Gr 4-6-Noah Nowicki and his younger sister live next to the Clarksville Zoo. One night, Megan mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a few pages from her diary as clues. Noah and his friends, Ella and Ritchie, who call themselves the Adventure Scouts, set out to rescue her. They befriend a batch of sentient yet nonspeaking zoo animals that include a polar bear named Blizzard; Podgy, a penguin; and Marlo, a Malachite Kingfisher. These creatures, who claim to know what happened to Megan, lead the Scouts into the zoo, which has a secret entrance to a fanciful land called the City of Species where animals and humans live alongside one another. During their stay, the children learn of the city's origin and discover that Megan was most likely taken to the Dark Lands, a place separated from the city and ruled by dangerous sasquatches, beasts that are half human, half gorilla. In order to enter this land to find her, the Scouts risk releasing hundreds of sasquatches into the city. This book, which is the first of a series, is a fast-paced mix of mystery and fantasy. There is enough action and suspense to keep the most reluctant reader entertained while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of friendship and teamwork. It promises to be the beginning of a popular series.-Donna Atmur, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Determined to find his missing sister, Noah and his two best friends follow a string of clues to the city zoo. The mystery progresses when the trio, aided by clever animals, discovers secret passages leading to a magical world. While the core mystery is fragmented and takes a backseat to the developing fantasy, individual scenes are exciting and suspenseful.

Chick debuts with an action-packed and breathless story about teamwork, first published in 2007 by the author's Second Wish Press. When Noah's sister, Megan, disappears, he and his friends Ella and Richie come across Megan's notes and journal entries, which lead them to the Clarksville City Zoo. When the trio is separated, the action intensifies as readers follow their separate paths through the zoo's exhibits, which disguise a secret land in which animals and humans coexist blissfully (""They'd entered a city that seemed to have been built by the most potent pieces of a hundred imaginations)"". With the help of new friends that include Podgy the penguin and Blizzard the polar bear, the group tunnels through this maze, encountering some less-friendly creatures and shifty security guards who insist that ""the fate of the world depended on keeping the secrets of the zoo safe."" While the writing is not as complex or magical as the premise, the story should appeal both to animal-lovers and a broader audience. While many threads are resolved, Chick lays the groundwork for later books. Ages 9%E2%80%9312. (June)