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The Palace in the Jungle
While Sita’s story may have concluded in Sita and the Prince of Tigers, her legacy lives on in the sequel.
As Ashok and Neelam live with their family in the palace in the jungle, their life story takes an unusual path, complete with unforeseen detours. Raising children always brings challenges, sometimes arising from unexpected sources. Their family’s destiny remains intertwined with that of the old maharajah’s descendants, and echoes of the past influence the present in surprising ways.
Join Ashok and Neelam as they navigate the growing relationships with their children. They watch them change and develop, knowing that—if they have been successful as parents—the next generation will choose their own paths in the future. The Palace in the Jungle reminds us that even a life full of love is not without sadness, and the best experiences can also make for bittersweet memories.
Praise
Rita Mace Walston
“Reading The Penniman Menagerie, I could well imagine myself reading with my book club as well as aloud to an enraptured audience of children. This engaging story has something for all ages. It's Downton Abbey meets The Swiss Family Robinson (complete with riding zebras across the countryside). Settle in and be prepared to spend the day reading; you won't want to put this one down.”
Dean Cycon
“In The Penniman Menagerie, Winona Howe has conjured a Dickensian world softened by a Beatrix Potter sensibility and brightened by a sprinkle of fabulism. This is a charming tale where the number of characters and animals continue to grow and deepen almost chapter by chapter, as all find solace and sanctuary at the menagerie.”
Brenda K. Massman
“The story of the Penniman Menagerie—a defunct zoo on the outskirts of London soon to reopen—is carried out by way of a diverse group of characters who, through circumstance and adventure, ultimately become like family, one that cares deeply about the animals they amass and about each other. This charm of a story is magnificently rendered and an important reminder of what it means to be given a chance.”
John M. Ganim
“Winona Howe’s The Penniman Menagerie takes place in a Dickensian world, and Charles Dickens would have enjoyed the characters, the lively dialogue, and the combination of heart and intellect that runs through Howe’s writing. Her style is so limpid and the plotting so smooth that reading this book is almost like binge-watching a favorite miniseries. There is an element of magic in the connection between humans and animals in Howe’s novels, revealing how we are all in fact part of the menagerie of creation.”
About the Author
Winona Howe grew up in Oakdale, California where she listened to her grandmother’s stories of pre-1900 ranch life in Nevada, played in the barn and climbed trees. These activities were far preferable to practicing the piano and cleaning her room, duties she tried to avoid.