Middle School: It's a Zoo in Here: Middle School, Book 14
Misfit is put in charge of animals in funny, warm adventure.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Middle School: It's a Zoo in Here is another funny, warm, adventure in author James Patterson's illustration-packed series for young readers. Faced with sitting through a dreaded science class over summer, middle schooler Rafe Khatchadorian's mom strikes a deal with the teacher that gives Rafe an alternate assignment that puts him in the real world. The pages are filled with fun facts and funny mishaps with the animals he cares for, but the real heart of this story comes from the thoughts inside Rafe's head. He's a lot more emotionally aware than most people around him give him credit for, and the way he and Penelope talked about her stutter is both casual and thoughtful. Rafe's mom is wonderful in the way she doesn't try to fit him into the school's mold. That she understood how he'd learn best and advocated for him to do something different from summer school is an amazing thing for kids (and parents) to see as options for their own school situations.
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What's the Story?
In MIDDLE SCHOOL: IT'S A ZOO IN HERE, by James Patterson, Rafe Khatchadorian is facing down a boring, horrible science class in summer school until his mom works out an alternative: Rafe works at a zoo. It sounds like a dream job for a kid who prefers to get up and move rather than sit down and study, but somehow he gets fired from his volunteer work. The only option is to work at a country escape for the very rich. He hates the scrubbing and digging, but when he finds an animal in trouble he has to summon all his knowledge and think outside the box to save it. Will Rafe finally be able to do something right?
Is It Any Good?
Combined with animals galore and the funny narration of a misfit kid, the illustrations on almost every page help make for a fast, fun read of a heartwarming story. Middle School: It's a Zoo in Here, is another hit in James Patterson's series for young readers who sometimes feel like even when they try their hardest they can't do anything right. The chaos that follows Rafe Khatchadorian isn't always his fault, and his inner monologue is a sweet, laughable look at the thought process of a young teen.
Penelope's stutter and how she manages it could be an entire story of its own: She's a detailed, complex, and interesting character even without Rafe beside her. The end of the book has a note about how to help animals in danger.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how they've dealt with situations they dread, like Rafe and the possibility of summer school in Middle School: It's a Zoo in Here. How do you decide when you should look for a way out of it and when you should just do what's been assigned? Who gets to decide that?
Have you ever dealt with an animal that was in danger or not being well cared for? What happened? What do you think of the way Rafe handled the situation with the lion?
What are some of the ways that you learn best? Do you like to read instructions, hear instructions, or learn things by trial and error?
Book Details
- Author: James Patterson
- Illustrator: Jomike Tejido
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: jimmy patterson
- Publication date: January 24, 2022
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: March 14, 2022
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