The Door of No Return

This is a great read, fast paced with lots of action and a sympathetic, slightly goofy hero. What sets it apart from being just another adventure story though,is the brave tackling of the issue of the slave trade from West Africa. The book can be read on several levels, just simply as a rollicking story, or more seriously considering the big issue embedded within it. Its a book for teenage boys who will love the chase scenes and mysterious shadowy would-be-assassins. But it is also a book for class study with teenagers, with lots of teaching potential on a diversity of issues, such as loss of family, race, personal struggle etc as well as the big thorny one of slavery. Teenagers looking for a zippy read or teachers looking for a great book to work with in class, would be well advised to dip into this! The kids at our school really loved it!