Going Wild #2: Predator Vs. Prey by Lisa McMann

My name is Charlie, and I never knew my dad worked on a secret project before becoming a teacher. It was related to the bracelet that gives me the powers of five animals, but it was terminated when Dr. Victor Gray started getting dangerous ideas. He was creating hybrid soldiers, and now he's kidnapped my dad to work on the project again. To make matters more complicated, my friend Maria had a bracelet too, and she started looking like a howler monkey when she got stressed. It was kind of hard to hide that from her mother. Luckily, my mom remembered an emergency letter my dad wrote ten years ago, and it put us in contact with his former colleague, Dr. Quinn Sharma. It's nice to now be working with someone who knows what's going on, but do we really know what Dr. Gray is up to? And how are we supposed to stop his squad of hybrid animal soldiers?

You should read the first book in the series, but this sequel is much more interesting and adventurous. The first book was set in Charlie's new middle school, but this one fully embraces the conflict surrounding the bracelets. It seems Dr. Gray plans on making more bracelets, but what he plans to do with them is unknown. The plot is impossibly realistic, as the bracelets give the wearers animal abilities. No one can fly, and no one has x-ray vision. However, Charlie's bracelet knows when she needs the strength of an elephant, the speed of a cheetah, and the healing powers of a starfish. Charlie's friends have their own bracelets with different abilities, and complications develop. Maria's problem is especially unpredictable and causes her a lot of stress. Middle school is hard enough without a problem like this. The most important question involves another friend named Kelly, as she lies about her bracelet. Why? What is she up to? The use of animal abilities makes the powers impressive and relatable. We're familiar with the abilities, but the characters and readers will still have trouble identifying the animals. Overall, I'm enjoying the series and hope to read Clash of the Beasts soon.