Zazoo

"She swam like no one I had known, this little girl of mine, as if into a fish she'd grown--- all silver-finned and fine. But when the surface glazed with ice that sealed away her paradise she couldn't bear my sage advice on nature's sweet design, and wept--like no one I had known--- this little girl of mine. But then she slept in air so clear that she could hardly help but hear the sound of someone coasting near along the bright divide. When she awoke, two slender skates sharp-edged for carving figure eights lay winking in the sunlight by her side-- two glinting blades on midnight boots, longing to be tried. And now she flies, on nights so cold the dry canal ice sounds too old to creak and crack and barely hold her blades from slipping through-- this under- and yes, over-water, liveliest, by far, granddaughter ever to have worn a skating shoe: this loveliest, no longer little girl I call Zazoo." _________ So is the story of Zazoo, a sweet, vietnamese orphan destined to uncover the buried histories of her small family and those interlinked with it. On the border between childhood and adulthood, this is not only Zazoo's story of growth, but of the maturity of those she loves as they come to terms with the horrific times of the past and as her unifying love binds them to each other. When one stranger walks into Zazoo's life asking questions about those she has known from her childhood, she embarks on a quest to fill in the missing answers. As she tries to put the pieces of this puzzle together, a river of memories threatens to become unleased, suggesting that some things may be better left alone. Zazoo is a very strong, magical and poetic story of the destructive and empowering element of love. Richard Mosher's style certainly expresses a lyrical and poetic movement with words, creating an exquisitely drawn setting and well-layered themes. One such passage I find exemplary in this: "Up the river I rowed, by the light of the shrouded moon and the dim, distant streetlamps. Stroke after stroke, bending my back, glad to be pulling, pulling, bending my legs and pulling again with my mittened hands until I was warm top to toe except in some darker place I supposed must be my heart. Since a rower sits facing the stern, it was good I knew the river's shallows and angles, the twists where its current was tricky. The moon was so wrapped in snowy clouds that I saw only vague shapes, and steered from old habit. Rowing was fine in the dark, in the falling snow. My boat didn't whisper hero or coward, Gestapo or Vietnam. It didn't whisper at all, only groaned with the pull of it's oars." Short, but chock full of wonderful and complex concepts, Zazoo is well worth your time. Recommend? Definitely. Rating: G, Ages 8 and up for comprehension. Older readers may appreciate its complex beauty further. Pages: 266 small pages with average to small text size. When to read? On a rainy day, when you need a mood boost, or nearby a river. . .

I am 15 and this story connected with me. After reading it I was so surprised that a man wrote it! Zazoo's voice is so true to that of a thirteen-year-old girl. The setting is romantic and the three love stories that progress throughout the novel are delicately put. I would reccomend this novel of love, sorrow, accepting differences, and healing the past to anyone.

If ever a story merited reading aloud it is "Zazoo," the poignant story of a young Vietnamese/French girl and her journey to self-understanding. Joanna Wyatt gives a touching performance as the voice of the narrator, 13-year-old Zazoo. Born in Vietnam, Zazoo has lived most of her life in France, actually in Burgundy with her adoptive grandfather, Grand-Pierre. Her life is peaceful and serene; she has not questioned her past or Grand-Pierre's life before she came to live with him. The tenor of her days changes when Marius, a 16-year-old French boy, bicycles into her small village. His queries lead Zazoo to think and to ask about the time when France was under the boot of the Nazis. As multiple secrets are revealed we learn of a unique link between Marius and the village pharmacist. We also learn of Grand-Pierre's past, some of which he would not wish to be revealed. "Zazoo," as it explores the years of war, is a rather painful story yet it is one buoyed by love, hope, and forgiveness. - Gail Cooke

Zazoo is a 13-year-old Vietnamese girl who lives with her adoptive French grandfather in a romantic Normandy setting, surrounded by natural beauty and fascinated by the mysterious, at times oppressive past of the land and its people. Somewhere in the transition from 13 to 14, Zazoo starts on her own journey of discovery to find her roots, and to solve the riddle of her grandfather's past. The novel is a lyrical narrative with several story threads bound together in a web of reminiscences that spring from the minds of different characters, each revealing different aspects of the truth. Behind the appearance of a peaceful countryside existence, the reader discovers the intense emotional lives of the main characters, each one on a quest of self discovery.The book starts as a promise for teen romance, however, as it progresses, it unveils a complex tapestry of past events unfolding in a slowly revealing drama, expanding in time over generations and cultures. Several motifs are apparent in the book: the horror and senselessness of war, the devastating consequences of prejudice and intolerance, the healing power of love and forgiveness, and the beauty of friendship. The pictorial fabric of the book and its subtle blend of prose and poetry ensure the novel's final unifying design. The contemplative, static nature of Richard Mosher's novel may not appeal to all readers. Brief descriptions of violence (atrocities of WWII) are unsuitable for younger readers.

This was such a good book. I dont know where to start! Zazoo is so different from teenagers today (maybe all the French are like that though). She actually has an adventurouse life with out even leaving home. Richard Mosher did such a good job writting this book, I was suprized how well he wrote about a girl, of all things. When I finished reading it I wanted to read it again. I must say if you like Love stories (not just between two young people but between family)you will love this story. I wish I could tell you how good it was, and of course I have tried. I suggest that anyone who is able to read english should read this!!