Thrilling in its compassion and tinged with bittersweetness, the novel's conclusion leaves plenty of questions enticingly unanswered, providing ample material for thoughtful readers to ponder. When Aurelia's weak and selfish cousin Marcus devises a prank to play on Julius and Boots, he sets into motion a series of events that forever changes the lives of the three youngsters and the tiger brothers. But even the novel's most idyllic scenes, set in the sheltered luxury of the Emperor's palace, are infused with a nearly unbearable slow-boiling sense of anxiety, thanks to the ominous shadow of the brutal circus. There are so few fictional accounts of the Arab/Israeli conflict that Lynne Reid-Banks splendidly readable and well-researched account fills a gap. This book brilliantly captures the tragedy and hopelessness that has gripped the region and presents both sides with sympathy and balance. Aurelia's warm feelings soon extend to the cub's keeper as well, a handsome young slave named Julius. When Mustafa fails to kill Nilli he becomes a hunted man. Harper Teen, 6.99 (336pp) ISBN 978-4-3 In a starred review, PW called this sequel to One More River, about an Israeli girl who. The older, larger one becomes a celebrated killer in the circuses held at the Colosseum, while the younger becomes the pampered and adored pet of Aurelia, who names him Boots. BUY THIS BOOK Broken Bridge Lynne Reid Banks. At the novel's start, two brother tiger cubs are taken from their native land and brought to ancient Rome. ) gripping, tantalizing examination of power, sacrifice and mercy. Have killed it.' This observation by Aurelia, Caesar's daughter, aptly summarizes the central theme of Banks's ( The Indian in the Cupboard 'She felt dimly that the true power was to withhold the death stroke, to let the creature go when you could

Broken Bridge by Lynne Reid Banks