On one level, [The Leopard] is a gripping and suspenseful story about the occasionally exasperating adventures of a shepherd-boy, Tibeso, in a rural village in central Ethiopia. The underlying theme that gives the story its continuity is Tibeso's courageous fight for survival…. For older children, The Leopard is a book that anyone, even adults, would find very enjoyable and informative.

But the book has another dimension. It depicts graphically and, except for a few minor details, authentically, life in a small rural Ethiopian village…. The book offers a lot of relevant social commentary along the way. Among other things, Bodker succinctly describes the predominant economic and social role women play. Likewise, the male chauvinism prevalent in the rural society is tersely depicted. [The author] is to be commended for having captured so well the texture of life in that area.

The Leopard will be invaluable to all those wishing to know more about village life in Ethiopia. Bodker's style is clear and her handling of suspense surprisingly unobtrusive.