We aren't done with our book birthdays yet! March is really a busy month on the kidlit scene. Today's birthday (also hit the world on the 4th) made me smile because it's another scifi read! My first fiction love was scifi...I devoured Dune when I was about 13 (?) and that set off my scifi desire. This did slide back as time went on, although I still enjoy a good scifi read when I get my hands on one. But that's always the key word—good.
Today's read is the first in a brand new series for the middle grade audience. I'm expecting a bit of mystery and intrigue to be mixed into this alien goodness as well as more than a little tension. At least, those are the vibes I'm getting from the blurb and cover.
Let's see if this is going to be a series to grab up and enjoy or not!
FINDING THE LOST ONE
The Extraterrestrial Zoo #1
by Samantha van Leer
Pixel + Ink
Middle Grade Science Fiction
240 pages
ages 8 to 12
13 year old Ava helps run her family’s refuge for extraterrestrials. But a sudden attack on the zoo leads to her discovering a government conspiracy that upends everything she believed to be true.
When meteors suddenly dropped to earth containing eggs in which alien babies were growing, the government called in the experts. Ava’s parents hatched, cared for, raised, and researched these unique beings. When Ava was born, she became part of the team. So many extraterrestrial living beings (ELBs) came, that the government funded the Alien Zoo, where visitors could come and see the ELBs. It was a huge success in its day.
But now Ava is 13, and so much has changed. A terrible car accident claimed her mother. And her father, in deep despair, left Ava and the Zoo in the care of his brother, who’s still healing emotional wounds from his wartime. Then the alien babies stopped coming, and so did the public.
So when 15 year old Harley shows up as an intern for the Zoo, Ava feels blindsided. This is her show. And then a terrible storm changes everything. The once beloved ELBs are loose, and being hunted. Ava’s uncle is MIA. All she has is this strange new boy to help her save everything she loves.
When meteors suddenly dropped to earth containing eggs in which alien babies were growing, the government called in the experts. Ava’s parents hatched, cared for, raised, and researched these unique beings. When Ava was born, she became part of the team. So many extraterrestrial living beings (ELBs) came, that the government funded the Alien Zoo, where visitors could come and see the ELBs. It was a huge success in its day.
But now Ava is 13, and so much has changed. A terrible car accident claimed her mother. And her father, in deep despair, left Ava and the Zoo in the care of his brother, who’s still healing emotional wounds from his wartime. Then the alien babies stopped coming, and so did the public.
So when 15 year old Harley shows up as an intern for the Zoo, Ava feels blindsided. This is her show. And then a terrible storm changes everything. The once beloved ELBs are loose, and being hunted. Ava’s uncle is MIA. All she has is this strange new boy to help her save everything she loves.
MY TIDBITS
After her mother's death and the disappearance of her father, thirteen-year-old Ava is the only one who cares for the ELBs (extraterrestrial living beings) at the Alien Zoo. Well, her uncle is supposedly in charge, but she's really the only one who loves the beings and knows how to take care of them. When the uncle decides it's time for her to return to a normal life at school and hires an intern, Ava is furious, but this gets put on hold as a hurricane hits. The next morning after the brutal storm, Ava discovers all but one of the ELBs have gotten out and need to be brought home. Ava will do anything to save the ELBs. After all, they're all she has left.
This begins with a wonderful setting: a girl in charge of a zoo filled with the most amazing beings. Each creature packs imagination, a little danger, and tons of emotion. Their various personalities will have readers wishing they could see this zoo, too. Ava's ever-serious attitude melds well with the situation, and while she seems a little cold, her love for the creature makes it clear that she has a heart of gold. This goodness reveals itself increasingly as the story moves on, giving her tons of character arc and plenty to cheer for.
There are many unexpected twists and turns as Ava finds herself trying to save the ELBs. While the adventure and tension remain pretty high most of the time, these pages also deal with Ava's grief. There are plenty of emotional exchanges, especially with the intern, which touch the heart in many ways. The author does a lovely job at handling this aspect of the plot, and it's sure to leave readers with a little food for thought.
I was surprised by the heavier scene changes as the tale progressed. While the beginning zoo carried a somewhat playful and curious tone, it shifts heavily as the intern and Ava search for the last, missing ELB (as does the pacing). The ending takes another sharp turn, adding very unexpected plot twists. During each of these, the atmosphere also switches along with the purpose of what is happening. It creates an interesting read with several layers. There are a few triggers surrounding the animal abuse and violent (but not graphic) animal deaths, which might bother sensitive readers.
The ending surprises with a huge twist, which brings a few darker moments with it, which will pull at the heart strings. From what I understand, there should be a book two, and after this read, I'm wondering where everything will go next.
No comments:
Post a Comment