Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur
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Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur

Muunokhoi’s eyes open just a crack; he stretches his limbs as he awakens from his slumber. The tarbagan marmot peers around the hibernaculum and sees his family sleeping peacefully, but something doesn’t feel quite right. He is surprisingly very alert and does not feel as drowsy as he usually does after waking up from hibernation in the spring. He inspects the family more closely and notices none of them have lost any appreciable weight and neither has he. This can only mean one thing. Winter is far from over, but he is most definitely . . . awake! He tries unsuccessfully to induce hibernation.

Muunokhoi emerges from his burrow into a hostile winter environment, to explore the availability of food. He first encounters an eagle owl, who advises him that with no food available in the winter months, his only option for survival is to embark on a quest to lower elevations where he can find food to sustain him until the spring.

The journey will be fraught with danger from predators that stalk the mountainous Mongolian terrain, but the marmot will surely starve to death if he stays put. Summoning all his courage, Muunokhoi sets out on an adventure that could ultimately save his life . . . or end it.

CLBC Book Reviews: Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur

Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur is a unique story that uses the life of a marmot to explore themes of survival and identity. Readers inhabit the life of Muunokhoi, a marmot that lives high up in the Mongolian mountains. Through the eyes of this humble creature, this animal-fable turns into a deeply profound and adventurous tale.

The story begins with a tarbagan marmot, Muunokhoi awakening, dangerously prematurely from hibernation. Chillingly, he is the only one from his colony to do so and Spring is months away. With food scarce, the marmot realizes that chances of survival are incredibly bleak. A wise eagle-owl, Bolor understands the creature’s plight and advises him to descend to lower levels to find food. Muunokhoi begins his journey for survival. Predators loom near as he travels through harsh environments and ventures down perilous paths. Along the way he encounters different animals and uncovers the deeper meaning of belonging and purpose.

Arthur immerses you into the life of a marmot through wonderful writing and world-building. It is rich and vivid, making it clear the amount of research put into the development of this novel. Gilbert Arthur keeps it informative as well, shining a light on hibernation whilst showcasing the severity of Muunokhoi’s dilemma.  Despite the story being told from an animal’s perspective, it still manages to be very relatable. As the themes woven throughout are universal. Survival, acceptance and purpose are at the core of animals and humans alike.

Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur is a quietly profound tale that goes beyond a simple fable. This is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy Watership Down, as it offers reflections on society from a different perspective. An engaging page-turner and suitable to be called a classic in the truest sense. Highly recommended by Chick Lit Book Cafe-Multi-Genres Literary Reviews and Group – Est 2007. Book reviewed by Rachael Finch for CLBC.

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Awarded first place
Muunokhoi’s Awakening by Gilbert Arthur
CLBC International Book Award for best
Young Adult, Animal Fiction, Allegory & Anthropomorphic Adventure Tale

About Gilbert Arthur