Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur

Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur

Muunokhois eyes open just a crack; he stretches his limbs as he awakens from his slumber. The tarbagan marmot peers around the hibernaculum and sees his family sleeping peacefully, but something doesn’t feel quite right. He is surprisingly very alert and does not feel as drowsy as he usually does after waking up from hibernation in the spring. He inspects the family more closely and notices none of them have lost any appreciable weight and neither has he. This can only mean one thing. Winter is far from over, but he is most definitely . . . awake! He tries unsuccessfully to induce hibernation.

Muunokhoi emerges from his burrow into a hostile winter environment, to explore the availability of food. He first encounters an eagle owl, who advises him that with no food available in the winter months, his only option for survival is to embark on a quest to lower elevations where he can find food to sustain him until the spring.

The journey will be fraught with danger from predators that stalk the mountainous Mongolian terrain, but the marmot will surely starve to death if he stays put. Summoning all his courage, Muunokhoi sets out on an adventure that could ultimately save his life . . . or end it.

Muunokhois Awakening: Kids Lit Book Cafe Review:

Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur is a thoughtful read that takes the classic fable as a premise and expands on it, asking deep philosophical questions about identity and survival. Arthur uses the life of a marmot to explore meaningful themes that are at the heart of all species, human and animal alike.

Gilbert Arthur writes an immersive story that is vivid, as it feels as if you are down in the burrows and part of a marmot colony. We meet our main protagonist, Muunokhoi, who prematurely awakens from hibernation. To make matters worse, he is, chillingly, the only one from his colony to be alert. The marmot realizes his chances of survival are slim, since Spring is months away and food is scarce. He befriends an eagle-owl, Bolor who laments that he must leave his home. High in the safety of the Mongolian mountains and travel to lower levels. It is the only choice he has as it’s between this perilous journey or dying from starvation.

Descending into his quest, Muunokhoi traverses through hostile environments, with predators lurking in all corners and shadows. Along the way he becomes more awakened to his own purpose as he learns more about his species. Muunokhoi encounters other creatures, discovering a deeper understanding of identity and belonging.

A light is shone into the life of a marmot, learning about them and hibernation. I love that Arthur used marmots as a premise, an unlikely protagonist. Creatures that are often overlooked, yet these tiny animals are being used to expand upon profound ideals about ourselves and the world we inhabit.

Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur is a perfect read for nature/animal-lovers, as it’s imaginative while also being informative. I’ve always enjoyed reading stories about animals as they’re intriguing and can usually provide an allegory to society. This one is the best I have ever read. Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur comes recommended by Kids Lit Book Café. Book reviewed by Caroline Hayes for KLBC Literary Website and Group.
Book reviewed by Caroline Hayes for Kids Lit Book Cafe

Don’t Miss Out – Buy Muunokhois Awakening by Gilbert Arthur Today

Awarded first place
Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur
KLBC International Book Excellence Award for best
Young Adult, Animal Fiction, Allegory & Anthropomorphic Adventure Tale