...reading this book is almost like binge-watching a favorite miniseries. -John M. Ganim, professor emeritus, University of California, Riverside

...magnificently rendered and an important reminder of what it means to be given a chance. -Brenda K. Massman, author of Yet, Here We Are

It's Downton Abbey meets The Swiss Family Robinson... -Rita Mace Walston, author of Paper & Ink, Flesh and Blood

The Penniman Menagerie is ostensibly the tale of a defunct zoo being rebuilt in late-nineteenth-century England-but it is really the story of the disparate group of individuals who come to live and work there: the wealthy owner who sees its renaissance as a tribute to her deceased husband, the man who fears that his sickly son will die of tuberculosis like his wife, the woman who can calm terrified animals by the touch of her hands but can't always connect with her daughter, the young man who has broken away from his strict religious upbringing, the amateur historian who is quick with his fists, and the abandoned child whose only skill is that of survival-to name a few.

These onetime strangers will work together, fight for the menagerie, and encounter unforeseen adventures. Confronting themes of isolation, independence, maturation, racism, overcoming insecurity, and the importance of affirmation and belonging, The Penniman Menagerie illuminates the vital importance of family, whether it is the family one is born into or the family one is lucky enough to find.

When Sita first meets the Prince of Tigers, she embarks on a path that will lead to a life filled with deep love and even deeper tragedy. Navigating different worlds, moving from her life in the small village to the jungle and later to the palace of the maharajah, she must dig deep within to find the strength to make difficult decisions while staying true to herself.

Laugh and cry with her as she experiences the highs and lows of parenting and sees hope in future generations. Sita and the Prince of Tigers examines relatable themes of love and loss, hope and discouragement, and happiness and sorrow as Sita faces the best and worst of what life can bring, confronting both with courage and a strong sense of purpose.

When Sita first meets the Prince of Tigers, she embarks on a path that will lead to a life filled with deep love and even deeper tragedy. Navigating different worlds, moving from her life in the small village to the jungle and later to the palace of the maharajah, she must dig deep within to find the strength to make difficult decisions while staying true to herself.

Laugh and cry with her as she experiences the highs and lows of parenting and sees hope in future generations. Sita and the Prince of Tigers examines relatable themes of love and loss, hope and discouragement, and happiness and sorrow as Sita faces the best and worst of what life can bring, confronting both with courage and a strong sense of purpose.

...reading this book is almost like binge-watching a favorite miniseries. -John M. Ganim, professor emeritus, University of California, Riverside

...magnificently rendered and an important reminder of what it means to be given a chance. -Brenda K. Massman, author of Yet, Here We Are

It's Downton Abbey meets The Swiss Family Robinson... -Rita Mace Walston, author of Paper & Ink, Flesh and Blood

The Penniman Menagerie is ostensibly the tale of a defunct zoo being rebuilt in late-nineteenth-century England-but it is really the story of the disparate group of individuals who come to live and work there: the wealthy owner who sees its renaissance as a tribute to her deceased husband, the man who fears that his sickly son will die of tuberculosis like his wife, the woman who can calm terrified animals by the touch of her hands but can't always connect with her daughter, the young man who has broken away from his strict religious upbringing, the amateur historian who is quick with his fists, and the abandoned child whose only skill is that of survival-to name a few.

These onetime strangers will work together, fight for the menagerie, and encounter unforeseen adventures. Confronting themes of isolation, independence, maturation, racism, overcoming insecurity, and the importance of affirmation and belonging, The Penniman Menagerie illuminates the vital importance of family, whether it is the family one is born into or the family one is lucky enough to find.