the secret zoo book review

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The Secret Zoo

Bryan Chick Chris Sheban (Illustrator) Chris Sheban - cover artist (Illustrator) Second Wish Press ( October 2007 ) Softcover $5.99 ( 245pp ) 978-0-9791887-3-2

When nine-year-old Megan mysteriously disappears, her older brother, Noah, sets out on a rescue mission. His only clues are a story Megan told before her disappearance and a tattered page of her journal left on Noah’s pillow by a strange blue bird.

Following close behind in this adventure are Noah’s best friends, Ella and Richie; together they call themselves the Adventure Scouts. On a rollercoaster of adventures, the Scouts are led into the fantasy world of the City of Species where they encounter animals with mysterious talents and spectacular abilities, as well as community of humans who live in harmony with these amazing creatures. But their rescue mission is nearly thwarted by the ancient sasquatch community inhabiting the Dark Lands outside the City of Species!

In his first novel, newcomer Bryan Chick introduces young readers to the first of seven Adventure Scouts, and easily bridges the gap from mystery to fantasy. Inspired by his own childhood zoo experiences, the author masterfully transforms simple animals into magical creatures, made both lovable and threatening by their “humanness.” Chick’s creatively crafted zoo animals communicate mysteriously, with both characters and readers alike.

With a humorous twist, Chick cleverly names the Secret Zoo animals, giving prairie dogs names such as Hot Dog, Chili Dog, and Dog Tag. In vividly described encounters with these special animals, the Scouts uncover additional clues to Megan’s disappearance. Chick’s characters and animals spring to life with beautiful imagery, and leave readers anxiously awaiting the sequel. This fast-paced novel will appeal to both youthful and mature readers. The intricately designed plot will keep readers turning pages, while moving between the fantasy world of the Secret Zoo and reality.

Reviewed by Amy Falberg December 11, 2007

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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The Secret Zoo Book Review – Author Interview

The Secret Zoo Book Review – Author Interview – review of The Secret Zoo book series and interview with series author, Brian Chick. The Secret Zoo book series  is about a group of children that live next door to the zoo. Mysterious events ensue and the suspense thickens as the children get entangled in the magic and mystery of The Secret Zoo. Author Bryan Chick resides in Clarkston, Michigan with his wife and three children, and has currently written three books for his popular The Secret Zoo series. I interviewed Bryan Chick about The Secret Zoo.

Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms –  Are you a life-long Michigan resident? How are you enjoying Clarkston?

Bryan Chick – Author of The Secret Zoo Series –  I’ve lived in Michigan all my life. I grew up in Waterford and moved three miles away to Independence Township, which is just a great area with great schools. I’ve lived in my home for something live 15 years now. Michigan is an awesome place. I’m a fan of the different seasons, and I’m one of those strange sorts who enjoys 12-inch snowfalls and breaking my back shoveling the driveway. The past winter was a big disappointment!

Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms –  Was the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak an inspiration behind your writing The Secret Zoo?

Bryan Chick – Author of The Secret Zoo Series –  Definitely. The primary components of The Secret Zoo (the settings, the characters, the premise) was imagined in my childhood during trips to the Detroit Zoo with my mother and grandparents. My overactive imagination reassembled the basic elements of the zoo into a wild fantasy world. You could say I sort of ‘lived’ the Secret Zoo when I was growing up. People from Detroit can easily pinpoint the zoo exhibits that inspired some settings in The Secret Zoo, especially in the first book.

Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – You say that since you were nine years old, you wondered what it would be like if zoo exhibits had secret passages that allowed kids to get in and animals to get out. How did this initial thought formulate into several books?

Bryan Chick – Author of The Secret Zoo Series –  Everything about the Secret Zoo world was developed from this question. More and more ideas kept coming to me—and still continue to come! Now the book series is outlined as 15 books, and I have a spinoff series in the works as well.

Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – The Secret Zoo is meant for children aged 9-12. How many do you have currently in the series and do you plan to write more?

Bryan Chick – Author of The Secret Zoo Series –  I’m currently reviewing the copyedit for Book 4, Traps and Specters, which is scheduled to be published on Sept 25. Book 5, Raids and Rescues is written and scheduled for publication in 2013. I’m working right now on the first book of the spin-off series, tentatively titled, The City of Species. I have plans for another Young Adult spin-off, but that one is a long way off.

Lisa LaGrou of Oakland County Moms – What kind of response have you gotten from The Secret Zoo series from kids and parents?

