is unfolding so that you really can imagine your on an adventure in India. This is a great adventure story for middle grade readers that will keep them engaged and asking questions.

Source: Provided by the publisher via Audible.com

Which character – as performed by Sonja Field – was your favorite?

Zak

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I like how Zoe and Zak connect more in this book then the first book.