Jingo Django is a fun adventure book that I could see kids loving -- I definitely loved this sort of book when I was a kid, and even as an adult, I greatly enjoyed it. With buried treasure, adventure, and unforgettable characters (with equally unforgettable names), this is a great story for young boys and girls.

Django goes on a quest expecting to find treasure and learns so much about himself and his abilities. This story has both coming-of-age and adventure elements and would appeal to children/middle grade readers. The plot is a bit simplistic and doesn't cover much ground, which is why I wouldn't recommend it for a young adult audience. Django is really the only character that grows within the story, which is fine -- but again, for those who like a complex story, not so great. I really loved how Fleischman is able to show seedy characters while still retaining the charm of an old-fashioned adventure -- and I love how Django is able to use his intelligence to outwit some of the less-than-honest characters.

The narration is excellent: each character has its own voice and Charles Carroll really brought life and personality to all the different characters. I sometimes avoid books with children in them, because a lot of narrators tend to make children's voices needlessly whiny, but Carroll doesn't do that. He uses his normal voice and it works really well for the story.

Overall, I think Jingo Django is an interesting, fast-paced adventure story. It'll be a quick read and has enough in it to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

*I received a copy of this audiobook through the publisher from Audiobook Jukebox's Solid Gold Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.* ( )