The Endangereds

August 1, 2020
Join the Endangereds, a team of hyperintelligent mammals, as they protect animals around the world. When Nukilik, a polar bear, is captured by humans and taken to the Ark, a facility dedicated to protecting the planet's most endangered species, all she can think about is reuniting with her lost mother. But when her body and mind go "hyper," Nukilik is faced with a dilemma: Should she pursue her wish to return to her mother or work with the Endangereds, who use technology along with their extreme intellect and physical prowess? Told in the third person, the narrative shifts between Nukilik and other members of the Endangereds, including a wisecracking, tech-hacking narwhal; a scrappy, agile African pangolin; and their leader, a wise orangutan. Exaggerated character traits and a complex plot contribute to the appealing concept of hyperintelligent animals engaging in heistlike rescues. However, frequent, lengthy, overly complex action sequences slow rather than accelerate the narrative. Heaps of information about geography, climate change, humanity's impact on animals, and species reintroduction is shared, appealing to readers who are interested in these subjects but possibly not engaging others. The introduction of an unnamed villain in the final chapter hints at future entries. A handful of grayscale illustrations highlight moments of high drama. Human characters are primarily described in terms of sex and height, making ethnicity difficult to determine. Readers committed to animal rights may find solidarity in this educational adventure. (Fiction. 8-12)

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August 28, 2020

Gr 4-7-Can you imagine an orangutan that can program a plane to fly, a narwhal that can hack computer systems, and a pangolin that can invent almost anything electronic? After being captured by animal conservationists, a polar bear named Nukilik finds herself among this hyperintelligent animal crew, The Endangereds. While Nukilik oscillates between finding her mother and joining The Endangereds, she is quickly swept into a mission involving programmed prairie dogs, two trusted ferrets, and a kooky farmer. Will Nukilik fight to support all animals or seek solace in finding her own way back to her arctic home? Cousteau's theme of animal conservation roars loudly in this fact-filled science fiction and adventure hybrid. This first book in a potential series attempts to weave together a multilayered plot, which lags at times, but readers will surely cheer on the courageous Endangereds as they work to protect their wild counterparts. Small tidbits of facts and characteristics of the different endangered species are sprinkled through the text, instigating further research from young animal enthusiasts. Some tween readers may dismiss the fantastical elements such as animals going "hyper" and exhibiting human traits like talking, while others will quickly get sucked into this alternate reality. With chapters alternating perspectives among animal members of The Endangereds, the action is divided, providing readers a glimpse of what each animal is facing during the action-packed mission. VERDICT Recommended for purchase, and will attract animal lovers and techies alike.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis Sch., Salt Lake City

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