Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw

Ryan Quinn and the Lion's Claw.jpg

Book Information
Rating: Excellent
Reading/Interest Level: Intermediate, Young Adult
Author: Ron McGee
Illustrator: Chris Samnee
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Year: 2017
ISBN: 9780062421692
Pages: 343

Relocated civilians helped by the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC) are being hunted and killed. Ryan’s friends, Danny and Kasey, want to help, but Ryan’s parents don’t want them involved in another ERC incident. However, Danny blindly races into an unplanned rescue attempt for two death-sentenced, African musicians. Ryan has no choice but to follow Danny so he can keep him safe from the mercenaries who kidnapped the musicians. Once in Africa, Ryan and Danny use their individual skills to free the musicians, but Ryan is captured. Danny gets word to Ryan’s dad, and Ryan’s father flies to Africa to save the boys. Meanwhile, Ryan’s mom and Kasey piece together who sold out the civilians previously saved by the ERC. Misguided ERC agent, Tasha, drugged Ryan’s father to get the civilians names and sold them to a crime lord. Tasha realizes her mistake and works with Ryan’s mother and Kasey to stop the crime boss. In Africa, Ryan’s father implements a rescue mission to get Ryan and Danny out of the country while taking down the mercenaries who wanted the musicians dead.

McGee maintains the same addictive adrenaline, action, and suspense started in Ryan Quinn and the Rebel’s Escape. At the start of this second book, Ryan is straddling a delicate line between being a normal teen and being a world-wise rescuer for the ERC. However, for his mental and emotional safety, Ryan chooses an ordinary life and pushes his life-threatening experiences in Andakar behind him. Unfortunately, Danny won’t stop reminding Ryan about the thrills of rescuing someone in trouble. His addictive enthusiasm causes Danny to get in way over his head and pushes Ryan back into some dangers he’d rather forget. Once the fears of doing a spontaneous rescue mission subside, both boys learn that the root of rescuing themselves or someone else is to put the needs of others ahead of their own. Another triumphant adventure that will have readers begging for more Ryan Quinn books!

*Contains mild violence showing the some of the corruption of the African country the musicians are from, making it more appropriate for readers 12 and up.