Bryan Chick – Author of The Secret Zoo Series –  Just incredible. I’ve visited more than 200 schools now and the teachers really love the books. Kids like them because the stories are fast and fun, and parents appreciate their kid-friendliness. It’s a great book for relunctant readers, espcially boys. In a publishing world where too much emphasis is focused of reaching professional reviewers, I opted to target the readers instead. I think it was a great choice.

Bryan Chick’s The Secret Zoo website . The Secret Zoo Facebook page .

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The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick

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• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

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• Strong character development? Yes

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• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

ashlobennett 's review

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

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The Secret Zoo Books

The Secret Zoo

The secret zoo series.

The Creative Behind the Books

Bryan Chick is the author of the Secret Zoo series. He originally had the idea for the series when he was a nine-year-old and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed children to go inside . . . and the animals to come outside. Bryan Chick lives with his wife and three children in Clarkston, Michigan.

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The Secret Zoo: Secrets and Shadows

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Book #2 in The Secret Zoo Series

“We will need you as Crossers, and we will need you not only to be brave—but to be fearless.” Mr. Darby paused, giving the scouts time to digest his words. Then he continued. “I want you to think before answering. Can you accept this challenge?”

Only weeks after their return from the Secret Zoo, Noah and his friends must go back—and face their biggest challenge yet. With monstrous sasquatches freely attacking the denizens of the zoo and the evil Shadowist at large, the fate of the world is at stake.

As Crossers, Noah, Megan, Richie, and Ella would help protect the zoo from these dangers. But do they have what it takes to complete their training? And what other secrets are hiding in the shadows?

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The Secret Zoo Kindle Edition

A fast-paced and exciting read for middle grade fantasy, mystery, and animal buffs.  Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?

Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it's up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed...

The author originally had the idea for The Secret Zoo when he was nine and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed kids to go inside—and the animals to come outside. He brings that sense of adventure and excitement to this story, making it a favorite for home and classroom reading along with such middle grade fantasy favorites as  The One and Only Ivan.

• Book 1 of 6 The Secret Zoo
• Print length 308 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 7
• Lexile measure 800L
• Publisher Greenwillow Books
• Publication date May 18, 2010
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• ISBN-13 978-0061987519
• See all details

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• First 3 $24.94
• All 5 available $41.72

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Editorial Reviews

From the back cover.

Something strange is happening at the Clarksville City Zoo. Late at night, monkeys are scaling the walls and searching the neighborhood—but what are they looking for?

Noah, his sister Megan, and their best friends, Richie and Ella, live next door to the zoo. Megan is the first to notice the puzzling behavior of some of the animals. One day Megan disappears, and her brother and their friends realize it's up to them to find her. Their only choice is to follow a series of clues and sneak into the zoo. But once inside, will they discover there's much more to the Clarksville City Zoo than they could ever have guessed?

About the Author

Bryan Chick is the author of the Secret Zoo series. He originally had the idea for the series when he was a nine-year-old and wondered what would happen if zoo exhibits had secret doors that allowed children to go inside . . . and the animals to come outside. Bryan Chick lives with his wife and four children in Clarkston, Michigan.

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003MVZ3WE
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (May 18, 2010)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 18, 2010
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 734 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 308 pages
• #2 in Children's Mystery & Detective Adventure
• #11 in Read & Listen for $14.99 or Less
• #17 in Children's eBooks (Kindle Store)

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Discover an enchanted world in the Fascinating Secret Zoo

Beth Chaddick

About the author

Bryan chick.

I’m the author of The Secret Zoo series, which has sold almost a million copies and been translated into numerous foreign languages. I have two new series being released in 2024: The Super Sports Society (Andrews McMeel Publishing) and Wayfinders (Blackstone Publishing). If you liked The Secret Zoo, you’ll like both of these series!

Some facts about my books. The idea of The Secret Zoo came to me when I was just nine years old. And I worked on Wayfinders for five years! A bunch of stuff in The Super Sports Society really happened, which goes to show the strange life I’ve had. A Turd Tank, really? Yes.

I live in Clarkston, Michigan with my wife and four kids. When I'm not writing, I'm usually hanging out with like-minded peers at schools around the nation.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 2% 77%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 2% 15%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 2% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 2% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 77% 15% 5% 1% 2% 2%

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Customers say

Customers find the book wonderful, great, and interesting. They say the story has enough elements of mystery and adventure to pull them in immediately. Readers also mention it captures their attention and imaginations. They appreciate the writing quality, describing it as well-written, descriptive, and stellar. They describe the book as entertaining, funny, and awesome. Readers love the characters, mentioning they are realistic, extinct, and mythical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book wonderful, great, and fun. They say it keeps them interested and is perfect for third to sixth graders who enjoy stories about animals and friendship.

