"It's a Jungle Out There!" (Book 1 of the Rani Adventures)

by Ron Snell

Paperback, 1995

Status

Available

Call number

F3430.1 .M3 S5

Description

Because of its popularity, It's a Jungle Out There by Ron Snell is being published in a hardback, commemorative edition. This is Book One of Snell's Rani Adventures. It begins with Ron Snell's birth as the eldest child of missionary parents living in the rainforests of Peru. Colorfully depicting what it was like growing up in such surroundings, Snell has captured a wide-ranging audience ranging from homeschool children to senior citizens. "I wouldn't trade my childhood for any other," Snell writes. "Conceived in the Amazon rainforest, I learned to walk and talk among the Machiguenga Indians who, to this day, call me "Rani." "The 'Machis' were my first babysitters and friends. From them I learned to tie a house together, eat monkeys and macaws, and make dugout canoes. They laughed at my log rides down rampaging rivers and caught exotic pets for me. Life was one great adventure after another. After all, what could be more fun than perching in thorn trees at night to escape a herd of stampeding pigs? "The Machiguengas adopted me and my family into theirs. As they touched our lives we discovered what it would cost us to touch theirs. "I hope this first book of the Rani Adventures will bring you laugher, tears and a new perspective on the old cliche: 'It's a jungle out there ' "… (more)

Publication

Hannibal Books (2008), Edition: 2nd, 270 pages

Pages

270

Genres

ISBN

0929292839 / 9780929292830

Collection

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

270 p.; 8.5 inches

Rating

(21 ratings; 4.2)

Library's review

Providing a humorous side to mission work is Ron Snell, a missionary kid who grew up in the Amazon jungle of Peru during the 1950s and ‘60s. His parents worked as Bible translators (Summer Institute of Linguistics) with the Machiguenga Indians. Drawing from this unusual upbringing, he wrote the
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trilogy, “It’s a Jungle Out There!”; “Life’s a Jungle,”; and Jungle Calls. These books contain stories that will bring tears to your eyes, either through laughter or deep emotion.

Travel down a jungle river with the young Ron and his brother, Terry, when they take a wild ride on a log. Experience their campout when Terry gets bitten by a vampire bat. Cross the Andes with his family in a beat-up car on a one-lane road over a 16,500-foot mountain pass. Mourn with the family and Indians as sickness and death come to a village.

Later, follow 17-year-old Ron to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and learn why that school banned snakes and blow darts from the dorms. (You can take the boy out of the jungle, but you can’t take the jungle out of the boy.)

Watch the power of prayer in action when Ron helps to blaze a trail through the jungle for two missionary women who sought to make the first contact with a tribal group known for killing men and kidnapping women who came into their territory. A miracle happened.

Do not skip the Acknowledgment pages when reading these books, especially the one in the last book. The humor begins before page 1.

https://academynw.com/summer-reading/
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User reviews

LibraryThing member Hamburgerclan
When you were a kid, did you ever daydream about growing up someplace exotic? The rough and tumble wild west? The mysterious orient? The jungles of Africa? Well, Ron Snell did grow up in a jungle. (In Peru, not Africa, but hey, a jungle's a jungle.) He was a missionary kid in the 1950s and in this
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book--the first volume of The Rani Adventures--he tells tales of his childhood. Unlike most (all?) missionary biographies I've read, there's a lot more humor than religion in the story. Actually, that may not be accurate. The faith of "Rani", his family, friends and neighbors is woven throughout the stories in the book. It just serves more as the foundation of his life rather than the ornamentation. Anyway, the book's a fun read and I'll have to steal this book from my kids once they're done with it.
--J.
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LibraryThing member ShakelaWilliams
“It’s a Jungle Out There!” by Ron Snell is a riveting and autobiography about Snell’s experience as a missionary kid. I liked this book because it was light, fun and exciting. A lot of the experiences Snell has are quite unbelievable; from getting sucked down in a whirlpool to having
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Malaria the reader is never bored. As I read this story I was intrigued to keep reading to find out more about his experiences living in the jungle of Peru. I also enjoyed the humor and sarcasm Snell had throughout the book. Even though what he is going through is challenging, his outlook is refreshing and easy to read. For instance Snell says “ Life was one great adventure after another. After all, what could be more fun than perching in thorn trees at night to escape a herd of stampeding pigs?” This humor engages the reader while exposing them to a different lifestyle of other children. I believe that the purpose of this book is to expose the reader to understand different lifestyles of other families around the world.
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LibraryThing member SarahGraceGrzy
This book. Where do I start? Ron Snell has a way with words, and that's an understatement! This was hilarious, even when the subject matter certainly wasn't, which helped to keep dark or disturbing subjects light. I chuckled out loud quite a few times while reading this! Amazing stories written in
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a witty, and inspiring way, this is a must read!
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LCC

F3430.1 .M3 S5
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