Friendship and divided loyalty
Fonabio develops friendships with Naba, an orphaned lion cub, and Marlow, a planter, then faces a choice between them.
Book details
René Guillot - Author
This is an animal-adventure story centred on friendship, admiration and divided loyalties. Its strongest offering appears to be an emotionally charged choice involving a boy, a lion cub and an adult he greatly admires.
Book Brief
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
Sign in for personalised guidanceThis is an animal-adventure story centred on friendship, admiration and divided loyalties. Its strongest offering appears to be an emotionally charged choice involving a boy, a lion cub and an adult he greatly admires.
Fonabio develops friendships with Naba, an orphaned lion cub, and Marlow, a planter, then faces a choice between them.
Naba is an orphaned lion cub who becomes Fonabio’s friend, while hunting animals forms part of the surrounding life.
Fonabio lives in a hut shared with Tiemoko and develops a strong admiration for Marlow, whose powerful personality excites him.
Be prepared for hunting and dramatic circumstances, as well as the possibility of emotional strain when Fonabio’s loyalties come into conflict.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the book’s treatment of its main themes is not yet firm enough; some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
Fonabio and the lion :: René Guillot :: Harrap 1966 :: OBNB, the Open British National Bibliography
Limited information
Checked: 22 September 2026.
Anything not established here remains open; it is not being treated as absent or safe.