SURVIVE THIS SAFARI

When 12-year-old Lucy Q. Spagnola receives an invitation to participate in the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, it’s a second chance to fulfill her dream of joining a group of student wildlife experts.

Lucy loves animals deeply, and she’s both scared and elated when she’s selected to take part in an experimental game with Ohio’s Columbus Zoo that comes with a chance to join the Wildlands Ambassadors. She applied to join them before but wasn’t selected due to a panic attack. Her teammates are two boys named Trey and Harrison, and Jemma, her ultra-competitive classmate. They need to solve a series of puzzles, competing against the current Wildland Ambassadors. When the walkie-talkies stop working, the gates they’re supposed to be unlocking malfunction, and the team of Ambassadors don’t seem to be completing their challenges, things start to feel amiss. Even more concerning, the zoo’s baby elephant is in distress. The story is propelled by high stakes, fun animal facts (often presented via conversational footnotes), and challenges that are presented in a way that allows readers to try to solve them alongside the characters. The characterization of the dynamic between Lucy and the entitled Jemma is strong; the presentation of Harrison’s ADHD feels superficial, though, and Trey often fades into the background. Trey is Black, and the other major characters present white.

An entertaining, puzzle-filled adventure for animal lovers.