Code of honor by Erin Hunter
Bravelands series, book 2. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN
9781460756287
(Age: 9-14) Recommended. Themes: African animals. Lions, Baboons,
Elephants, Quests, Survival. Code of Honor is the second
book in the Bravelands series from the creative Erin Hunter
team (Clarissa Hutton and Gillian Philip), well-known for their
popular Spirit Animals and Wings of Fire books. The
African savannah comes alive with beautiful descriptive imagery, as
the forces of nature test the wildlife to their limits. The plot
masterfully weaves a tale of murder, treachery and the fight for
survival. The interwoven narrative is told from three different
viewpoints, Thorn Middleleaf a young baboon, Fearless the lion cub
and Sky the elephant.
When the Great Mother elephant who wisely ruled the Bravelands is
murdered and her body left in the waterhole, trouble unfolds. As the
Great Flock, the Strider elephant herd, Brightforest baboon troop
and other animals gather here, all are questioning who is best to
take on the leadership. The Great Mother didn't have time to train a
successor and pass on the Great Spirit's voice. As the torrential
rain pours, Stronghide the rhino steps forward to claim the role.
Sky from the Strider elephant herd slips away with her cousin Moon
to search for answers in the Plain of Our Ancestors, taking a
fragment of her Great Mother grandmother's tusk along with her.
Meanwhile, the Brightforest baboon troop leader Stinger restructures
the group, causing problems which young Thorn realises is really a
devious plot to dominate his troop and stir up trouble in the
Bravelands. Attacks by the marauding green monkeys and vervet
monkeys drives the troop into dangerous paths as they search for
shelter.
Titan leader of Titan pride also plans for complete control of the
Bravelands by killing a large amount of predators, breaking the code
of only killing to survive. Disillusioned and forgotten cub Fearless
seeks advice from his friend Stinger the baboon.
Each of the protagonists show courage and resilience as they search
for the truth and stand up for what is right. Code of Honor
delivers exciting action, high levels of drama,
and convincing characters who are multi-dimensional. The savannah
setting, the natural environment, the drought and floods and animal
habitats are richly and realistically portrayed. The themes are
dark, treachery, murder, deceit, destruction and survival, with
complex conspiracies and intrigue. The misuse of power and its
consequences are an overarching theme. Fans will be keen to read the
third novel in the series, after the cliffhanger ending.
Rhyllis Bignell