SIMON THORN AND THE VIPER'S PIT

Simon Thorn and his friends return to face new challenges at school and in the Animalgam world.

Until recent events (Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den, 2016), Simon believed he was an average white kid living in New York City. Upon learning that he was an Animalgam, a human who can communicate with and transform into animals, he entered a strange world filled with hierarchies, kingdoms, and estranged family members. On top of that, the sudden realization that Simon is also an heir to the Beast King, a fearsome ruler of legend who could shift into any animal he wanted, has hindered Simon's education at the Leading Animalgam Institute for the Remarkable. He refuses to shift forms in the pit for fear that he may turn into an animal he is not supposed to and reveal his secret. Despite his heavy heart and poor performance in school, Simon is committed to rescuing his mom from his grandfather. His Animalgam friends (all evidently white save Latina Winter)—and cheeky Felix the mouse—remind Simon that he still has allies who understand him and support his resolve to leave LAIR and find his mother in Arizona. In this sequel, Carter fleshes out the Animalgam world and strengthens secondary characters while delivering enough unpredictable and satisfying twists to ensure that it lives up to the first book's charm.

A fan-pleasing sequel that will have readers anticipating the next installment