Review by Booklist Review
Lucy longs to be a Wildlands Ambassador, but a panic attack at a previous tryout leaves her certain she'll never realize her dream. Luckily, an invitation to an escape challenge at the Wildlands safari sees Lucy back at her beloved animal park, where she's determined to prove herself worthy. But there's a problem: her teammates want the same position. Worse, the park seems to be experiencing security issues, and it's unclear if it's a test or an actual emergency. Malfunctioning gates, animals in the wrong paddocks, and an alarmed elephant are just a few of the concerns; the newly formed escape team will have to work together to solve the puzzles, rescue the wayward wildlife, and save the park. The enormously entertaining mystery combines suspense and silliness into an appealing package for animal lovers. Discussions of panic attacks are thorough and thoughtful, and frequent breaks for actual, solvable puzzles will appeal to readers who enjoy an extra challenge. An engrossing, animal-focused adventure about the power that comes in trusting a team--and yourself.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Middle schooler Lucy Spagnola can't stop thinking about the "stupid panic attack" that prevented her successful completion of the trial to become an ambassador for Ohio's Wildlands Safari Park Rescue Sanctuary. When she's invited to participate in the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge, she knows she can't do it, as it would mean competing against all the current ambassadors who witnessed her "complete and total meltdown." But her older sister Alex, a college student and Wildlands intern, convinces animal expert Lucy to accept the invite. Neighbor Jemma joins the event along with Harrison, who has ADHD, and aspiring horticulturist Trey. Together, the ragtag team works to solve the competition's puzzles--and then it becomes clear that something is sabotaging their excursion. Though secondary characters are somewhat thinly developed, Lucy's feelings and personality jump off the page as she navigates wildlife challenges and interpersonal dilemmas and discovers new ways to manage her anxiety. Richards (15 Secrets to Survival) invites readers to join in on the puzzle-solving action via amusing footnotes and cleverly constructed riddles and games in this interactive, escape room--like adventure. Trey is Black; the rest of the protagonists cue as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Apr.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
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.(Adventure. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
