Bomba The Jungle Boy: The Underground River

Roy Rockwood

McLoughlin Bros, New York, 1953

Genres: Adventure

Reading Level: Young Adult (12-18)

Pages: 204

Summary:

Bomba is a white kid who has lived his entire life in the Amazonian Jungles. He sets out on an adventure to discover the fate of his mysterious parents. Every page he finds himself beset by adventure and trials. The story is an obvious imitation of the popular series Tarzan.

Reaction:

I thought that it was poorly written, though to a young boy perhaps it might be interesting. I grew up reading the Hardy Boys, which I think are far more interesting and less cheesy that this book was. I also think that the way that Bomba was portrayed was very racist.

Cautionary Note: This book is racist, in that the White man is dominant and better than the natives. There are some fight scenes, but nothing graphic is described.