klnbennett's review against another edition
2.0
Lizzie's father is a zookeeper and she and he live at the zoo where he works. For her summer homework Lizzie is keeping a nature journal of her observations of the zoo's new wolf exhibit. She meets a mysterious new friend at the zoo named Tyler and together they go on an adventure into Yosemite chasing a small zoo mystery.
I felt the characters in this book were a little flat and their motivations not very realistic. Lizzie's choices really bothered me, as she was supposed to be raised by a zoologist and familiar with the outdoors. She failed to demonstrate any sense at any point in the story based on this background.
I felt the characters in this book were a little flat and their motivations not very realistic. Lizzie's choices really bothered me, as she was supposed to be raised by a zoologist and familiar with the outdoors. She failed to demonstrate any sense at any point in the story based on this background.
jestrudel's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fantastic story with characters I really liked. The cover image and copy set a different expectation than what the book ultimately turned out to be, but it didn't matter because the entire story was fantastic regardless. I like that the story explored the grey area between right and wrong that children's literature sometimes avoids. Highly recommended!
cgreenstein's review against another edition
Fun middle grade environmentalist adventure story.
maidmarianlib's review
3.0
Solid mystery/adventure for middle grade, kids put themselves in some really dangerous situations but they come out on top, some good historical and ecological connections.
katef's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm, I was way into this one at the beginning, but by the end it felt like there was too much going on - too many issues, too many unresolved threads. And I was so worried about the kids when they went into Tenaya Canyon!!! Not only were in they in an area where nobody is supposed to hike, they go to bed with all of their leftover fried food right with them, after being so careful about hanging it up the night before! It didn't make any sense to me, and I just kept thinking a bear was going to bust into their shack at any minute! And then at the end, in Broach's author's note, she's all, 'Even though in my story the kids did it, I would never advocate hiking in those areas that NPS says are off limits! It's much too dangerous!!!' Hrmmmm.
But there was a lot I loved about this book - Lizzie and Tyler's friendship, the descriptions and history of Yosemite, the mystery of what was going on with the wolves. Even if you're not a nature nerd like me this book is appealing.
But there was a lot I loved about this book - Lizzie and Tyler's friendship, the descriptions and history of Yosemite, the mystery of what was going on with the wolves. Even if you're not a nature nerd like me this book is appealing.
booknrrd's review against another edition
3.0
A 2018-2019 Missouri Mark Twain Readers Award preliminary nominee (grades 4-6).
One of Lizzie Durango's favorite things about living with her zookeeper dad on the grounds of the zoo where he works is the zoo's new wolf exhibit. But when the wolves start getting sick Lizzie and a new friend try to get to the bottom of things before it is too late.
This was fun and a little mysterious and I enjoyed learning about John Muir, but the mom in me wishes Ms. Broach would try not to send her child protagonists into such perilous situations on their own. Is she trying to encourage kids to go adventuring without adults?
3.5 stars rounded down by an overprotective parent.
One of Lizzie Durango's favorite things about living with her zookeeper dad on the grounds of the zoo where he works is the zoo's new wolf exhibit. But when the wolves start getting sick Lizzie and a new friend try to get to the bottom of things before it is too late.
This was fun and a little mysterious and I enjoyed learning about John Muir, but the mom in me wishes Ms. Broach would try not to send her child protagonists into such perilous situations on their own. Is she trying to encourage kids to go adventuring without adults?
3.5 stars rounded down by an overprotective parent.
thomasdsmalls's review against another edition
3.0
This was a ton of fun, but the first half of the book felt almost entirely removed from the second half.
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the animal loving part, though much of the mystery seemed very implausible. Would recommend to fans of Carl Hiaasen and Stuart Gibbs
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