"...We read a chapter or two each night. It was a good book for her and she enjoyed the characters and could follow the plot well...." Read more

"Bought to read to a 3rd grade reading group. Great reviews from all the students . Engaging text." Read more

"...in this collection just to see what is going to happen again... really a fun book that leaves you on the edge of your seat the whole way through!" Read more

"...Fast ending but overall great book for kids ." Read more

Customers find the story intriguing, cool, and suspenseful. They say the storyline pulls them in immediately. Readers also appreciate the unique premise and creative universe.

"...was a good book for her and she enjoyed the characters and could follow the plot well . Recommend for that age group!" Read more

"...For me, it was intriguing and think that this is better suited for children around the 9 or older range since some of the content could seem "scary"..." Read more

" Action packed with mystery and animals my son loves this series. We can’t wait to finish all of the books." Read more

"...They loved it and always asked to read before bed. Fast ending but overall great book for kids." Read more

Customers find the book imaginative and good for getting their imagination thinking. They enjoy Chick's creativity and genius. Readers also mention the book is well-written and charming.

"Seriously SO cute !!! Reading to my 4 and 5 year old before bed and we are ALL so invested!!!..." Read more

"This book sets up a very creative and interesting universe. I read it because my 10yo enjoyed it so much...." Read more

"Good book, kept my grandson captivated " Read more

"...It was pretty good to keep his attention !" Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book very well-written, easy to read, and descriptive. They say the author did a stellar job writing to the targeted age. Readers also mention the vocabulary is definitely higher level and the dialogue is true to what kids might say.

"...Great reviews from all the students. Engaging text ." Read more

"...I loved all of the big words being used in context. Great for building vocabulary !..." Read more

"...On balance this author did a stellar job writing to the targeted age , which I am guessing is 9-12...." Read more

"...My throat hurts so bad. The text is very small print , and it was very very long. The descriptions were a bit confusing at times." Read more

Customers find the book entertaining, awesome, and funny. They say it's lighthearted and fun for all ages. Readers also mention it has magic that is family-friendly.

"The Secret Zoo is a fun read for the whole family . I first purchased it as an audiobook that my family listened to on a road trip, and we loved it...." Read more

"... It is funny , at times suspenseful, at times silly, and reads to me like a story a parent would invent for their children..." Read more

"...We enjoyed it, lots of laughs and discussion can be made with this book and we both stayed interested the whole time...." Read more

"The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick is a fun , fast-paced story about friendship, family, and (best of all) awesome animals...." Read more

Customers love the characters. They say the book has heroes with fur and feathers. Readers also mention the book is a mix between realistic creatures, extinct creatures, and mythical creatures.

"...It was a good book for her and she enjoyed the characters and could follow the plot well. Recommend for that age group!" Read more

"...I read it because my 10yo enjoyed it so much. The characters are charming , particularly the animals, and it feels just like adventuring through a..." Read more

"...We all enjoyed the book. The main characters are nice kids that my son could identify with...." Read more

"...engaging but not too disturbing for young readers, and characters both flawed and redemptive ...." Read more

Customers find the book wonderful, engaging, and excellent for any child who loves animals. They appreciate the magic and great interaction with the animals. Readers also love the descriptions of the animals and where they live in secret.

"...fun, fast-paced story about friendship, family, and (best of all) awesome animals ...." Read more

"...fight scenes were too drawn for my taste, the relationships between kids and animals was great ." Read more

"...It has brave kids, the best kind of kids, and heroic animals , the best kind of animals...." Read more

"The kids enjoyed the animals and the details of their behavior...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the scariness level of the book. Some mention it touches them in many ways, is inspiring, and exhilarating. Others say it starts off kind of scary and traumatizing for young readers.

"I read this aloud to 5th-6th graders. It was captivating and exhilarating ...." Read more

"I did not like how it was kinda creepy about the guy in the shadows but I love it so much and I would recommend it to anyone who loves this kind of..." Read more

"...However the characters are very well written and relatable for my kids ...." Read more

"...It started off kind of scary and before I read anymore to them I had to make sure it wouldn't give them nightmares...." Read more

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