The Extincts

November 23, 2015
In this madcap debut from Cossanteli, young George Drake answers an odd help-wanted sign and discovers a place unlike any other, filled with animals real and mythological, contemporary and presumed extinct. On Wormestall Farm, Mrs. Lind and her gruff assistant, Lo, teach George how to avoid the kraken in the bathroom and how to feed the ichthyosaur without becoming food himself. When pets begin disappearing from town, rumors swirl about the Squermington Wyrm, a legendary local beast, and George’s job suddenly involves capturing a lost basilisk while avoiding Diamond Pye, an demoniac taxidermist intent on bagging exotic animals to win the Golden Brain Spoon, taxidermy’s highest honor. George gets help from Prudence, Diamond’s unhappy charge, and the two team up on an adventurous and often dangerous romp to try to save the residents of Wormestall Farm, get rid of Diamond Pye, and return peace to Squermington. Fans of unusual animals and mythology will enjoy this exciting mix of fantasy and realistic fiction, and Muradov’s swoopy spot illustrations make most of these cryptids and other creatures more cute than menacing. Ages 8–12.

December 1, 2015
Animals--mythical and extinct--abound in George Drake's hometown, Squermington. In Cossanteli's debut novel, 11-year-old George lives with his frazzled mum and two older sisters. Between his dad's leaving, large electric bills, and their family's unsuccessful shop, times are tough. So, in an effort to replace his recently stolen bike, George starts a quest for a job that ends when he comes across a sign that reads, "Help Wanted / Interest In Wildlife Necessary / Must Be The Right Person." The quirky Mrs. Lind, the owner of Wormestall Farm, and Lo, a tall, blue-eyed boy, orient George in his responsibilities. These include tending to an overprotective dodo, feeding 8-foot carnivorous ducks, milking aurochs, and staying alive. Redheaded Prudence, the new girl at school, also finds her way to the farm, which offers an escape from her villainous, taxidermist stepmother, Diamond Pye. When basilisk Mortifier wanders from the farm, leading to the disappearance of both neighborhood pets and chicken vindaloo from Indian restaurants, it's up to George and Prudence to bring Mortifier back before Diamond can add the large serpent to her collection. Uneven pacing and clunky plot development mar this otherwise appealing and imaginative story, though Muradov's stylized vignettes successfully add elements of magic, emotion, and movement to George's narration. A mostly enjoyable British import that should be better than it is. (glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 4-8-After seeing a "Help Wanted" sign, which advertises for "The Right Person" and "No Squamophobes," George Drake decides to apply for a position at Wormestall Farm. During his first visit to the farm, George successfully traps a Triassic period mammal, battles a kraken while on the toilet, and, ultimately, lands the job. As with ordinary farms, the animals at Wormestall require feeding, cleaning, and overall care. Unlike ordinary farms, Wormestall houses extinct, imaginary, and extraordinary animals. Just as George's adventure at Wormestall begins, odd things start to happen around town. Small pets are disappearing, and rumors fly about the "Squermington Wyrm," a raucous, meat-eating monster. George must use his newly discovered animal-rearing skills to solve the mystery and discover what and who are worth fighting for. Cossanteli creates a fantastical adventure of mystery and imagination, set in our own backyard. She uses our fascination with dodos, unicorns, dragons, and more, as she moves them from dreams to reality. The Extincts pushes readers to heighten their imaginations, provoking inquiry about these intriguing creatures, and leaves them to ponder such details as the composition of a unicorn's diet. Cossanteli's amusingly odd characters work to create interest, yet at times seem over-the-top. The quirky language and British-style vocabulary match the tone of the book yet disrupt fluency and may be challenging for some students. VERDICT With an appealing subject matter, The Extincts is a weird, highly imaginative adventure that will entice readers with its theme of animal conservation, which rings loudly in today's society. Recommended for school libraries.-Mary-Brook J. Townsend, Episcopal Collegiate School Library, Little Rock, AK

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
Grades 3-5 Eleven-year-old George Drake would rather not be walking Sir Crispin, a fat pug, but he needs the money for a new bike. Things start to look up, though, when a help-wanted ad for Wormestall Farm catches his eye. It is immediately clear that this is no ordinary farmthere's a unicorn in the paddock and a baby kraken in the bathtub, and that's just for starters. This hidden sanctuary for (presumed) extinct and mythical creatures is under threat, however. An escaped basilisk has the town up in arms, and evil taxidermist Diamond Pye is after some one-of-a-kind specimens. Luckily, George happens to be the perfect person to help protect the farm. Cossanteli's debut is a breezy adventure with just the right amount of oddball charm, augmented by Muradov's quirky illustrations. Fans of Eva Ibbotson's The Abominables (2013) and Jackson Pearce and Maggie Steifvater's Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures (2015) will be drawn to George's quest to save unusual animals and outsmart the maniacal Diamond Pye.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)