Happy Book Birthday to Survive This Safari by Natalie D. Richards published by Penguin Random House! Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy of in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When 12 year old Lucy is invited to participate in the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, she is both nervous and excited. If she does well, she has another opportunity to be part of the Wildlands Ambassadors, a group of student animal experts. Lucy’s first try out still haunts her because she had a panic attack on the observation platform. With the encouragement of her older sister Alex, a Wildlands intern, Lucy puts on a brave face joining Jemma, Harrison, and Trey as their teammate.
As the team competes against the Ambassadors, the kids must collaborate solving puzzles to gain points. Just as the team finds their groove, odd things begin happening which worries Lucy especially when she suspects a baby elephant is in danger. Her love of animals supersedes her anxiety and the team works together to not only solve riddles but also save the animals.
This middle grade novel blends lots of genres-realistic fiction, adventure, and mystery while teaching kids facts about animals in both the text and footnotes. Richards does a great job of developing Lucy’s relationship with Jemma to show how anxiety can manifest differently depending on the person. I also love that Richards invites readers to solve the puzzles along with the characters. With an intriguing plot, animal trivia, and codes to crack, Survive This Safari will keep kids engaged and entertained.
Beagles & Books 