Jacob Lansa

Jacob Lansa is an ordinary New York kid-riding his bike, fixing himself snacks after school, and anxiously awaiting letters from his father in Kenya. Then, suddenly, his mother is killed in a terrible accident. Pushed aside by his stepfather, Jacob makes an impulsive decision to set out on his own to find his father. In Africa, with minimal supplies and only his trusty mountain bike for transportation, Jacob faces wild lions, terrible grassland fires, and vicious elephant poachers. His search for his father seems hopeless until he meets Supeet, a Masai on a quest to end the drought that is devastating his country. Working together, the two struggle to find Jacob's father, end the drought, and save the last of the great elephants from extinction. With non-stop action, exotic settings, and Johnny Heller's vivid narration, Thunder Cave takes listeners to the wilds of Africa for the adventure of a lifetime.

Ever since his mother died and his father went to Brazil for a scientific expedition, 14-year-old Jacob Lansa has been staying with his grandfather in Poughkeepsie. He longs to join his father and help him set up a jaguar preserve in the rain forest, but he can't miss school. When his father invites him down over spring break, he jumps at the chance. It seems Jake's vacation is over just as soon as it begins. But when an equipment explosion suddenly leaves the scientific team short-handed, he stays on as a replacement. Soon he finds himself in a life-and-death struggle against lawless opportunists and the perils of nature as he travels deep into uncharted territory. Award-winning author and research biologist Roland Smith packs this riveting adventure tale with fascinating details of the fragile rain forest. Narrator Johnny Heller's expert timing and flair for the dramatic takes you on the breathtaking journey into danger.

When Jake follows his grandfather Taw to the Hopi reservation where Taw was born, he finds trouble. The Hopi are upset about a Mexican wolf. Since there are no wolves in Arizona, some believe it's a ghost. Others want to kill it because it's hunting their livestock. Jake is sure of one thing: he must help his grandfather save the lobo. It could be the last of its kind. Ruthless hunters would do anything to collect the reward, including killing anyone who gets in their way. But Jake is willing to do whatever it takes to save this endangered creature from its most lethal enemy. Award-winning author and research biologist Roland Smith brings his 20 years of wildlife study to this action-packed adventure. Backed by Johnny Heller's narrative skill, Jake, who appeared in Jaguar and Thunder Cave, makes a powerful environmental statement.