About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their middle or high schooler is seeking a high-stakes adventure about finding one's place in the world and proving one's resilience. It speaks to the emotional need for belonging and the desire to master a challenging environment. Following the events of the first novel, Tarzan is betrayed and cast back into the African wild, where he must use his dual nature as both man and ape to survive. The story explores themes of bravery, justice, and the contrast between 'civilized' society and the laws of the jungle. It is a fast-paced, classic survival tale that celebrates physical and mental fortitude. Parents should be aware that it contains vintage action sequences and a clear-cut sense of good versus evil that is characteristic of early 20th-century pulp fiction.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: There are visceral scenes of survival and animal combat, including Tarzan fighting lions and other predators with a knife or bare hands. The city of Opar involves a cult that practices human sacrifice, which is depicted with significant tension and peril for the characters involved. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the historical context of the 'adventure' genre from 1913. Parents should be prepared to discuss the author’s use of racist caricatures and the colonialist worldview that portrays indigenous African people as primitive or inferior to Europeans. It is a good moment to discuss how literature evolves and how to read classic texts with a critical eye toward historical perspectives on civilization.
Ideal Reader
A 12-year-old who loves survival stories like Hatchet but is ready for something with more mythology, ancient secrets, and epic heroism.
Parent Prep
Preview the chapters involving the City of Opar to ensure the sacrificial themes are appropriate for your child. A child asking about the derogatory language used to describe African tribes or the protagonist’s assumed superiority over the people he encounters.
Age Experience
Younger readers will focus on the cool animal fights and the 'superhero' nature of Tarzan. Older readers will notice the romantic tension with Jane and the starkly different ways the author portrays European society compared to African cultures.
What Makes It Special
Unlike modern survival stories that focus on fear, this classic focuses on the absolute mastery of the environment. Tarzan is not just surviving; he is the king of his domain.
Read plot summary
Picking up immediately after 'Tarzan of the Apes,' the protagonist is betrayed on a ship and ends up back in the African coastal jungle. He reintegrates into the wild, befriends the Waziri tribe, and eventually leads them on an expedition to the lost city of Opar, a site filled with ancient treasure and hidden dangers.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Tarzan chooses to return to the jungle after being in Paris. Why do you think he feels more at home in the wild than in a city?
2
The Waziri tribe chooses Tarzan as their leader. What qualities does he show that make them trust him?
3
How does Tarzan use his 'civilized' knowledge from Europe to help him survive when he is back in the jungle?
4
Tarzan has to decide what is 'right' and 'wrong' without a police force or laws to tell him. How does his sense of justice compare to yours?
5
If you were stranded in the jungle like Tarzan, what is the one skill you wish you had to help you survive?
