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4-6
Illustrated by
Sam Nielson.
The animals at his father's exotic Guiana zoo are the only creatures Marlin can speak to without stuttering. When an encounter with a mysterious black jaguar leaves him able to not only talk to the animals but also understand them, Marlin develops new empathy for the captive creatures. Both human and animal relationships are thoughtfully portrayed in this well-written historical fantasy set in the late eighteenth century.