Wein, Elizabeth E. The lion hunter.

WEIN, Elizabeth E. The lion hunter. (The Mark of Solomon, Book One.) Penguin, Viking. 223p. map. c2007. 0-670-06163-1. $16.99. JSA 

Wein has created unique and amazing stories about the Arthurian/Aksumite cycle, including The Winter Prince, A Coalition of Lions, and The Sunbird, which have been reviewed in KLIATT. The Lion Hunter begins a new story, with many of the same characters from the previous books. It is best to have read them all, although this one could be read alone, in anticipation of book two in The Mark of Solomon, The Empty Kingdom.

Nearly impossible to summarize in any cohesive way, the story tells of an Ethiopian family related to Arthur of Britain. Telemakos, a youth, is the primary character in this novel. He has endured being kidnapped and tortured, and at the beginning of this story he is mauled by a lion and eventually loses his arm; he cares for his infant sister as his parents are distracted by the family's woes. Wein has created a world we can hardly imagine: Ethiopia in the ancient world, with details that bring it all to life. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.