Does your family have a reader who loves to travel in stories? Visit faraway lands? Experience foreign cultures through words? Read details below to see if this series might make a good fit for him or her!
What is this series about?
There are four books in the Rwendigo Tales, and each is set in a non-specific part of Africa. They contain a really unique mix of realistic fiction, cultural customs, with a mysterious dose of fantasy weaving its way throughout the stories. From treacherous journeys to risky rescues, the main characters experience challenges, deal with weighty topics, and make enduring friendships. Each book can be read as a stand-alone story, but I’d still recommend starting at the beginning as they are all loosely connected in certain ways.
What Order to Read the Rwendigo Tales?
Though it won’t greatly diminish your reading experience by choosing another order, I do recommend reading the books in the order in which they were published:
- A Chameleon, a Boy, and a Quest
- A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue
- A Forest, A Flood, and An Unlikely Star
- A Fever, a Flight, and a Fight for the World
Every once in a while, you’ll encounter a character and think things like, “Ah! He is so-and-so from the first book!” This ties moments together neatly in some instances.
What Ages Can Read the Rwendigo Tales?
If you read my individual reviews (linked below) for each book, you’ll notice I didn’t put the same age range for all of them. These were my suggestions:
- Book 1: ages 8-14
- Book 2: ages 9-14
- Book 3: ages 9-14
- Book 4: ages 9-14
Two thoughts on this. First, I always err on the safer end of the spectrum so that more sensitive readers do not get jarring surprises from my recommendations. Secondly, age ranges are only a guideline. Every family is different, so please don’t feel like a 15-year-old wouldn’t enjoy a book or that you couldn’t read it aloud to a 7-year-old. In some circumstances, that may be perfectly fine!
Are These Christian Books?
The series is published by a Christian company and the author is a believer, but there are few elements within the stories directly pointing to Christianity. I do advise scanning your eyes over the four reviews (linked below) as there are both moments of squishy theology and times where Christianity is mixed with pagan beliefs. This could very well have been intentional and meant to represent the local traditions, so I’m just pointing it out! Always read discerningly. Ultimately, I am happy to recommend the series as a whole with that caveat.
Why Are the Rwendigo Tales Set in Africa?
This is a neat part! The author and her husband have been missionary physicians in Africa for decades. They have an abundance of experience within the culture and even raised their children there. Each book has a fantastic glossary that specially joins readers with these faraway cultures.
How Long Are the Books in the Rwendigo Tales?
These books are great lengths for reading aloud in multiple sittings–not too long, not too short. Occasional illustrations are included in the following page counts:
- Book 1: 163 pages
- Book 2: 133 pages
- Book 3: 166 pages
- Book 4: 184 pages
There are audiobooks, too! Here are those lengths:
- Book 1: 3 hours, 33 minutes
- Book 2: 2 hours, 45 minutes
- Book 3: 4 hours, 10 minutes
- Book 4: 4 hours, 26 minutes
If your local public library has this resource available, all four audiobooks can be found for free on Hoopla.
Who Are the Main Characters in the Rwendigo Tales?
Each book has a child for one of its main characters. They are all in that “tween/pre-teen” age range and encounter both good and bad adults. Additionally, each child has a particular animal who helps them in their challenging situation. I love all the unique names–at least they are unique for those of us unfamiliar with the beautiful African cultures! Mu, Kiisa, Kusiima, Nyakato, Ngonzi, Komba, and more.
What Are the Conflicts in These Books?
Of course, each story has its own focus, but readers should be ready for a vivid glimpse of poverty, disease, rebel movements, and corrupt government issues. There is suffering from both natural disasters and man-made disasters. The typical young reader is most definitely going to receive an age-appropriate widening of their horizons.
Spoiler-Free Book Summaries of the Rwendigo Tales
Now for summaries of each of the four books! They will link to their full reviews (giving more details and conversation points), but rest assured: any significant spoiler will be warned about.
Book 1: A Chameleon, a Boy and a Quest
– Full Review –
– Buy on Amazon –
– Buy from New Growth Press –
10-year-old Mu, an orphaned and mistreated boy living in a rural African community, one day meets an animal declaring that he has been chosen for a quest. His insignificant life suddenly becomes the opposite as he journeys through difficult terrain, encounters bad guys, and is forced to confront deeper truths about identity, sacrifice and redemption.
First line: The day the chameleon spoke to Mu did not begin with any hint of the extraordinary.
Book 2: A Bird, a Girl, and a Rescue
– Full Review –
– Buy on Amazon –
– Buy from New Growth Press –
11-year-old Kiisa has been sent to boarding school for her first time but isn’t there very long when rebels storm the school in an attempt to abduct girls. Kiisa’s quick thinking saves lives but also forces her to embark on a daring rescue mission, straight through a dangerous jungle. She meets various animals, some of which are helpful while others pose a deathly threat. Readers will experience, through Kiisa, how it feels to act for the good of others despite feelings of fear or worry.
First line: The rain swept in from the north as Kiisa and her father, Mugisa, reached the school.
Book 3: A Forest, a Flood, and an Unlikely Star
– Full Review –
– Buy on Amazon –
– Buy from New Growth Press –
12-year-old Kusiima carries a daily burden of caring for his grandmother and baby sister under poverty-stricken circumstances. His life is turned upside down when he encounters a wise donkey who leads him into a protected forest where he must make difficult choices. Kusiima struggles with bitterness and grief, but the unexpected friendships he makes ultimately lead him to a lighter heart and a more hopeful outlook.
First line: A gorilla troupe moved quietly across the steep, forested slope of the Rwendigo Mountains as park rangers took up their positions behind trees, keeping upwind and out of their line of sight.
Book 4: A Fever, a Flight, and a Flight for the World
– Full Review –
– Buy on Amazon –
– Buy from New Growth Press –
A young girl and a doctor team up to navigate and fight against a dangerous an evil scheme within the medical world. Not always knowing who to trust, this duo carefully meets various people who either assist or hinder their intentions. Their journey leaves a lasting impression on readers as it reveals eye-opening truths about corruption, goodness, and how to choose courage in the face of evil.
First line: Before the man opened his eyes, he heard a gentle rattling rustle, and a rhythmic background murmur, but he could not quite focus long enough to connect those sounds with their source.
What Should I Read Next?
If you liked the Rwendigo Tales and are looking for more chapter books that would also be great family read-alouds, consider these:
- 101 Dalmatians (realistic fantasy, ages 7+)
- Huguenot Garden (historical fiction, ages 9+)
- The Farthest-Away Mountain (fantasy, ages 8+)
- Robinson Crusoe (realistic fiction, ages 8+)
- whole series: Wingfeather Saga (fantasy, ages 9+)
- The Secret of the Swamp (historical fiction, ages 9+)
- Urchin of the Riding Stars (fantasy, ages 9+)
- Dangerous Journey (realistic fantasy, ages 9+)
- whole series: Ranger in Time (historical fiction fantasy, ages 8+)
- whole series: Faith & Freedom (historical fiction, ages 8+)
- Lepunia: Kingdom of the Gallopers (fantasy, ages 8+)
- The Rescuers (fantasy, ages 6+)
- An Eagle in the Snow (historical fiction, ages 10+)
- Treasure Island (realistic fiction, ages 10+)
Final Thoughts on the Rwendigo Tales
Overall, J.A. Myhre’s Rwendigo Tales are definitely worth picking up. With their clean language and powerful themes, each would make an excellent family read-aloud, allowing for rich conversation–on both the weightier topics and the lighter, fantastical parts. Our friends in the land of Rwendigo will ultimately leave you with a sense of mysterious wonder, in a good way. Happy reading!
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