National Park by Hinesh Vithal is the story of Raja the dog and his human family. He accompanies them on a holiday to a national park. Raja is four years old and he is excited by the trip, but slightly worried also. This is because of dreams he has about his death at the hands – or perhaps paws – of a lion. However, all is not as he anticipates and an accident ends in his being stranded in the park without his human family. He is forced to befriend a variety of wild animals including his nemesis – a lion – in order ultimately to survive. Raja is surprised to find that the animals of the national park work together in order and unison, and that there is even a council that works to maintain peace and tranquility amongst the animals. Raja learns a lot about the wild animals and the way they live, and the difficulties they had to experience to get to that position.

The author, Hinesh Vithal, takes the reader on a journey into the animal world as seen through the eyes of Raja the dog. It is a tale of bravery and unexpected compassion and shows the importance of teamwork with a group of unlikely friends. The writing is smooth and descriptive and the animal characters are well developed and believable, resulting in a credible story of courage and fear. This story also examines ways to overcome personal fears and to find comfort and solace in unexpected ways. Raja had to experience all of this in order to overcome his personal fears, that of being killed by a lion. The story weaves human feelings, fears and characteristics into the story in a clever and skilful way by using the animals of the national park.

National Park is an animal adventure for young adults and preteens written by Hinesh Vital. Raja is a young Puggle, which is a cross between the Pug and Beagle dog breeds. He’s about to turn four years old, which means, considering dog years, that he’s just about grown up. Raja doesn’t have very good feelings about this birthday, however, despite the fact that his human family dotes on him and even takes him on vacations. They know Raja is troubled as his nightmares make him howl and whimper at night. It’s a recurring nightmare that starts with a frightening birthday party and ends with him being eaten by a lion. When he discovers that his family is going to the National Park for a holiday, Raja resigns himself to the fact that the recurring dream is soon to take place in real life. The holiday begins with a nighttime tour of the park on a Ranger’s truck. Everyone was settled in and enjoying the glimpses of the wildlife when a spotlight scares a young elephant whose trumpeting blast alarms its mother. The enraged mother elephant rams into the truck, knocking it over and propelling Raja out and onto the ground.

Hinesh Vital’s young adult and preteen animal adventure novel, National Park, is an exciting and thought-provoking story that will appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. Raja’s story is a fun canine coming of age tale, and the reader quickly discovers that the little Puggle is actually a deep and philosophical thinker. His adventures with the animals at the National Park are marvelous. I loved sharing his reaction when he awakes with his head aching and a lion’s eyes examining him closely. The friendship he establishes with Niol, the lion, and the discussions and adventures they have together are transcendent. There’s also a mystery woven throughout this story, concerning the mysterious disappearance of Dhinoo, the elderly rhino who is one of the Council members of the Big Five that govern the affairs of the park’s animals. The animals fear there are poachers at work in the park, but there may be even more sinister influences at work. National Park is highly recommended.